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---
title: "Home Office"
slug: "home-office"
date: "2024-07-28"
toc: true
pics:
desk:
css: "image"
tip: "Project desk."
sources:
- "/files/articles/home-office/desk-1024.webp"
- src: "/files/articles/home-office/desk-1024.jpg"
width: 1024
height: 771
cat-desk:
css: "image"
tip: "Kitty Says: Good vantage point."
sources:
- "/files/articles/home-office/cat-desk-1024.webp"
- src: "/files/articles/home-office/cat-desk-1024.jpg"
width: 1024
height: 771
chair:
css: "image"
tip: "Work chair."
sources:
- "/files/articles/home-office/chair-1024.webp"
- src: "/files/articles/home-office/chair-1024.jpg"
width: 1024
height: 771
cat-chair:
css: "image"
tip: "Kitty Says: Don't interrupt my nap."
sources:
- "/files/articles/home-office/cat-chair-1024.webp"
- src: "/files/articles/home-office/cat-chair-1024.jpg"
width: 1024
height: 771
shelves:
css: "image"
tip: "Shelves."
sources:
- "/files/articles/home-office/shelves-1024.webp"
- src: "/files/articles/home-office/shelves-1024.jpg"
width: 1024
height: 771
cat-shelves:
css: "image"
tip: "Kitty Says: Look at all this stuff..."
sources:
- "/files/articles/home-office/cat-shelves-1024.webp"
- src: "/files/articles/home-office/cat-shelves-1024.jpg"
width: 1024
height: 771
before:
css: "image"
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"
width: 1024
height: 771
duron:
css: "image"
tip: "A 20 year-old CPU that was slow 20 years ago."
sources:
- "/files/articles/home-office/duron-1024.webp"
- src: "/files/articles/home-office/duron-1024.jpg"
width: 1024
height: 771
pumpkin:
css: "image"
tip: "Slick Raspberry Pi 5 case."
sources:
- "/files/articles/home-office/pumpkin-1024.webp"
- src: "/files/articles/home-office/pumpkin-1024.jpg"
width: 1024
height: 771
cat-review:
css: "image"
tip: "Kitty Says: I see several spelling and grammatical errors. Also, why aren't you brushing me?"
sources:
- "/files/articles/home-office/cat-review-1024.webp"
- src: "/files/articles/home-office/cat-review-1024.jpg"
width: 1024
height: 771
---
## Introduction
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.
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]
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
buy a better chair, replace the curtains, and repair the damaged
drywall.
Shown in picture:
- [Tangkula L-Shaped Computer Desk][desk-amazon]: 24" depth for working
on computers. L-shaped to fit in the corner.
- [Samsung 32" UJ59 Series 4K UHD Computer Monitor][monitor]:
32" 4K monitor with two [HDMI][] inputs. One of the [HDMI][] inputs
is connected to `pumpkin`, the utility [Pi 5][pi5], and the other
[HDMI][] input is used for whatever system I am working on at that
moment.
- [Arteck Universal Backlit 7-Colors Bluetooth Keyboard][keyboard]:
Full-size backlit [Bluetooth][] keyboard with integrated touchpad.
- [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,
and working with [USB][] peripherals.
- [Logitech G5 USB Mouse][mouse]: Ancient [USB][] mouse. Used for old
computers.
- [Raspberry Pi 5 8GB (lemon)][pi5]: Headless [SBC][sbc] with the green
[LED][] in the tall round plastic food container to the right of the
monitor. Used for [ARM Cortex-A76][a76] software development and
testing.
- [Odroid N2L (pizza)][n2l]: Headless [SBC][sbc] with the red [LED][] in
the short round delivery food container to the right of the monitor.
Used for [ARM Cortex-A73][a73] software development and testing.
- [Monoprice Maker Select 3D Printer V2][3d-printer]: 3D printer.
Hasn't been used for a few years.
- Several old computers. I am clearing and [recycling][] them as time
permits.
[{{< pe-figure "cat-desk" >}}][cat-desk]
## Chair
[{{< pe-figure "chair" >}}][chair-full]
We organized this corner of the office so it feels like a tiny living
room because I do not like working on a computer while sitting in an
office chair at a desk.
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:
- [La-Z-Boy Recliner][recliner]: Don't know the exact model. Before
buying this recliner I went through a series of chairs that either
broke or wore out within a couple of years. This recliner has worked
flawlessly for 10 years.
- [Blackout Curtains][]: Bright light gives me a headache, so these
curtains block it.
- 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
from a small tissue box without dragging the entire box off the table.
- [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
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]
## Shelves
[{{< pe-figure "shelves" >}}][shelves-full]
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 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
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 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 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
"Kitty Says: Good vantage point."
[desk-amazon]: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09SD9PMWY
"Tangkula L-Shaped Computer Desk (amazon.com)"
[monitor]: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CS3JGPC
"SAMSUNG 32\" UJ59 Series 4K UHD Computer Monitor (amazon.com)"
[hdmi]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HDMI
"High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI)"
[pis]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raspberry_Pi
"Raspberry Pi"
[pi5]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raspberry_Pi#Series_and_generations
"Raspberry Pi 5"
[keyboard]: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09KLPJQPD
"Arteck Universal Backlit 7-Colors Bluetooth Keyboard (amazon.com)"
[mouse]: https://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Gaming-Adjustable-Weight-Cartridge/dp/B000ODN7VM
"Logitech G5 USB Mouse (amazon.com)"
[bluetooth]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bluetooth
"Short-range wireless technology standard."
[microsd]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SD_card#microSD
"MicroSD form-factor memory cards"
[usb]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USB
"Universal Serial Bus (USB)"
[ps/2]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PS/2_port
"PS/2 port"
[chair-full]: /files/articles/home-office/chair.jpg
"Work chair."
[cat-chair]: /files/articles/home-office/cat-chair.jpg
"Kitty Says: Don't interrupt my nap."
[shelves-full]: /files/articles/home-office/shelves.jpg
"Shelves."
[cat-shelves]: /files/articles/home-office/cat-shelves.jpg
"Kitty Says: Look at all this stuff..."
[3d-printer]: https://www.amazon.com/Monoprice-Printer-Filament-Preloaded-Printable/dp/B018GZBC3Y
"Monoprice Maker Select 3D Printer V2"
[led]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light-emitting_diode
"Light-emitting diode (LED)"
[sbc]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single-board_computer
"Single-board computer (SBC)"
[n2l]: https://en.odroid.se/products/odroid-n2l-4gb
"Odroid N2L"
[arm64]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AArch64
"64-bit extension to the ARM instruction set."
[a73]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ARM_Cortex-A73
"ARM Cortex-A73 CPU"
[a76]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ARM_Cortex-A76
"ARM Cortex-A76 CPU"
[recliner]: https://www.la-z-boy.com/b/living-room-recliners/_/N-musa9i
"La-Z-Boy Recliner"
[bookcases]: https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/billy-bookcase-black-oak-effect-40477340/
"Billy bookcase (ikea.com)"
[bins]: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CFFFP299
"Clear Storage Latch Box 12 Quart, Plastic Organizing Box/Bin with Lid and Black Handles, 6-Pack (amazon.com)"
[rug]: https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/koepenhamn-rug-flatwoven-handmade-dark-grey-50374558/
"KÖPENHAMN flatwoven rug, dark grey (ikea.com)"
[blackout curtains]: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0BC8GXQNB
"H.VERSAILTEX 100% Blackout Curtains (amazon.com)"
[kmart]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kmart
"Kmart department store chain."
[side tables]: https://www.westelm.com/products/open-box-hex-side-table-g669/
"Hex Side Table, White Marble/Raw Steel (westelm.com)"
[x1-carbon]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ThinkPad_X1_series#X1_Carbon_Gen_9
"Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon, 9th Gen (i7-1185G7)"
[surface-book]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surface_Book_3
"Microsoft Surface Book 3"
[soundlink-mini]: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00WK47VEW
"Bose SoundLink Mini Bluetooth Speaker II (amazon.com)"
[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 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
"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
"Slick Raspberry Pi 5 case."
[heat sink]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heat_sink
"Passive CPU heat exchanger."
[vilros-case]: https://vilros.com/products/vilros-aluminum-alloy-passive-and-active-cooling-cooling-raspberry-pi-5-case-cnc-crafted
"Vilros Duo Deluxe Raspberry Pi 5 Case"
[coda]: #coda
"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)"
|
