Hacker News Reader

Comment by jam | Hacker News Reader

I've had a setup like this for years, but it's much simpler: monitor arm [1], ultrawide display [2], keyboard + trackpad lap tray [3], any couch. Been through many iterations and like this gear, but you can do it for cheap just as easily.

Mount the arm to something (like a desk) and swing it over the couch to lay down. In my case, I can actually pivot it between the couch and the chair on the other side of the desk.

Great for a few hours a day when you want to sink into focus mode. Super highly recommended it.

[1] https://www.humanscale.com/products/monitor-arms/m-81

[2] https://www.lg.com/us/business/desktop-monitors/lg-34BK95U-W

[3] https://www.hekseskudd.com/products/ambidextrous-slim-keyboa...

View on HN

Likewise. I use this pole: https://www.ergomart.com/192offset-monitor-floor-stand .

And this monitor: https://www.rtings.com/monitor/reviews/lg/32ud99-w (specifically because it's the only USB-C monitor I found that's completely flicker-free, which RTINGS tests for).

Ergomart actually looked at the specs of my monitor and recommended the right arm and parts to properly balance the weight. I'll happily recommend them recommend them.

The monitor moves easily on three axes, and tilts; cords are cable-managed through the pole. I just sit down and plug in a single USB-C cable to get video, webcam, keyboard/mouse, and power.

Same, I put my desk next to a recliner and the monitor on an armature and just swing it back and forth. The downside: the arrangement is kinda comfortable so I tend to play games in it. As a result, my mind associates it with non-work and have trouble focusing there. Also laying down all day is probably not healthy.

Luckily I've managed to associate it with more of a "deep focus" state, but a lot of people seem to feel like they'd get tired and fall asleep if they used a setup like this.

I actually think the biggest downside to the multi-station dynamic setup is that the ideal monitor configuration for that is a single curved ultrawide, and there are essentially no high resolution options.

So, is the keyboard tray resting on your legs just above your knees and your hands are resting on top, sort of at 170-180 degrees (if raised above your head was 0/360)? Or have you done something to raise up the keyboard so your hands are more like 90 degrees (like a normal desk pose puts them)?

Yes, keyboard just above the knees. It's similar to the angle you'd get if you were slouching and your forearms were resting on the desk. Generally quite comfortable.

I think raising my hands up higher (90 degrees as you say) would actually be a lot worse. Never understood that aspect of all the more "real" laying desks.

I should note that I purposely don't use a mouse with this setup, because it would end up being quite far away and would need to be on a solid surface.

I use a very similar setup, and I use a mouse because I've never found a keyboard I liked that includes a touch pad. I've simply taken another monitor arm + a laptop holder attachment. Flip it and put a firm pad on top and you have a mouse pad holder that you can position in 3d exactly where you want it.

Agreed - only Apple standalone trackpads are really worth using as far as I can tell.

If you happen to like the ThinkPad TrackPoint mouse nub, these keyboards work great for that type of setup: https://www.lenovo.com/us/en/accessories-and-monitors/keyboa...

I would love to use something with a TrackPoint, but I have an irrational fear of committing to a non-fullsize keyboards. It's regretful that they don't build different keyboard variants or license the tech out, but I assume the market isn't large enough to warrant more offers.

I use a setup with a previous generation of that keyboard. I really wish they'd go back to the version I have that has a built-in palm rest.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com