Ask HN: Laptop coders, your setup?

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4494137

by coryl • 14 years ago

7 11 14 years ago

news.ycombinator.com

Anyone here using a wireless keyboard + mouse instead of their laptop keyboard/touchpad? And for monitor: Laptop monitor + external? External only? Laptop screen only?

Logitech has a really nice solar powered bluetooth keyboard: http://www.logitech.com/en-us/keyboards/keyboards/Wireless-Solar-Keyboard-K760-for-Mac

Wondering what the ergonomics and productivity benefits are.

Thanks

zrail• 14 years ago

My home setup is my MBA plus my couch. The ergonomics are terrible but my productivity is pretty decent and I dont use it this way for very many hours a day.

cowsaysoink• 14 years ago

I sit on the floor and put a laptop on a coffee table that has open space for my legs underneath. The ergonomics for my arms aren't very nice but everything else seems to be fine.

I do move around every hour. I use a wireless mouse but I don't end up using a mouse that much. Sometimes I will hook up a keyboard and use the keyboard on my lap under the coffee table but not that often.

yasith• 14 years ago

My desk has two levels. 5 inches of height difference.

- Upper Level: 13" Laptop + 24" external display (Use both displays) - Lower Level: Wireless keyboard + mouse

Pros: Very comfortable. Have enough space for a notebook to write stuff. Cons: Getting tired of changing mouse batteries, every 2-3 months.

runawaybottle• 14 years ago

I've got a similar keyboard from logitech for my pc: http://www.logitech.com/en-us/keyboards/keyboards/k750-keybo...

They keys are good, similar to Mac keyboard.

Thinking about get a laptop myself just so I don't have to sit at this desk to do anything.

logn• 14 years ago

11-inch MacBook Air. People are always amazed I code on an 11-inch but honestly it works just fine--> (screenshot of eclipse) http://i.imgur.com/84TlU.png

The resolution is actually fairly generous. And if you're hacking in the terminal it's more than sufficient.

I find the 11 inch keyboard is just a lot easier to type on. You don't have this huge plane of plastic sticking out under your wrists.

And I generally lay down on the couch. I can't handle desk+chair. Too hard on my wrists and back. If I have to work at my desk I usually try to prop my feet up somewhere.

devb0x• 14 years ago

I sit at a desk or the kitchen counter for long periods. Most likely sitting with my prod laptop.

For a quick hack my netbook works very nicely, on the couch.

SirPalmerston• 14 years ago

13-in 2009 Unibody Mac with a Magic Mouse and wireless Apple Keyboard.

I normally just sit at the kitchen table.

polyfractal• 14 years ago

I have a Thinkpad E420 which is my main computer. Occasionally I'll work at my kitchen table, but usually I work at my "command center" desk. I have a 25" LCD monitor that helps supplement the horrible 1366x768 screen on my laptop.

For peripherals, I have a basic Dell optical mouse [1] and an ancient Microsoft Trackball Explorer [2]. I use a Logitech Ultrathin keyboard [3] as my main keyboard, but also utilize the laptop's keys too since they are very nice.

Basically, by having two sets of each peripheral, I can swap between them to keep from feeling sore. If my hand starts to get cramped from the mouse, switch over to the trackball for a while. If my wrists are getting tired with one keyboard, close the tray and switch to the laptop itself.

[1] http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000VBZWZ6/ref=as_li_tf_tl?...

[2] http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00005853Z/ref=as_li_tf_tl?...

[3] http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001F51G16/ref=as_li_tf_tl?...

jamesjguthrie• 14 years ago

I have my Lenovo Thinkpad docking station on my desk with the living room's 50" plasma plugged into it along with USB cables for my phones and the Lenovo's mini mouse.

I tend to always work at the desk and during the day (when the fiancee is at work) I use the plasma as a second screen - mainly running an Android emulator in it or Spotify.

dougbarrett• 14 years ago

At work, it's a 14" Macbook Pro (probably a 2011 model, not quite sure) with two external monitors. I use an external apple keyboard, because having a 10-key is really helpful, but I use the trackpad since I have to span 3 screens with the cursor, it's a pain to use a mouse sometimes.

At home, I have a 13" Macbook Air, the previous generation. I prefer using this to be honest than my 3 monitor setup at work since it's light weight, and I am more portable. I don't use any accessories for it, except I did buy a Microsoft Bluetooth mouse that I may use occasionally, but it's primarily for when I'm doing presentations.

benji-york• 14 years ago

I was starting to get wrist and neck pain from using a laptop on a desk that was too high for my wrists and too low for my neck. I didn't want an external monitor but still wanted my laptop display higher. After investigating laptop arms, etc. I stumbled upon a large platter display stand at a home decor place.

Adding a keyboard tray, a USB keyboard and mouse, and a USB hub so I only have one cable to unplug when I want to move to the couch.

Fuzzy picture: http://benjiyork.com/pictures/laptop-setup.jpg

Ask HN: Laptop coders, your setup?

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