Work effectively from home – Part One “Hardware”

Working from home is nothing new. The Australian Productivity Commission reminds us that in the Industrial Revolution most people worked from home and thanks to the pandemic, we have re-discovered working from home (full time or partially) and it’s becoming the new “norm”.

With this, comes a responsibility to ensure the home office is set up appropriately. Safe Work Australia has guidelines on setting up a workspace at home, including ergonomics, safety, good lighting and access to reliable technology. Technology is where Loyal I.T. Solutions can help you. In this blog series we will discuss two subjects – in part one, we will look at hardware. In part two – next week – we will discuss your connectivity and security requirements.
 

Hardware

Working from home involves using technology that can manage the work you are doing and will usually be different than your standard home PC requirements.
 

Computer System

A good, reliable computer system will seamlessly use programs for communicating with co-workers and management through video and audio. We recommend a computer that is easy to use, takes up little space, is designed for business and is dependable. There are several options for this – laptops, tablets, or desktop PC’s.

A laptop is portable, easy to use, and many models have built in microphones or cameras. The Lenovo V14 IIL Laptop - for example - has a 14” anti-glare screen, HD webcam, microphone, built in speakers and weighs less than 2kg. 

A tablet is an even more portable device that has numerous features. We recommend the Surface Pro as an easy to use, portable device with a touch screen and the ability connect to a monitor and full-size keyboard through a Surface Pro docking station. A great blog on Surface Pro’s is available here.

A desktop PC is the more traditional device used in the office environment and many people use them at home. We recommend a smaller PC tower that still has the power and memory you need – like the Lenovo ThinkCentre M70q Tiny. With 8GB of RAM, this device is small enough to not clutter your desk but with all the features and power of the larger models.

Monitor

A monitor can be used with any device as an extra visual tool - some people even work with up to 4! We recommend buying a monitor with a built-in camera and microphone, to help make those remote meetings easier. The HP EliteDisplay is a 23.8” monitor with built in camera, microphone and speakers and with an anti-glare screen that can height adjust and tilt – perfect for the home office environment.

Visual and Audio Equipment

A webcam is an integral part of modern working, as Teams and Zoom meetings are on the increase – Zoom, for example, has seen a 3300% increase in users since October 2020! If your monitor or computer set up does not have a webcam, contact us for advice on the right one for you. 

Speakers or headphones are also great tools for remote meetings. There are so many types available, and the best thing is to talk to Loyal I.T. Solutions to work out what is best for your use.

For advice on a work-from-home setup that best suits your needs, contact our office on (02) 4337 0700 or email us. 

Click here to read about Security and Connectivity, in part two of this blog.