Our editors’ desk setups, part 2: Samuel needs order

My head is usually too full. I have to compensate for that with an empty workspace. I only keep what’s absolutely necessary on my desk. I prefer to buy a few good things that I’m really happy with. I also want to see as few cables as possible. In everyday life, my office is actually as tidy as in the photo.

Computer: MacBook Pro, gaming PC

As the Apple nerd in the editorial team, I, of course, work on a MacBook Pro. Mine is already two generations old and has an M1 Max chip with 32 GB of RAM. I don’t see any reason to upgrade yet. The laptop can handle anything and is completely silent with everyday use. If I’m not using a second screen, the MacBook sits open on a stand from TwelveSouth.

Annoyingly, still almost no games run on MacOS. As I want to play current titles every now and then, I can’t avoid having a second computer. Next to my desk, there’s a simple Windows PC with mid-range components. However, the many additional cables drive me mad.

Monitor: BenQ SW271 and/or test devices

The BenQ SW271 is a bit older, but still a very good monitor with full coverage of the AdobeRGB colour space for image editing. If I was buying one today, I’d buy it a size larger, because I regularly review huge screens and I’ve got used to them.

I don’t test these in the lab; I test them in my everyday workspace. This means that I’m often lucky enough to have great screens in front of me that are fun to use – like my current test model of the Eizo ColorEdge CG2700X. But there have also been screens that I didn’t like. And switching back to my 27-inch monitor after using an absolute monster isn’t easy.

Docking station: CalDigit TS4

Docking stations for Macs have long been a compatibility lottery. Many of them worked poorly, became too hot or were unreliable. Things are different with Thunderbolt 4 docks, with Intel enforcing strict standards here. All docking stations that I have tried so far with this connector worked exactly as advertised. A cheap and good option is the i-Tec TB4, for example.

I still have one of the most expensive docking stations on the market, the CalDigit TS4. There’s one main reason for this: it has a DisplayPort connection, which I absolutely need for some monitor tests. Most other docks only offer HDMI. There’s also a Thunderbolt port for the laptop on the back of the CalDigit TS4, so I can run all cables cleanly behind the table.

Keyboard and mouse: Logitech MX

Colleague and keyboard evangelist Kevin Hofer has been tough on me so far: I just can’t get used to mechanical keyboards. Even after several attempts, I’m a staunch «flat fan» and prefer typing on my trusty Logitech MX Keys. When it comes to mice, there’s no other option for me. I’ve been an MX Master fan from the very beginning, which will probably never change.

Audio: Creative GigaWorks T40, Apple AirPods Max

I’ve had my small PC boxes from Creative for over ten years: neutral sound, little space required, no frills. They don’t have amazing bass, but I don’t need them to listen to music anyway. The only flaw is that the blue LED lighting on the right speaker is far too bright, which always annoyed me in the evenings. So, I opened the box and tore out the LED with brute force. Now nothing lights up at all. Much better.

If I want to isolate myself from my surroundings or listen to loud music, I put on my AirPods Max. They’re overpriced, but, unfortunately, they’re cool. During podcasts, I connect them directly to my microphone via a headphone jack. But I had to throw another 40 francs at Apple for it because it only works with the official connection cable.

Microphone and webcam: Shure MV7, Opal C1

The Shure MV7 is a great microphone for podcasts. It’s almost as good as the SM7B that you’ll find in every professional studio. By contrast, the MV7 can be connected not only via XLR, but also via USB. This is more practical and enough for what I need. The microphone hangs on an Elgato arm.

I hate webcams. Every one I’ve had so far suffers from poor image quality, bloated software or unpredictable dropouts. I also cursed the Opal C1 for months because it regularly overheated. The old software also used up an absurd amount of computing power in the background. Since the latest firmware update, the Opal C1 is finally the webcam it was always meant to be and works perfectly. It offers very good image quality for its compact size. However, the software is only compatible with MacOS.

Chair: Herman Miller Aeron

I can’t link my office chair from our shop – unfortunately Herman Miller isn’t in our product range. The Aeron is a design icon and costs over 1,500 francs. Nevertheless, for me it’s worth every cent. No other chair fits my back so well and is so durable.

Odds and ends: in a drawer

Cables that I don’t currently need end up in a cardboard box with two compartments, along with SSDs and other odds and ends. This means that everything’s within easy reach yet doesn’t spoil my tidy desk. However, I don’t care about the mess in the boxes. Out of sight, out of mind.

If you missed the last episode of our desk setup series, you can find it here:

Header image: Samuel Buchmann

If you’ve missed an episode of our desk setups, here’s the full list:

Samuel:

David:

Flo:

Jan:

Kevin:

Domi:

Tinu: