A computer with backups that happen automatically, and which is fast enough that I don’t have to worry about speed. I was previously using a fairly old laptop and then an old tower machine, and these broke occasionally, which was kind of a pain.
I was also being thrifty on monitors, and bought a really nice keyboard only fairly late. It would have made sense to have a fairly good keyboard and monitor all along, given that I spend a whole lot of my time in front of a computer
I also made the mistake of not buying good enough equipment for calls, so my video calls were a bit janky for a long time.
This is how my setup looks while working in the Bahamas. The special keyboard is probably overkill, but I had an RSI scare, and I thought it was worth it. Elements:
Beefed-up computer from Tuxedo (overkill, but worth it for me in particular because I used to break computers by overheating them while compiling intensive stuff.)
Wide monitor, stand for the monitor (would recommend)
Laptop stand (would recommend)
Big, wireless mouse (would recommend)
Adjustable table (nice, but overkill)
Kinesis advantage (very nice, but overkill, and it takes a few days for accommodation). I previously bought a really nice but relatively cheap mechanical keyboard looking at Amazon warehouse offers, and before that I was using an older mechanical keyboard which was also fairly nice.
I still have to get accustomed to this keyboard, but I’d probably still recommend it. My younger self wouldn’t have accepted the recommendation, because I would have felt that it’s too expensive.
Things you don’t see in the picture:
Good noise-cancelling headphones (would recommend). I bought some really nice ones with one of my first salaries, after asking for advice in r/HeadphoneAdvice
Backup service and some nice Linux customization (would recommend)
Aside: I’m using tarsnap (“online backups for the truly paranoid!”), which saves my documents folder encrypted automatically every hour (and due to compression black magic, all hours are saved, and I end up paying very little). But that’s because I enjoy the semi-technical aspect. I’m sure that any operating system or backup service has something similar. I previously did monthly physical backups
Overall, it probably makes sense for RP (or for my own QURI) to, e.g., offer a nice computer setup as a signup bonus.
Coincidentally the day after seeing this response I realized the replacement battery in my 2012 macbook pro was swollen and I had to replace it with the original (long dead) one. I probably should stop putting off getting a new laptop…
Could you elaborate on what a better computer setup is for you?
A computer with backups that happen automatically, and which is fast enough that I don’t have to worry about speed. I was previously using a fairly old laptop and then an old tower machine, and these broke occasionally, which was kind of a pain.
I was also being thrifty on monitors, and bought a really nice keyboard only fairly late. It would have made sense to have a fairly good keyboard and monitor all along, given that I spend a whole lot of my time in front of a computer
I also made the mistake of not buying good enough equipment for calls, so my video calls were a bit janky for a long time.
This is how my setup looks while working in the Bahamas. The special keyboard is probably overkill, but I had an RSI scare, and I thought it was worth it. Elements:
Beefed-up computer from Tuxedo (overkill, but worth it for me in particular because I used to break computers by overheating them while compiling intensive stuff.)
Wide monitor, stand for the monitor (would recommend)
Laptop stand (would recommend)
Big, wireless mouse (would recommend)
Adjustable table (nice, but overkill)
Kinesis advantage (very nice, but overkill, and it takes a few days for accommodation). I previously bought a really nice but relatively cheap mechanical keyboard looking at Amazon warehouse offers, and before that I was using an older mechanical keyboard which was also fairly nice.
I still have to get accustomed to this keyboard, but I’d probably still recommend it. My younger self wouldn’t have accepted the recommendation, because I would have felt that it’s too expensive.
Things you don’t see in the picture:
Good noise-cancelling headphones (would recommend). I bought some really nice ones with one of my first salaries, after asking for advice in r/HeadphoneAdvice
Backup service and some nice Linux customization (would recommend)
Aside: I’m using tarsnap (“online backups for the truly paranoid!”), which saves my documents folder encrypted automatically every hour (and due to compression black magic, all hours are saved, and I end up paying very little). But that’s because I enjoy the semi-technical aspect. I’m sure that any operating system or backup service has something similar. I previously did monthly physical backups
Overall, it probably makes sense for RP (or for my own QURI) to, e.g., offer a nice computer setup as a signup bonus.
This is incredibly useful. Thanks for sharing!
Strong agree re: good enough computer—but that’s a general thing people under invest in, even at companies, albeit to a lesser extent.
Coincidentally the day after seeing this response I realized the replacement battery in my 2012 macbook pro was swollen and I had to replace it with the original (long dead) one. I probably should stop putting off getting a new laptop…