Six months into the COVID-19 pandemic, it's reasonably clear that many of us will be working from home for much longer than we may have anticipated. Here are some Ooberpad upgrade suggestions so that your WFH setup becomes more comfortable and effective
Intro
It’s been quite a while since the COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing lockdowns transformed our lives both in terms of work and leisure. Work in particular quickly moved into unfamiliar territory for most of us, and work from home has quickly spawned its one set of hashtags and memes.
The early days of optimism — that we’d be back to work in weeks or a couple of months at most — have given way to the realisation that work is not going to be the same for a while, if ever. Many large organisations have already committed to WFH for their employees way into the next year. We’re also beginning to see that if we’re going to be working this way well into 2021.
We’ve been thinking about this for a while and figured that if we’re all going to keep working from home for the foreseeable future, we’d might as well start getting more comfortable in our makeshift workspaces. Why not stop making do with the limited work gear you have at home, and check out some of our team's suggestions for “Work-from-Home improvement”.
Re-imagine your workspace
Many of us are probably now working from makeshift (the dining table), small workspaces (the study desk) or if we’re really lucky in a dedicated home office rom. These are all way better than long term use of the living room couch, which is a sure way to develop various orthopedic ailments.
But how can we equip these spaces in a way that the working experience is closer to our usual office space? How do we ensure that the work experience is not compromised in terms of the quality of interactions during virtual meetings, our physical comfort and health?
Team Ooberpad got together to figure out which gear has been serving us best during the lockdown, and we’ve got a bunch of suggestions on how you might be able to give your work-from-home space a serious upgrade.
So, these are a few of our favourite picks...
The Display
The Budget Option
Samsung DB32E 32 Inch Full HD LED Display
https://www.ooberpad.com/products/samsung-db32e-full-hd-led-display-32-inch
The Headset
The Budget Option
Bowers & Wilkins (B&W) PI3 In-ear Wireless Headphones
https://www.ooberpad.com/collections/headphones/products/bowers-wilkins-b-w-pi3-in-ear-wireless-headphones
These are active 2-way Bluetooth 5.0 earbuds which combine the convenience of wireless connectivity in a compact easy to wear design. They incorporate the aptX codec which allows pure, unparalleled audio whether you are still on in motion.
The B&W PI3s support multiple Bluetooth connections and also has a USB-C charging and audio interface. With separate drivers for bass and mids they create full, impactful sound. It allows 8 hours of continuous wireless media streaming and has a 15 minute quick charge feature too.
The OoberpickBowers & Wilkins (B&W) P5 on-ear wireless Headphone
https://www.ooberpad.com/collections/headphones/products/bowers-wilkins-p-5-wireless-headphones
The Budget Option |
The Ooberpick |
Bowers & Wilkins (B&W) PI3 In-ear Wireless Headphones |
Bowers & Wilkins (B&W) P5 on-ear wireless Headphone |
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The Router
The Budget Option
D-Link DIR-816 WiFi AC750 Dual Band Router
https://www.ooberpad.com/products/d-link-dir-816-wifi-ac750-dual-band-router
The Ooberpick
D-Link DIR-878 AC1900 MU-MIMO WiFi Gigabit Router
https://www.ooberpad.com/products/d-link-dir-878-wifi-ac1900-mu-mimo-wifi-gigabit-router
Wireless USB Hub
The Budget Option
https://www.ooberpad.com/products/icron-wiranger-wireless-usb-2-0-hub?_pos=943&_sid=75ef0eefb&_ss=r (this is the only option available)
The Ooberpick
Icron WiRanger Wireless USB 2.0 Hub
https://www.ooberpad.com/products/icron-wiranger-wireless-usb-2-0-hub
Audio conferencing system
The Ooberpick
Polycom SoundStation IP 6000 SIP-based IP Conference Phone
https://www.ooberpad.com/products/polycom-soundstation-ip-6000-sip-based-ip-conference-phone
Conference Camera
The Budget Option
Logitech C925E 1080p HD Video Webcam
https://www.ooberpad.com/products/logitech-c925e-1080p-hd-video-webcam
The Ooberpick
Logitech BCC950 Desktop Video ConferenceCam
https://www.ooberpad.com/products/logitech-bcc950-desktop-video-conferencecam
Sit-Stand Desk Converter
The Budget Option
Lumi DWS28-01 Gas Spring Sit-Stand Desk Converter with Keyboard Tray Deck
https://www.ooberpad.com/products/lumi-dws28-01-gas-spring-sit-stand-desk-converter-with-keyboard-tray-deck
The Ooberpick
Lumi M06-23D Dual Motor Electric Sit-Stand Desk (Standard)
https://www.ooberpad.com/products/lumi-m06-23d-dual-motor-electric-sit-stand-desk-standard
Making everything work better
The right gear choices will differ for each of us according to our work spaces, work requirements and work styles, but some of the basic principles remain the same. We all want to be able to minimise distraction and disturbances and have our work proceed smoothly.
That’s what makes it worth investing in some upgrades which eliminate some of the common shortcomings of our home, relative to our regular office environments.