I really like using laptops for doing work away from the office.
And while just having a solid laptop is all I really need for short work sessions.
For long and intensive work like video editing on the go I like to turn my laptop into a
full fledge workstation.
Improved ergonomics, lots of screen real estate, and all the same comforts of a typical desktop
pc.
And it all cleanly packs and organizes into my tech backpack to take anywhere.
Hi I’m David and these are my must have laptop accessories
First let start with the laptop I’m using for this setup.
I’m using the Dell XPS 15, probably one of the more popular windows laptops in the
market today for power productivity.
Video editing directly on the laptop is surprisingly fast with the i7 Kaby lake CPU and GTX 1050
configuration.
My battery life experience has been great, easily lasting me through an entire day of
less intensive web browsing, emails and word documents.
And while it would have been nice if there was one more USB A port since the included
two are usually always occupied, that’s my only real complaint.
I also opted for the lower resolution 1080p non-touch screen, and while yes the 4K version
looks nicer, I personally don’t find this high PPI practical or advantageous on a small
15 inch screen.
Also the 1080 non-touch version with the matte screen cuts down on glare, uses less power,
and is cheaper so I can spend the savings on better things.
For example, a second display.
For video editing having a second display makes a huge difference allowing me spread
out my windows and not feel cramped using a 15” main display.
I’m using a product called Packed Pixels that has a really nice display, which is basically
same one you’ll find in an Apple iPad.
Mounting the display uses these brackets held on by an elastic band and then you can slide
the display in place in either portrait or landscape mode.
On the back are the connections, Micro USB for power, mini DisplayPort for display, buttons
to change the brightness and a switch to change the power draw depending on the USB port you’re
using to power the device.
Overall it’s a great looking display and I really like the mounting system, but there
are definitely some issues to consider.
For one it can only be driven by a DisplayPort or older Thunderbolt connection.
This means newer laptops with USB C like my Dell XPS 15 require an extra adapter for this
to work.
And if you only have HDMI out on your laptop this solution won’t work for you.
Also the screen is glossy so it’s prone to glare and fingerprint, and it feels like
it’s made of a soft plastic so I’d be careful not to scratch it during storage.
Next up is addressing ergonomics.
One of the biggest problems with using a laptop over long periods of time is that you’re
typically hunched over looking at the screen.
A simple solution to the problem is a laptop stand.
I’m using a product called NexStand for this.
It’s a really simple solution, you unfold the product, adjust the height and insert
your laptop into the tray, so that your laptop screen is elevated to a comfortable height.
If your familiar with these products you might have also heard of the roost being the original
design for this.
While in comparison, this NexStand feels looser at the joints, and lacks rubber padding in
certain areas.
The NexStand is half the price, more readily available at least here in Canada, has more
height levels, and just works for what I needed out of it.
Using a laptop stand you’ll also need to use a separate keyboard and mouse.
Here I’m using the Logitech G602 mouse which isn’t ideal since it requires a separate
USB dongle, but the Logitech K810 keyboard I find fantastic in this setup.
Bluetooth connectivity switchable between three different devices, physical switch to
turn the keyboard on or off, and a low profile, compact design with just the right keys to
handle my most used productivity use cases.
For my headphones, I’m using my older Bose QC25 with Active Noise Cancellation that are
great for working in loud environments.
I’m also using the AirMods attachment to connect over Bluetooth so I don’t need to
deal with cables but over the 3.5mm jack works just as well.
And finally there’s no point of having a power laptop workstation if I can’t travel
with it.
To store all of this gear I use my eBags Professional Slim Backpack.
It has pretty much all the perfect compartments to store everything safe and secure.
Laptop compartment in the back.
Padded compartment on top for the second display.
Hard case shell at the bottom for the charger and mouse.
Main storage for the keyboard, headphones and laptop stand.
And front pocket to store the rest of the cables for the Packed Pixel display.
So those are my must have laptop accessories for my power laptop workstation.
Improved ergonomics, lots of screen real estate, and all the same comforts of a typical desktop
pc.
And it all cleanly packs and organizes into my tech backpack to take anywhere.
But hope you guys enjoyed this one, You know what to do.
And I’ll see you in the next video.