For the last 2+ years, my primary home computer has been a 13″ Macbook Pro. And although I love the easy portability of a smaller laptop, I’m also a little frustrated by the small screen. Editing photos, playing games, and Powerpoint all suffer when you’ve got that little screen real estate.
So as much as I love portability, I’m also seriously thinking about buying a nice big monitor and spending more time at my long-neglected home office desk instead of computing on the couch. I’m even considering buying a small desktop computer to go with it. With so many cloud sharing services these days, synching files across devices isn’t the pain it used to be.
The main thing that’s holding me back is what going back to a desktop might do to my back. I screwed my back up badly before I got the laptop by not paying enough attention to my chair and desk quality, and I don’t want to make the same mistake twice. On the other hand, I don’t really want to spend a bunch of time trolling Craigslist for used Aeron chairs.
It might be a fun Xmas Shutdown project though… Hmmm…
To go big (screen) or not? What do you think?
Hi, Rachel. In the past, I always had desktop computer with large displays. Now, I really enjoy the flexibility of my MBP with an LED Cinema Display. Portability and a large screen!
I, too, often work on the couch. Sometimes it’s more painful than my nice office chair (which is puffy like a couch). Working in the office at home has plenty of benefits, like solidarity and no TV. The 24 inch display on my desk helps to get more work done (and use photoshop).
Plus, it’s nice to have the option of where to sit and slam the keys. Getting a big display set up in your office doesn’t mean you are obligated to working in there 24/7. 😉 I say do it.
If I use a computer for daily use for more than a few hours a day, I get cranky if I don’t have a large screen, and more importantly, a good keyboard and mouse.
I value ergonomics way too much to be crouched over a laptop with a small screen, bad keyboard, and no mouse for any length of time.
A large screen is the first thing I would upgrade. It dosen’t have to be a 25″ screen — really anything over 19″ would help reduce eye strain. I have a few 21″ and they seem to be key for me. A /good/ keyboard is key. I have no issue dropping as much on a keyboard that helps reduce my RSI effects as a monitor. I really like the Microsoft keyboards (I have a bunch of the Microsoft Comfort Curve 2000’s, which is my favorite as of late). I don’t use a mouse very often, but make sure it fits your hand well.
Of course, all this is a moot point if you don’t have your desk at the right height and your chair to match it. You don’t have to drop $1,000 for a chair if it complements you, and your desk height properly. I think I have a $200 OfficeMAX special at home which is just fine, and it adjusts right where I need it. 2,000 adjustments don’t really mean much — it’s more if it can complement you, and the way you sit.