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diff --git a/content/articles/home-office.md b/content/articles/home-office.md index f22b6bb..112e390 100644 --- a/content/articles/home-office.md +++ b/content/articles/home-office.md @@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ pics: height: 771 before: css: "image" - tip: "State of office before our improvements." + tip: "My office at the beginning of the month." sources: - "/files/articles/home-office/before-1024.webp" - src: "/files/articles/home-office/before-1024.jpg" @@ -88,26 +88,25 @@ pics: --- ## Introduction -We never set up my home office; it has been [an unusable pile of boxes -and old computers][coda] since we moved to this house a few years ago. -We finally started working on my home office this month. We spent spare -nights and weekends over several weeks unpacking boxes, organizing or -[recycling][] old stuff, and assembling new furniture. +My home office has been [an unusable pile of boxes and old +computers][coda] since we moved to this house a few years ago. We +started working on it this month. -The result: I now have a home office which is suitable for work and has -plenty of space for projects. +After several weekends of unpacking boxes, organizing or [recycling][] +old stuff, and assembling new furniture, I finally have a home office +which is suitable for work and has plenty of space for projects. ## Desk [{{< pe-figure "desk" >}}][desk-full] -Desk for working on computers and electronics. The goal was to have -enough surface area for a utility computer and the parts for couple of -long-term projects. +Corner desk for working on computers and electronics. The goal was to +have enough desk space for a utility computer and the parts for couple +of long-term projects. The area around the desk is still a work in progress; we still need to -replace the curtains, buy a better chair, and fix the hole in the -drywall (left by electricians when they fixed the wiring in our house). +buy a better chair, replace the curtains, and repair the damaged +drywall. Shown in picture: @@ -120,8 +119,8 @@ Shown in picture: moment. - [Arteck Universal Backlit 7-Colors Bluetooth Keyboard][keyboard]: Full-size backlit [Bluetooth][] keyboard with integrated touchpad. -- [USB][] Keyboard: Used for old computers, with a [PS/2][] adapter if - necessary. Make and model unknown. +- [USB][] Keyboard: Make and model unknown. Often used with a [PS/2][] + adapter (yeesh) for old computers. - [Raspberry Pi 5 8GB (pumpkin)][pi5]: Connected to the [monitor][] and [bluetooth keyboard][keyboard]. Low power, small form-factor utility computer used for reading documentation, flashing [microSD][] cards, @@ -146,12 +145,12 @@ Shown in picture: [{{< pe-figure "chair" >}}][chair-full] -I do not like sitting in an office chair at a desk. Instead, I prefer -sitting in a comfy chair in front of a table that has enough room for -a couple of laptops, some gadgets, and a beverage. +We organized this corner of the office so it feels like a tiny living +room because I do not like I do not like working on a computer while +sitting in an office chair at a desk. -We organized this corner of the office so it feels like a mini living -room. +Instead, I prefer sitting in a comfy chair next to a coffee table with +enough space for a couple of laptops, some gadgets, and a beverage. Shown in picture: @@ -161,31 +160,35 @@ Shown in picture: flawlessly for 10 years. - [Blackout Curtains][]: Bright light gives me a headache, so these curtains block it. -- Coffee Table: Make and model unknown. I like the wood finish and the - bottom shelf. I think I bought it at a (now closed) [Kmart][]. I'm - told this is a "shaker" style coffee table. +- Coffee Table: Bought at [Kmart][] many years ago. Make and model + unknown. I like the wood finish and the bottom shelf. I'm told this + is a "shaker" style coffee table. - [Side Tables][]: We bought these for our living room but they didn't really fit. I like the marble so I commandeered them for my office. -- [Tissue Box Cover][]: Without this cover I can't remove a tissue +- [Tissue Box Cover][]: Without this cover I can't remove a tissue from a small tissue box without dragging the entire box off the table. -- [Rug][]: Easier on my feet than the cold hardwood floor. Also protects +- [Rug][]: Easier on my feet than a cold hardwood floor. Also protects the floor from scratches. Not sold in the US any more. -- [Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon, 9th Gen][x1-carbon]: Personal laptop on - stand to the right of the recliner. -- [Microsoft Surface Book][surface-book]: Work laptop on coffee table. -- [Bose SoundLink Mini Bluetooth Speaker II][soundlink-mini]: Great - speaker. -- [Baseus USB C Charger][baseus]: Used to power both laptops, the - [Bluetooth speaker][soundlink-mini], and other [USB][] - devices like my phone and bluetooth headset. Located on the lower - shelf of the coffee table (shown in picture below). - -By the way, all of the [Pis][] and [SBCs][sbc] in our house are named -after pies: - -- shown in picture above: `pumpkin`, `lemon`, and `pizza` -- located elsewhere in house: `pecan`, `keylime`, `peach`, and `fish` -- hardware failed: `cherry` and `meat` +- [Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon, 9th Gen][x1-carbon]: Personal laptop + running [Debian Linux][]. Awesome laptop with a fantastic keyboard. + Shown in the picture above to the right of the recliner. +- [Microsoft Surface Book][surface-book]: Work laptop. Awful laptop + with a mushy keyboard and terrible battery life. Shown in the picture + above in the center of the coffee table. +- [Bose SoundLink Mini Bluetooth Speaker II][soundlink-mini]: + [Bluetooth][] speaker that is surprisingly loud for it's size. +- [Baseus USB C Charger][baseus]: [GaN charger][] used to power both + laptops, the [Bluetooth speaker][soundlink-mini], and other [USB][] + devices as-needed. Shown in the picture below on the lower shelf of + the coffee table. We have four of these chargers throughout the + house. + +By the way, most of the [Pis][] and [SBCs][sbc] in our house are named +after [pies][]: + +- shown in picture: `lemon`, `pizza`, and `pumpkin` +- located elsewhere in house: `fish`, `keylime`, `peach`, and `pecan` +- dead: `cherry` and `meat` [{{< pe-figure "cat-chair" >}}][cat-chair] @@ -193,50 +196,51 @@ after pies: [{{< pe-figure "shelves" >}}][shelves-full] -This section of the room has shelves for storage. Everything is -organized into transparent bins which are clearly labeled. The boxes in -the closet still need to be unpacked and sorted through. +Storage shelves with lots of clearly labeled transparent bins so I can +quickly find what I'm looking for. The boxes in the closet still need +to be unpacked and organized. Shown in picture: -- [Bookcases][]: Bookcases with adjustable height shelves that fit - perfectly in the space available on this wall. -- [12 Quart Clear Storage Bins][bins]: I bought 12 bins total (two 6 - packs) and have 3 bins remaining. +- [Bookcases][]: Bookcases with adjustable-height shelves that fit + perfectly in the available space. The style also matches my + [desk][desk-amazon] and [rug][]. +- [12 Quart Clear Storage Bins][bins]: I picked these bins because + their depth, height, and width were a good match for the bookcase + shelves. I bought 12 bins total (two 6 packs) and have 3 remaining. [{{< pe-figure "cat-shelves" >}}][cat-shelves] ## Coda -Here are some pictures which did't fit in the sections above. +Below are some pictures which didn't fit in the sections above. This is how my office looked at the beginning of the month: [{{< pe-figure "before" >}}][before] -Most of the computers in the back corner were junk and have been -[recycled][recycling]. A particularly egregious example: +Most of the computers in the back corner of the picture above were junk +and have been [recycled][recycling]. A particularly egregious example: [{{< pe-figure "duron" >}}][duron] -On a more positive note. - -I am using a [case][vilros-case] with passive and active cooling for -`pumpkin` (the [Pi 5][pi5] on the desk). The case is a passive [heat -sink][heat sink]: it has metal strips and a thermal pad on the inside -which draw heat from the CPU, and the heat is dissipated by air channels -on top of the case. The case does have a fan, but it is not active -during normal use (at least for my workload); it only spins up for a few -seconds at boot. - -Anyway, I think the case looks pretty slick: +On a more positive note: I think the [case][vilros-case] for `pumpkin` +(the [Pi][pi5] below the monitor on the desk) looks pretty slick: [{{< pe-figure "pumpkin" >}}][pumpkin] +The case is a passive [heat sink][heat sink]: the inside has metal +strips and a thermal pad which draw heat from the CPU then dissipate it +via air channels on top of the case. The case does have a fan, but it +only spins up for a few seconds at boot and is not active during normal +use (at least for my workload). + **Update (2023-07-29):** While reviewing this article: [{{< pe-figure "cat-review" >}}][cat-review] +**Update (2023-07-30):** Add links, fix typos, improve wording. + [desk-full]: /files/articles/home-office/desk.jpg "Project desk." [cat-desk]: /files/articles/home-office/cat-desk.jpg @@ -308,11 +312,11 @@ Anyway, I think the case looks pretty slick: [baseus]: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B71GPGQD "Baseus USB C Charger (amazon.com)" [tissue box cover]: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07VC4N94T - "Monarch Abode 19427 Hand Hammered Tissue Box Square Cover Holder (amazon.com)" + "Monarch Abode Hand Hammered Tissue Box Square Cover Holder (amazon.com)" [recycling]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_waste_recycling "electronic waste recycling" [before]: /files/articles/home-office/before.jpg - "State of office before our improvements." + "My office at the beginning of the month." [duron]: /files/articles/home-office/duron.jpg "A 20 year-old CPU that was slow 20 years ago." [pumpkin]: /files/articles/home-office/pumpkin.jpg @@ -325,3 +329,9 @@ Anyway, I think the case looks pretty slick: "pile of crap" [cat-review]: /files/articles/home-office/cat-review.jpg "Kitty Says: I see several spelling and grammatical errors. Also, why aren't you brushing me?" +[debian linux]: https://debian.org/ + "Debian Linux" +[pies]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_pies,_tarts_and_flans + "List of pies, tarts, and flans" +[gan charger]: https://www.howtogeek.com/509209/what-is-a-gan-charger-and-why-will-you-want-one/ + "Gallium Nitride (GaN) charger (howtogeek.com)" |