Home working - 2x work laptops, 1x monitor, keyboard, mouse - suggestions

[Phil Gr]

Like a lot of people, I’m currently working mostly from home, and I’m quite fortunate in that I have a room that I can use as an office.

I am already in possession of a company provided laptop and I have this hooked up to an old monitor with a wired keyboard and mouse via the laptop USB ports - it works but is messy with the cables

This week I have had another laptop dropped off at the house for use on a long term project with a partner company

More cable mess and much messing about switching between the 2 laptops is a PITA

I have a feeling this working arrangement will become the new norm after COVID so I want to do it right

Anyone got any suggestions for a new monitor setup (maybe 2?), KVM (usb c??) mouse, keyboard solution

Thanks

 

[Ben97]

If cables are what bother you most, then it wouldn't hurt to get both a wireless mouse and keyboard. For your laptop, I would suggest a docking station of some kind. Depending on the laptop, docking stations can often power the laptop by one cable while at the same time have the HDMI output to your monitor as well as all the USB and other ports you will need.

If it is an older laptop with something like a 19v charger, then you still can use a docking station, they usually just use a full size USB port.

If you were getting a pair of new monitors, I would look for ones that include a display port. This means you can link your laptop/docking station to one, then loop the next one to the first monitor via this cable.

Some reasonably budget monitors could be something like the Dell P2219H (also a 24" and 27" - just change the first 2 numbers in the model number) They both have a display port in them which can help tidy things up. Also have a couple of USB 3.0 and 2.0 ports built in. But there are plenty of options out there regarding monitors.

Dell make a lot of really good docking stations for both type c and the older style of laptops - but they are not cheap.

Keyboard and mouse wise, I'm not really sure what to suggest. I myself am having a hard time getting what i want but I am very fussy! Wireless mice and keybaords have the problem of battery life, though certain mice and keyboard last well over a year still. But in terms of sleep modes and other things, wireless can sometimes be tedious. Wired is more reliable, but more messy, so that would be up to you.

 

[adrichardson81]

If you go 2.4GHz and bluetooth, you can cut the wires completely.

I find 27" is a good size for homeworking and even a potato laptop should drive 2560x1440. It's big enough that you can work on 2 document side by side, and you have the laptop as a spare screen when you need it. Just check connectivity and supported resolutions on each port. Mine will do 4k 30Hz on hdmi and 4k 60Hz over usb c. And get a comfy chair obvs.

 

[Phil Gr]

Thanks for the replies

Bluetooth is turned off on the laptops - restricted at admin level

leaning towards a 34’ wide screen monitor, I think my search needs to focus on a capable KVM switch that will handle two usb c inputs from the laptops, power both the laptops over USB C, drive the monitor, keyboard, mouse, usb headset and mic and maybe even a web cam on top of the monitor

Phil