Ask HN: Laptop coders, your setup? | Hacker News Reader

Ask HN: Laptop coders, your setup?

7 pointscoryl11 comments

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

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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.

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?...

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

I normally just sit at the kitchen table.

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