Our editors’ desk setups, part 10: Richie’s workspace has room for improvement

The heart of my desk setup – my pride and joy – is my 34-inch Dell monitor. Before I got it, I spent a long time working on two older monitors, both with thick frames that bothered me increasingly over time. Since I replaced these old models with the Dell, I can’t imagine switching back. I can make the best possible use of the space on screen, conveniently arranging the programs I need for work.

My computer: compact, powerful and quiet as a mouse

I’m of the view that a computer belongs on a desk. If you put it on the floor, it’ll quickly get dusty – even if you clean regularly. I built my PC myself. It’s compact, powerful and quiet as a mouse thanks to its AIO water cooling system.

Said AIO is an Arctic Liquid Freezer II 360 – a simple cooler without all the bells and whistles. The flashing lights on it are colourful enough, thank you very much. I won my Jonsplus i100 Pro Mini-ITX PC case in a company prize draw. My colleague Kevin had previously reviewed it:

Webcam: 4K resolution and ANC for meetings

Since I don’t normally work on my laptop at home, I use an external webcam. I bought mine before I started working at Digitec Galaxus, so you might say it’s reached a somewhat advanced age. Even so, I see no reason to replace the camera. Thanks to its 4K resolution, the picture’s razor-sharp. We still have the Logitech Brio Ultra HD in our range, but I paid considerably more when I bought mine.

The webcam has a built-in microphone, but the sound quality isn’t good. At least if the feedback from my colleagues in Teams meetings is anything to go by. That’s why I always wear a headset when using the camera. I use the Logitech Zone 900, a set of Bluetooth headphones I find comfortable to wear. The headset also has a long battery life, features ANC and can be connected to two devices simultaneously. I like that a lot.

I’m not the only one in our house who works from home. One of my two sons works here all the time, and the other’s here two days a week. If they’re both sitting in the living room, it can get noisy – even with the door closed. Thanks to my headset’s ANC, however, it doesn’t bother me.

Speakers: rich stereo sound

I often listen to music when I need to focus. My Razer Nommo Chroma speakers deliver good sound. We’ve stopped selling this model for now.

As a fan of music management and streaming platform Roon, I treated myself to these slightly more expensive speakers. Of course, I could’ve spent more on PC speakers, but I’m happy that the ones I chose don’t take up too much space on my desk. If need be, I can buy a digital-analogue converter later on. What’s more, I can enjoy high-quality sound in my living room.

Keyboard: oh Kevin, what have you done?

Just as he’s done to so many of my teammates before me, keyboard enthusiast Kevin has got me hooked. I type on a Mountain mechanical keyboard. The one I use is an Everest Max, a modular keyboard with a removable numeric keypad and wrist rest. You can dock the numeric keypad on either the left or right. Side note: the wrist rest is also super comfortable.

I’ve assigned functions I use frequently to the buttons above the numeric keypad. There are additional settings for the dial too, but using it to adjust the volume is enough for me. I like this keyboard and really enjoy typing on it. Incidentally, Kevin gave me the Everest Max after he tested it. You can read his review here:

My mouse: an abomination to many

I use a Logitech MX Ergo. A lot of people shudder to think of such a mouse, but I love it. I control the cursor using the ball on the left-hand side. I’ve got four of the same mouse. One on my desk, one for my laptop, one at the Digitec Galaxus office on Pfingstweidstrasse and one in my workshop. My team often laughs at me for this. «Buy yourself a proper mouse!» they say. But it’s like water off a duck’s back. I’m sticking with my Logitech MX Ergo because I appreciate not having to constantly move the mouse.

Desk lamp: good lighting is a must

We use Philips Hue for lighting in our home. On my desk, I have a Philips Hue Signe, a model that’s no longer available. Its successor is the Philips Hue Gradient Signe. What I appreciate most about it is that I can adjust the colour temperature precisely. It took a long time for me to realise what a difference good lighting can make. It’s an investment I certainly don’t regret making.

Chair: comfort is essential

I have a Core EX-Wide SE gaming chair from Akracing at my desk. I’d resisted gaming chairs for a long time, always believing an office chair to be essential to a working-from-home setup. I don’t know what possessed me to buy this one. What I do know is that I never want to be without it again.

It’s just comfortable, period. As someone who’s 196 cm tall, I don’t take that sort of thing for granted. My sons – who’re even taller than me – love this chair too.

Desk: height-adjustable, but wobbly

In a meeting just recently, my colleague Samuel asked me whether I use an AI-controlled webcam that tracks my movements. He said it was because the picture transmitted by my camera was always slightly shaky. A little bewildered, I said no. Soon after, it dawned on me why he’d asked: my desk wobbles every time I move my forearms across the tabletop.

It’s bothered me ever since. I’m now toying with the idea of buying a Magnus Pro XL gaming desk from Secretlab. Not because I’m a PC gamer through and through, but because:

1. The desk’s made of metal, so I have the (perhaps naïve) notion that it’s more stable than my height-adjustable Ikea desk.
2. It’d help me get to grips with my annoying cable clutter.
3. The desk boasts plenty of space and looks good.

On the other hand, I could also see myself buying a desk from mein-Stehtisch.ch. The site gives you the opportunity to configure your desk and upgrade it with various accessories. Unlike Secretlab, they don’t sell gaming desks. There shouldn’t be much of a price difference between them. I’m still mulling it over.

If you missed the last editions of our desk-setup series, check them out here:

Michelle:

Samuel:

David:

Jan:

Kevin:

Flo:

Domi:

Tinu:

Phil: