Tag: office

  • Razer Fujin Pro Gaming Chair Review: Giving My Back an Extra Life

    Razer Fujin Pro Gaming Chair Review: Giving My Back an Extra Life

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    Razer has made a name for itself in the gaming space, with robust gear that tackles the high demands and highly particular needs gamers have. The company makes everything from customizable gaming mice to powerful laptops. But can Razer meet the needs of gamers’ butts? With the Razer Fujin Pro gaming chair, it’s looking like the answer is yes.

    Unlike most so-called gaming chairs, the Fujin Pro wouldn’t look out of place in a typical office. It avoids the all-too-common racing style seat, opting instead for a lightweight, breathable mesh over an aluminum alloy frame that looks stylish without being garish.

    The Fujin Pro model has a few advantages over its less expensive cousin: The aforementioned aluminum frame replaces the nylon frame on the Fujin; the adjustable headrest is now an included option, rather than an add-on; the lumbar support can be adjusted both vertically and forward and backward; and the armrests can now be adjusted along four different directions.

    It all adds up to a premium chair that would spoil any gamer.

    S-Tier Support

    The first thing that impressed me about the Fujin Pro was how incredibly easy it was to set up and customize. The aluminum frame is so sturdy that when inserting the seat back into the base, the frame was able to hold itself in place with minimal support while I screwed in the bolts. All told, the setup process took about 15 minutes.

    Once the chair was upright, I expected to spend some time fiddling with levers and dials to get it positioned to my comfort, but even this was simpler than I anticipated. A switch on the right released the pneumatic cylinder to raise the seat to the correct height, and another on the left allowed me to slide the base of the seat forward and back. Both snapped back into place once I was satisfied and released them.

    Closeup of the sides of an office chair

    Photograph: Eric Ravenscraft

    This is all fairly standard, but the lumbar support and backrest surprised me the most. The lumbar module on the rear of the chair features a large dial, and two easy-to-grasp handles, both of which I could reach while sitting in the chair. The handles let me move the lumbar support higher or lower along my back, while the dial pushed the support forward or backward.

    Meanwhile, the backrest has two modes. You can either pull a switch along the left side of the seat up to lock the back in place, or press it down to freely tilt the entire seat back. And when I say the entire seat, I mean the base and all. While the seat back can tilt further, independent of the base, the bottom of the seat tilts largely in tandem with the back, making the act of reclining extremely comfortable.

    A dial under the right side of the chair base controls how much reclining resistance the chair provides, and it’s surprisingly strong. I usually prefer to keep my chair locked, as I have a tendency to slouch, but with the resistance dialed high, I was able to get enough give from the chair to lean back, without losing any support.

    Up In Arms

    Most of the time, I don’t care much for armrests on office chairs. They’re handy (ha) for sitting back at rest, but they either get in the way or aren’t in a position to be useful for the way I sit in my chair. But the Fujin Pro’s armrests are so versatile that I actually got some use out of them.

    The armrests can be adjusted in four different ways. A switch on the outside allows you to adjust their height, and a button on the inside lets you slide them left or right. If this was all the customization the armrests provided, it would probably be sufficient.

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  • Logitech Casa Pop-Up Desk Review: A Cute Portable Workstation

    Logitech Casa Pop-Up Desk Review: A Cute Portable Workstation

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    I’m picky about my desk setup. I love working from home with my laptop stand, monitor, mechanical keyboard, and mouse, and I hate using just a laptop most of the time. But sometimes I want to work from the library or my sister’s kitchen counter without losing all the convenience of my peripherals. Enter Logitech’s Casa Pop-Up Desk.

    The Pop-Up Desk weighs about 2.7 pounds and, when closed, looks like a small textbook. That means it fits in most backpacks and tote bags so you can take it anywhere. You open it to find a wireless keyboard and trackpad in their designated spots. Just pop ’em out and then configure the case into a stand to keep your laptop at eye level, using magnets to connect the platform to the edge of the case.

    There’s also a compartment to hold the USB-C charging cord (it doesn’t come with a power block) that charges both accessories. It’s not big enough for much else, but it could also hold your phone charger too, a pen, and maybe a thin stack of Post-it Notes.

    Top Overhead view of keyboard and touchpad in an open case. Bottom. Black laptop beside a pink booklike case.

    Photograph: Medea Giordano

    Desk Mate

    Logitech makes reliable keyboards, and we recommend many of them. I wish the Casa Pop-Up Desk included a cute mechanical keyboard, like Logitech’s Pop Keyboard, instead of a quieter membrane keyboard. I like clicky-clacky keys, but that would likely make the whole thing bigger, bulkier, and more expensive.

    Still, the Casa Keys keyboard included here works well, with a slight incline for comfortable typing. It’s a compact keyboard, so it doesn’t have the numpad or function row. I prefer a full-size keyboard, but for use when I’m away from my desk it’s perfect. If you typically use your laptop keyboard anyway, you won’t be disappointed with it.

    Screenshot of computer keyboard app and emoji options

    Photograph: Medea Giordano

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  • 5 Best USB Hubs (2024): USB-C, USB-A, Portable

    5 Best USB Hubs (2024): USB-C, USB-A, Portable

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    Your laptop never has enough ports—especially if it’s the Macbook Air this guide was written on. You can carry around an array of dongles to plug everything in, or you can nab one of these USB hubs. Hubs expand the number and kind of ports available from one device so you can cut down on the clutter. After testing dozens over the years, these are the best USB hubs I’ve found for different needs.

    Hunting for more home-office gizmos and gadgets? Check out our other guides, including the Ultimate Work-From-Home Gear, the Best Office Chairs, the Best USB Flash Drives, and the Best Portable External Storage Drives.

    Update May 2024: Added the Monoprice 5-in-1 USB-C Hub, Satechi USB-C Multiport 8K Hub, and Ugreen Revodok Pro 211 Docking Station.

    Special offer for Gear readers: Get WIRED for just $5 ($25 off). This includes unlimited access to WIRED.com, full Gear coverage, and subscriber-only newsletters. Subscriptions help fund the work we do every day.

    Image may contain Screen Electronics Projection Screen and White Board

    Do You Need a Hub or a Docking Station?

    USB hubs are small, portable devices you can plug directly into a port on your laptop to get extra USB ports, SD card readers, headphone jacks, and other extra connections. However, if you plan on regularly connecting your laptop to a full-blown workstation—with a keyboard, mouse, monitors, the whole shebang—then you might want to consider a docking station instead.

    USB docking stations are larger, more expensive, and are designed to spend most of their time on your desk. They typically have a power supply to charge other devices and offer multiple monitor outputs, plus Ethernet connections. If you frequently use your laptop at a desk, we’ll have a new guide soon on the best docking stations, so stay tuned.


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  • 11 Best Smart Notebooks and Smart Pens (2024): Tablets, Digital Pens, and Reusable Books

    11 Best Smart Notebooks and Smart Pens (2024): Tablets, Digital Pens, and Reusable Books

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    Do you take a lot of notes? Whether you’re in school or working in a job that requires lots of jotting down ideas, you may opt for typing notes on a laptop, but physically writing something down helps you remember and learn more. Putting real pen to paper also just feels good. However, having a digital backup is convenient for on-the-go organization and studying.

    There are E Ink tablets, smart pens, and notebooks made to save digital files of your handwritten notes or drawings. You can save files as PDFs, images, and Word Docs, or transcribe them to a text file in Google Docs to make all your notes searchable. Some of these devices can record too, which is great for lectures and interviews. If your notes need an upgrade, we recommend giving these a try. Be sure to check out our Best Dorm Essentials guide, as well as our Best Tablets, Best Laptop Backpacks, and Best Totes guides.

    Updated April 2024: We’ve added the Boox Note Air3 C and Supernote Nomad as new picks. We’ve also added notes about Kobo’s newest e-reader with writing capabilities, the Kobo Libra Colour.

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  • Ugmonk Analog Starter Kit Review: Go Analog to Be Productive

    Ugmonk Analog Starter Kit Review: Go Analog to Be Productive

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    Many years ago, I asked my most accomplished, successful friend what his secret to success was. His answer was simple, but it also changed my life. He said, “I make a list of all the stuff I need to do, then I do it.” He happened to use 3×5 index cards for his lists, so I copied the idea.

    Over time, I took his simple system and worked it into my life, and decades on, I still start most days by pulling out an index card and working on whatever it says I need to do. At the end of the day, I glance at a longer list of projects (not on an index card) and a list of more strategic goals, along with my calendar, and decide what to put on the index card for tomorrow.

    I talked about this system in our Best Paper Planners guide, and a WIRED reader emailed me to ask whether I had ever heard of Analog, an index-card-based system similar to mine (but better looking). I contacted Jeff Sheldon, founder of Ugmonk, the company that makes Analog, and he sent over an Analog Starter Kit. I’ve been using Analog for a couple of months now, and I’m happy to say it’s an excellent way to organize your day and get things done. It’s simple, elegant, beautifully made, and, well, analog. I wouldn’t say it replaced my decades-old system, but it sure makes it look a whole lot nicer.

    Getting Things Done

    Small wooden box with top opening to hold index cards laying flat as well as a slit to prop an index card upright. The...

    Photograph: Scott Gilbertson

    There’s a slogan on the Analog site that reads, “Analog doesn’t replace your digital tools, it works alongside them by helping you focus.” I think that’s important to keep in mind. While I use and have almost always used a paper-based system, you don’t have to go completely paper-based to get something out of Analog. And really, even I don’t. I keep track of appointments on a digital calendar.

    Still, when planning my days and making lists of what I want to accomplish now, I have always been a fan of paper. The tactile, mechanical process of writing things down etches them in my brain in ways that nothing screen-based ever does. That’s where Analog comes in.

    Analog consists of a cleverly designed, beautifully made wooden box (available in either walnut or maple), custom-printed cards, and a metal divider/lid that keeps everything tidy. It’s designed to sit on your desk, show you what you need to do, and look good doing it.

    There are three card colors: white cards for what you need to do today, cream-colored cards for items you won’t get to until later, and darker cards for those someday/maybe tasks you haven’t committed to doing but are interested in. The cards are 100-pound smooth, uncoated paper that’s sturdy enough to stand up in the provided slot so you can see your tasks for the day at a glance. The back of all the cards have a very faint dot grid pattern printed onto them, which makes them handy for jotting notes.

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  • 16 Best Laptop Stands (2024): Adjustable, Portable, Lap Desks

    16 Best Laptop Stands (2024): Adjustable, Portable, Lap Desks

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    Still balancing your laptop on a stack of old books? It’s time to upgrade. Having the right laptop stand can make life more comfortable, so you can stop craning your neck while you work. The best stands raise your laptop’s screen (or external monitor!) close to eye level, which is better for maintaining a healthy posture. Some can even fit into a backpack for easy travel or switch configurations from sitting to standing. These are our favorites.

    Need more options for your home office? Read our guide to work-from-home gear.

    Updated February 2024: We’ve added adjustable stands from Branch and FlexiSpot. We’ve also updated our top pick from ObVus Solutions to its newest version and updated prices and links throughout.

    Special offer for Gear readers: Get WIRED for just $5 ($25 off). This includes unlimited access to WIRED.com, full Gear coverage, and subscriber-only newsletters. Subscriptions help fund the work we do every day.

    Peripherals Are Important

    Snagging one of the laptop stands below is one of many ways you can improve your posture when sitting at a desk for long periods. You can also connect your laptop to a separate second computer monitor. You’ll be able to multitask more easily with two screens, and you won’t have to strain your neck as much.

    Some of these laptop stands are best paired with a separate keyboard and mouse. These peripherals mean you can set your laptop farther away and at various heights, and you won’t need to stretch your arms in awkward ways to type. The right mouse can prevent muscle strain and wrist problems, so check out the picks in our Best Keyboards and Best Gaming Mouse guides. (You don’t need to be a gamer to use a gaming mouse!)


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