How many will your boss pay for?
If you've suddenly found yourself having to adjust to life working from home, you might need some new kit. Opening up your laptop on the kitchen table isn't the only thing you need to do to work effectively while in lock-down, so we've gathered together a load of useful tech to help get you through these strange times.
Twelve South Curve SE Laptop Stand
As you already know from working in an office, crouching over a laptop should only be reserved for meetings and trips out to coffee shops. A laptop stand is therefore essential, one to use while connected to an external keyboard and mouse. And the Curve SE from Twelve South is an awesome one.
Made of a single piece of metal, with cushioning pads where the laptop base sits, the Curve SE has been made with MacBooks in mind, but works fine for any laptop between 11 and 17 inches. The advantages of using a stand like this not only offers a better ergonomic working environment, but it leaves the base of the machine completely free to aid in cooling.
Available in black or white, the Curve SE is a great stand, in that it does just that... stands. The coated metal is tough and hardy, it frees up space on your desk below the laptop itself, and helps create a good work station.
£49.99
Available from www.amazon.co.uk
Logitech StreamCam
Video calling is now a way of life, and you might find yourself having several each working day. Whereas we nailed the sound issue in our feature about headsets for working from home, now let's deal with picture quality. Logitech's StreamCam is a great place to start as it offers Full HD video at an impressively quick 60fps.
The USB-C powered cam can be used for virtually anything you want, from the aforementioned video calls, to streaming your latest gaming conquest and recording a YouTube vlog. The cam can also be mounted sideways thanks to the adaptive mount, allowing you capture Instagram and Facebook Stories. Oh, and it also ships with a tripod mount giving even more freedom.
Small, powerful, and boasting auto focus and face tracking AI, the Logitech StreamCam will help you nail that video meeting and come out looking like a business pro, bro.
£139
Available from www.amazon.co.uk
HyperX Pulsefire Dart Mouse
Why not use the occasion of working form home to update that much-needed computer kit. A new mouse can make all the difference to a working environment, especially if you took our advice about the above laptop stand. HyperX's Pulsefire Dart is first and foremost a gaming mouse, but like much of the tech designed for gaming, it's high-spec and comfortable to use over long periods.
The mouse with programmable buttons and a changing LED lighting rig can be used wirlessly via the included dongle, or wired thanks to a USB-C cable, also included. The free software from HyperX means you can fiddle with the mouse's operation, from the lights to the dpi of the laser sensor underneath. All that, and it's damn comfortable to hold all day.
What's more, the HyperX Pulsefire Dart mouse can be charged wirelessly thanks to the next gadget we're taking a look at. Meanwhile, it's...
Approx £100
Visit www.hyperxgaming.com
HyperX ChargePlay Base
As we alluded to above (and in our recent review of a pair of HyperX headphones) both these gadgets can be charged wirelessly. Although compatible with any standard Qi-enabled charging base, the ChargePlay from HyperX themselves ticks several useful boxes.
The flat bit of tech, which is powered by a standard AC plug, boasts two areas onto which you drop your Qi compatible stuff. Yes, the mouse and headphones will charge up a treat, but you can also use it for your phone or anything else that can be powered in that manner.
Unobtrusive, compact, and featuring a lighting rig similar to the Pulsefire Dart mouse, the HyperX ChargePlay Base is a handy bit of kit to have on your new home-working desk.
Approx £50
Visit www.hyperxgaming.com
Elvie Pelvic Floor Trainer
And straight out of left field... something for vaginas! The Elvie Pelvic Floor Exercise Trainer is a gadget that women can use while at home, working away on those spreadsheets and monthly reports. Yes, it goes 'inside', allowing you to follow the instructions in the connected app and improve the strength of your pelvic floor.
Why spend all day squeezing your pelvic floor? Well, being strong in that area is a great way to prepare the body for childbirth, recover after giving birth, and also help with bladder control. It's also advisable to strengthen the pelvic floor if you're into rough sports and running, and generally to help fight against the ravishes of ageing.
The free app is extremely useful and in-depth, offering advice, workouts, and feedback as you go. So although you might not have been comfortable using something like this in the office, now that you're at home this is the perfect opportunity to strengthen that vagina! Your vagina is helping to fight Corona Virus!
£169
Available from www.amazon.co.uk