My Desk Setup
Tags: watercooler, remotelife
Published: 2023-05-10 03:13:33

---
title: My Desk Setup
published: true
date: 2023-05-09 12:00:00 UTC
tags: watercooler,remotelife
canonical_url: https://aaron.ellington.io/dev/desk/
---

## TL;DR

![Final Desk Setup](https://i.imgur.com/911108D.jpeg)

- Starting Items
    - [Motorized Standing Desk](https://a.co/d/i0ha0Cs)
    - [Mesh Net for Cable Managment](https://a.co/d/g8GsfRC)
    - [Under-Desk Headphone Hook](https://a.co/d/5SP4oay)
    - [Desk Wheels](https://a.co/d/1zf20C2)
- Devices/Webcam Setup
    - [MacBook Air M2](https://www.apple.com/macbook-air-m2/)
    - [Dell S2722QC](https://a.co/d/bPkdedZ)
    - [AirPods Max](https://www.apple.com/airpods-max/)
    - [Tripod Mount MagSafe Stand](https://a.co/d/bxlct1u)
    - [Dell S2722QC Tripod-like mount](https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:6017032)
    - [iPhone 14 Pro](https://www.apple.com/iphone-14-pro/)
- Extra Items
    - [MagSafe iPhone/AirPod Charger](https://a.co/d/7PiraYa)
    - [Xbox Series S](https://www.xbox.com/en-US/consoles/xbox-series-s)
    - [Xbox Controller Stand](https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5964838)
    - [Water Bottle](https://a.co/d/7xrnQyq)

## Step 1: Define Requirements
- Quickly switch between standing and sitting
- Easily move around the house
- Clutter free (as much as possible)
- One computer to use at home and on the go

## Step 2: Computer and Desk

First, I need a computer. With my requirement of using the same computer on the go and at home I need a laptop. Any laptop would due as long as it supports charging and an external monitor via a single USB-C cable. I choose a [MacBook Air M2](https://www.apple.com/macbook-air-m2/).

Next is the desk. I just got a sturdy and cheap [Motorized Standing Desk](https://a.co/d/i0ha0Cs) on Amazon.

I didn't want a bunch of cables hanging off the back of my desk and I didn't want anything too complicated so I got a [Mesh Net](https://a.co/d/g8GsfRC) for cable management. It made it easy to just shove a bunch of wires in there and not worry about it.

I wanted to be able to roll my desk around so I got some [Wheels](https://a.co/d/1zf20C2).

I also wanted to have a nice spot to hang my [AirPods Max](https://www.apple.com/airpods-max/) headset so I ordered a [Under-Desk Headphone Hook](https://a.co/d/5SP4oay).

I've actually already achieved all of my requirements, but I think I can do better.

![Desk with laptop](https://i.imgur.com/vYjYu4h.jpeg)

![Under desk](https://i.imgur.com/HXa40uP.jpg)

## Step 3: Bigger Screen

While I can do all of my work on a 13-inch laptop... I would like a bigger screen.

I wanted a 4K monitor but I wanted to continue to plug just 1 wire into my laptop when I sat down at my desk. I found some good USB-C docks but I was dreading the cost as well as the extra wire clutter it would cause.

But then I found the [Dell S2722QC](https://a.co/d/bPkdedZ), a 27-inch 4K USB-C monitor that will both charge my laptop and work as a second display with a SINGLE cable. Perfect!

![With Monitor](https://i.imgur.com/bK7IYuj.jpg)

## Step 4: Webcam

Consumer webcams suck. Since I was using macOS I was able to use my iPhone as a webcam through the "Camera Continuity" feature. I needed a good way to mount my phone above my monitor but I could't find any great options online.

For convenience, I wanted to magnetically attach my phone. So I designed and 3D printed [this mount](https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:6017032) for a [Tripod Mount MagSafe Stand](https://a.co/d/bxlct1u) that I found. It fit perfectly on the back of my new monitor.

![3D printed monitor mount](https://i.imgur.com/XibyfnQ.jpg)

![3D printed monitor mount](https://i.imgur.com/aXEPc0k.jpg)

![3D printed monitor mount](https://i.imgur.com/EvjGjnD.jpg)

## Step 5: Mostly Final Setup

This is my final-ish setup, realistically my desk is not going to be this clean looking. I'm missing a few extras.

![Final Product](https://i.imgur.com/ItWcwCk.jpg)

## Step 6: Actual Final Setup

I added a wire to charge my headset and a [MagSafe iPhone/AirPod Charger](https://a.co/d/7PiraYa).

I had this nice 4k monitor that I didn't want to go to waste, so I hooked up my [Xbox Series S](https://www.xbox.com/en-US/consoles/xbox-series-s) on my desk and to my monitor. Now I can use my monitor as my an extended display for my laptop or the console.

Underneath the desk still looks pretty clean and I still just have a single power cable going out the back of my desk.

Mission accomplished.

![s](https://i.imgur.com/rfEAqBq.jpg)

![s](https://i.imgur.com/NKJr2gX.jpg)