MakeUseOf » workspace

How To Design Your Own Awesome Workstation Like Mine

Erez Zukerman — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 23:31:20 +0000

I work in a tiny apartment, and use two 24” monitors. I needed a workstation that fits into a tiny niche, but can still accommodate me for many hours every day and let me work productively. This called for a custom solution, and I rose to the challenge, designing my one-of-a-kind workstation. While it’s fun to show and tell, I think I’ve learned some valuable lessons along the way.

If you’re not absolutely happy about your current workstation, read on – maybe one of these tips can help you transform your office into something awesome.

Iterate, Iterate, Iterate

This is not my workstation. I mean, this was my workstation, circa April of 2005. Compare this with the current iteration:

Can you see the resemblance? Two monitors, a recliner. Sure, the top image uses CRTs and a cheap IKEA desk (2005) and the lower image uses LCDs, an Ergotron dual monitor arm and a custom-built chassis, but the principle is the same. There have been about three or four similar setups in the interim, each getting more refined. This is important, because building a workstation from scratch can cost a pretty penny.

Before you spend all that money on monitors, a recliner and what not, I propose you cobble together a cheaper version of what you have in mind. For example, I had a triple-monitor setup for a while, but after using it for several months I realized that the third monitor wasn’t really improving my productivity all that much.

Experimenting over time will let you gradually refine your setup and see what really works for you. If you look carefully, you will see that in 2005 I was still using a mouse (you can see it near the center of the frame), while today I have a trackball strapped to the arm of the chair.

Design From The Bottom Up

I mean this advice in its most literal sense. For most people, working at a computer means sitting down. Unless you go for a total “standing workstation” solution, your chair is the anchor of your setup. It’s the center and everything is built around it. If you use an office desk chair, you will probably want to craft your workstation around a desk. For years now, I have shunned office chairs in favor of big, heavy recliners. You can’t really use a desk when you’re sitting on one of these babies, but they are oh-so comfortable, even when you sit for hours.

This is very related to the previous tip: You will probably know if you like a chair only after months of use. Get a chair, cobble something around it, and give it some time. If it works, see how you can take it to the next level. If it doesn’t, junk the chair and try something else.

Sketch It Up

Once you have a good idea of what you’d like your new setup to look like, you should probably take the time to set it down on paper (or screen). I used Google SketchUp to draw the basic layout of the new rig I wanted. I didn’t make that recliner – I used SketchUp’s 3D Warehouse feature to hunt for a chair that looks somewhat like the one I use, and then built my setup around it.

This is an important step, because it lets you iron out key details. For instance, the way the pipes fit into each other so the monitor arm can rotate:

This may be obvious to you as you think about the design, but will it be clear to someone else when you try to explain it with some hand-waving and a napkin? A clear 3D design makes it that much easier to explain what you’re trying to have made.

Find The Right Tradesmen

While some people know how to weld, I don’t. That’s why the SketchUp drawings were so important. Once I had a clear view of what I wanted the rig to look like, I called around until I found a metalworker that sounded suitable for the job. I then sent him my SketchUp drawings. Once he had a clear idea of the job, he came over to see the actual gear (chair, monitors, monitor arm – I already had all of these). He took measurements, we ironed out payment details, and off he went to make the rig.

Above you can see the rig as it came from him. It was exactly what I had in mind. It sat on five wheels; the “external” pipe is a cable lead, used for snaking the monitor data and power cables down from the monitor arm onto the base (or under the base, actually).

This whole project would have flopped had the metalworker messed up. But I was fortunate enough to pick a skilled, intelligent contractor who really got what I’m trying to do and needed a minimum of direction. I can’t overstress how important this point is. Unless you’re making the whole thing on your own, take the time to shop around and find someone you can really trust.

Use Wood

No matter how hard you try to think of everything, there will probably be last-minute changes. Above you see me drilling a new hole for cables near the back-end of the unit. At first, I thought I will place my computer so that all the ports face forwards. I actually built the rig that way, and it looked very cluttered. I then decided to turn it around, but needed a way to snake the cables. Since I used wood, this was not a problem – just grab a drill and make the hole I need.

So, wherever you can, use wood. And if you can, use standard-size planks that you can easily swap out in the future. I intentionally did not varnish or treat the wood I am using: If I ever regret making this hole or want to change things, it would be easy and cheap to just swap out this plank for a new one.

Zip Ties Are Your Friends

Cable management is a pain. For this setup, I went with really long data cables for the LCDs (way too long, really, as I found out in the end). Thanks to the wonder of zip ties, I was able to manage a crazy excess of cable without too much clutter. It would have been better to get exactly the right length in the first place, but this almost never happens in real life (at least not for me…).

Final Thoughts

I’m very happy about how this iteration of my workstation came out, and I’m certain it will faithfully serve me for the next year or two. The front is clean and uncluttered, and all the cables run under the unit (above is what it looks like when connected and working).

If you have an awesome workstation, do share it in the comments! How did you make it and has it helped your productivity?

Find Free Or Cheap Convenient Freelance Workspaces With Loose Cubes

Angela Alcorn — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 19:31:50 +0000

If you’re a freelancer who moves about a lot, you probably recognise the value of a good freelancer-friendly workplace. Maybe you have a list of coffee shops and libraries you regularly haunt which have decent Internet, a place to plug in a laptop and hopefully some good coffee to keep you going while you work. But what happens when you need a little more than a coffee shop? Where do you go? How do you find a decent workspace then?

Loose Cubes has evolved to help freelancers answer this sort of question. Loose Cubes basically connects the roaming freelancer to a cheap, convenient workplace in the area of their choice. It doesn’t matter if you’re looking for a free coworking space for a day, a place with meeting rooms that you can use for one week or just a freelancer-friendly coffee shop in an unfamiliar town. Loose Cubes collects all the best venues and makes sure you can find them when you need them.

Finding A Great Workspace Via Recommendations

After a quick signup with Loose Cubes, which can be done using Facebook Connect to make it even quicker, you’re ready to start browsing for coworking spaces.

Part of the sign-up process involves you declaring what sort of profession you have and what sort of workspace you prefer to use. For instance, you can choose to find workplaces which are “green”, “bohemian”, “lively” or “professional”. It all boils down to what you think will suit your working style and it will help Loose Cubes to connect you to the right people and workplaces.

If you have connected your account to Facebook, Loose Cubes will actively recommend workspaces to you according to people you know. When viewing host profiles you’ll also be able to see which of your Facebook friends knows the host, making it easier to decide whether you are keen to work with this host or not.

Searching For A Great Workspace

It’s also really easy to search for a workspace by location or postcode. Just plug your details in and go. Loose Cubes is already available in more than 400 cities in over 50 countries and since more people are signing up every day that will increase rapidly.

Becoming a Host

In much the same way as Couchsurfing works, you can offer your workspace as a coworking space – no matter how simple you think your place is. Coffee shops with Wi-Fi can register alongside professional coworking spaces and regular Joes with a spare couch. Since the freelancers can weigh up the options for themselves, you’re likely to attract the right sort of people.

All hosts are encouraged to describe their premises well and to provide a photo of the workspace. It’s up to the host to decide whether to charge or not for use of the facilities.

Some hosts will be keen to earn rent, increase creativity in an office space, coffee-shop owners may just be happy to have regular clientele stopping by for a coffee, while a lonely freelancer may just be happy to have a little company on occasion. Whatever the reasoning, the host and the roaming freelancer can discuss these things before agreeing to work together.

Similar To Loose Cubes

Similar services to Loose Cubes include CouchSurfing, ride sharing websites, holiday house-swapping and any job-search sites which involve an element of recommendation.

Are you a roaming freelancer looking for a workspace? Or would you be keen to share your office space? How has Loose Cubes helped you?

Take A Look At Tina’s Mobile Work Setup [Show & Tell]

Tina Sieber — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 22:31:51 +0000

A couple of months ago, James revealed his home setup and challenged the rest of the MakeUseOf team to do the same.

Well, I don’t work from a static location, so I don’t have a home setup. I adjusted my setup for mobility and have tested and improved my ‘system’ while traveling across Canada for the past couple of weeks. You will find that due to the nature of traveling, my setup is extremely basic, yet practical and functional.

Main Computer

Obviously, I work from a laptop. My HP nw8440 mobile workstation is an older model, but it has been serving me very well. I recently had the screen replaced, switched from Windows XP to Windows 7, and upgraded the RAM. My extended warranty is good for another 18 months, so I’m planning to get a new laptop in about a year from now.

I went with this model mainly because of the screen. When I was researching for a laptop back in late 2007, models with glossy LCDs had conquered the market, a trend I did not wish to follow. It had to be matte for me. Above all, however, I wanted a 15.5″ laptop with a WUXGA resolution. A high resolution is a blessing if you are limited to one screen, but want to open two windows next to each other, as I often do.

The screenshot above shows my laptop and the key accessories. I use an international power plug adapter (red), a mouse (blue), and a neoprene cover amateurishly stuffed into a cotton bag. This picture was taken at a hostel in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Since I’m traveling with buses, trains, ferries, rental cars, and airplanes, I have to keep my stuff fairly compact and well organized. What has worked best for me is using a carry-on backpack that holds my laptop and other valuables while traveling and doubles as a daypack when hiking or sightseeing. The cotton bag around the neoprene cover holds the accessories when the laptop and backpack have to be separated. A dedicated laptop bag would be much more elegant, but not practical since it wouldn’t fit into my preferred backpack.

Network

My network setup is straight forward – a laptop with internal WiFi adapter, free public WiFi, connect and go.

People often ask me whether I have trouble finding an Internet connection. Well, since I rely on it, I kind of organize my trips around Internet access. But frankly, while traveling in Canada, the US, and Europe, finding WiFi has not been a problem. I have found reliable Internet throughout my journeys, even in the most remote places, and in case the accommodation itself doesn’t offer Internet (almost all hostels offer free WiFi, though), you are sure to find a McDonald’s or Starbucks close-by.

The screenshot above shows my view from where I worked in the Gaspésie, Québec. I was literally only steps away from the beach (at least while working).

When I was traveling for a month in 2009, I also wrote this article: How To Stay Digitally Charged and Connected On The Road.

Working While Traveling

Don’t pity me, envy me. I get to work wherever I want and whenever I want. That’s huge and hopefully it will be easier and more common in the future! Working while traveling or rather traveling while working is a challenge, but all it takes is the right mindset and occasionally a good headset.

What has worked best for me is to do routine tasks in the morning, right after breakfast. I work for an hour or two and then spend the day getting to the next destination, sightseeing, hiking, relaxing, chatting, or shopping. I typically do research and write my articles in the late afternoon or evening, along with more routine work. This takes anywhere from two to five hours, depending on the workload, the type of article I’m working on, and how much non-work-related tasks I sneak in. Overall, I spend more time outside or on the road than on the computer.

Web Services & Software

Like James, I’m a web services minimalist. For my job with MakeUseOf however, Google Mail has become invaluable, as it allows me to easily filter, tag, and follow up on emails. For private emails I still rely on Thunderbird. I also use Flickr to share photos and Plurk to keep a minimalist version of a personal diary.

I use two browsers - Firefox and Google Chrome. Chrome is my work horse. It is barely customized, but since it’s fast, even with many tabs open, I use it when researching and writing articles. My Firefox is a ‘custom monster’ in which I keep all my standard websites opened. To write articles, I use BlogDesk and I process all my screenshots in IrfanView.

Conclusion

And that’s all there is to it. No magic, just a plain and simple setup, which travels around the world with me. This piece was written in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. When the article is published, I will be in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Upcoming destinations – Sweden via Germany and Denmark.

Do you take your work on the road? What are some tips and tricks you would share with fellow working travelers?

Image credits: olly

Expand Your Desktop Workspace With Dexpot – Cool Virtual Desktop Software [Windows]

Erez Zukerman — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 18:31:27 +0000

The other day, I was talking to one of my friends, who is an avid Linux user. He told me that one of the Linux features he simply can’t do without is “virtual desktops”. These are multiple workspaces that allow you to divide and conquer your workload into several discrete areas, so that you don’t get a jumble of unrelated icons cluttering your taskbar and distracting you from what you’re trying to do. Well, now I can tell my friend that such a thing does exist in the Windows world – maybe not as a native feature, but in the form of the powerful Dexpot application, which is free for personal use. In fact, the app bills itself as “the tool Windows lacks”.

Dexpot is an established player in the Windows virtual desktop space – if you’ve ever looked for a virtual desktop software solution for Windows, you may well have come across it. It is under active development, with the latest version released on June 29th this year. There’s also a portable version which you can take along on a USB stick.

Out of The Box Functionality

When you install and run Dexpot, you will instantly see a few subtle changes to your system. The first thing you may notice is that the application’s taskbar icon provides instant access to four workspaces. It looks like this:

If you click on any of the alternate workspaces, all of your currently running tasks will instantly disappear off the taskbar. This can be a real “a-ha” moment when showing the app to someone – it’s an instant demonstration of how it can radically alter your working style and unclutter your desktop.

The next change you may notice off the bat is that Dexpot adds its own menu entry for the Window menu of every app running on your system:

This is one way you can instantly get a feel of Dexpot’s power. The menu lets you do all sorts of operations with the window, not all related to other virtual desktops – you can set it as always on top, or minimize it to the tray, too. But obviously, using the menu on a day-to-day basis would not be the easiest way to enjoy Dexpot’s power, so now would be a great time to dive into the configuration interface and find some keyboard shortcuts!

Initial Configuration

As can be expected for such a mature app, Dexpot’s configuration interface is chock-full of options, tweaks and settings. I won’t take you through the whole interface (half the fun is exploring!) but let’s look at some of the more common options.

I like how Dexpot does not automatically set itself to start with Windows – that’s very polite and un-intrusive. But if you’re serious about using the app, you would definitely want to check the box that says Start with Windows. Also, if you’re just getting started with this whole virtual desktop idea, four desktops (the default) may be too much. I changed mine to three – I have a dual-monitor system, so plenty of windows can fit onto a single desktop, and I think three should be enough for me. Speaking of dual monitors – a “desktop” includes both monitors. It’s your entire workspace, however large it is.

Now, let’s get back to those keyboard shortcuts I promised. You can find a boatload of these under Controls:

As you can see, the default key for switching desktops is Alt+number (Alt+2 for desktop 2, and so on). And to send (move) a window to a different desktop, use Alt+Shift+number. You can also switch workspaces using the mouse, and Dexpot also offers a complex interface for configuring what happens when you interact with a window’s title bar:

Bells & Whistles

The last thing I’d like to discuss is Dexpot’s optional plugins. Most of these are disabled by default, but they can add lots of functionality. For instance, the Dexcube plugin enables a Compiz-like rotating 3D cube effect for switching between desktops:

On a dual-monitor system, the cube only shows up on one monitor. But on my system (which is not a monster gaming rig) the cube transitions were impressively smooth and quick. There are lots of other plugins, as well.

Final Thoughts

As usual in reviewing such powerful apps, I have only skimmed the surface of what Dexpot can do. I haven’t even discussed customizing per-desktop wallpaper, desktop names, and lots of other things you can set and tweak.

It is not often that I get to describe an application as “humble”, but that’s the first word that comes to mind when I think of Dexpot. Installing it is like meeting a new person who doesn’t look like much at first, but then you start talking to them and discover how truly deep they are. Out of the box, Dexpot’s defaults are very sane – conservative, even. But as you dig into its myriad settings and options, you will discover it offers fantastic customization options. Simply put, this is a very powerful virtual desktop software solution. Highly recommended.

If You Could Freelance Anywhere, Where Would You Live? [MakeUseOf Poll]

Angela Alcorn — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 01:30:17 +0000

Last week’s poll was a face-off between iPhone or Android. I thought it would be a much closer race, but the winner shone from the very beginning. Did you guess which it would be? Of course you did.

After receiving 618 votes, Android sustained a landslide victory over iPhone. The poll tallied just shy of 900 votes overall, with a mere 218 votes going to the iPhone. A surprising number of votes went to the little guys – the “neither” option collected 62 votes. The most fascinating thing about this poll though, was the comments. Many MakeUseOf users have done their research and listed positives and negatives for both Android and iPhone, yet often the final decision rested on one little detail they couldn’t live without. Both iPhone and Android have some adjustments to make, obviously.

Results and this week’s poll after the jump.

As you can see, Android is clearly the most popular choice with MakeUseOf readers.

And now on to this week’s question: If you could freelance online from anywhere, where would you live?

We realise that there are a lot of people who can telecommute or freelance from home these days. So, if you don’t need to be anywhere in particular for work, where do you want to be? Will the next ten years herald a mass exodus to beach resort towns? Forest areas? Will remote villages (with broadband) suddenly find themselves alongside an army of quiet freelancers?

Let’s find out! Tell us where you would go if you could work from anywhere.

If you’ve chosen “other”, please do let us know what sort of place it would be. Don’t worry about specifics, but let us know the main feature of the places you’re drawn to. It’ll be great to hear all of your ideas!

5 Killer Optimization Apps To Maximize Your Netbook’s Potential

Evan Wondrasek — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 22:30:42 +0000

Netbooks are light, portable, and have become a great intermediary between smartphones and full-sized laptops. While first generation netbooks offered weak hardware specifications, most modern netbooks come equipped with high-end hardware and batteries that can last a full day.

There are a few downsides to netbooks, though. Their light weight and portability is mostly due to a very small display. Just because you can run all of your favorite applications on your netbook doesn’t mean they will render correctly on an 8″ or 10″ screen. Netbooks also typically lack some hardware (like an optical drive) that a normal computer would have.

In this article, I’ll show you some great Netbook optimization applications that will help fix these inherent downsides and allow you to make the best use of your netbook.

Winsupermaximize (Windows)

Winsupermaximize is a tiny application that allows you to put folders and applications into full screen mode just like your browser. After launching the Netbook optimization application (no installation required) just press WIN + F11 to enter and exit full screen mode.

Winsupermaximize works by removing the title bar of your folders or applications and maximizing the window. For ideal results, the program creator recommends setting the Windows taskbar to auto-hide.

Before:

After:

Dropbox (Windows, Mac, and Linux)

Using a netbook means you’ll typically be separated from your files and documents on your main computer. Maintaining your files on USB flash drives can be cumbersome (and I typically misplace them anyway), but Dropbox provides a free and easy way to keep your netbook optimized and synchronized with your other computers.

To use Dropbox, just register for a free 2GB account and install the client on any computers you want to synchronize. Any files and folders you place in your Dropbox will immediately be synchronized across all folders. A web interface is also available so you can access your files anywhere you have an internet connection.

If you like Dropbox, check out the many other ways you can use it.

VirtuaWin (Windows)

Managing multiple folders and applications on a netbook can be difficult because of their limited screen size. VirtuaWin gives you multiple virtual desktops (Linux users will recognize these as workspaces) so you can spread your work out across multiple “screens”.

It can take a little time to get accustomed to using virtual desktops, but they can greatly increase your productivity and serve as yet another method of Netbook optimization. VirtuaWin is highly customizable and allows you to use convenient hotkeys to switch between your workspaces.

Daemon Tools Lite (Windows)

Since most netbooks don’t include optical drives, many people are forced to purchase an external CD or DVD drive to install their favorite software. Daemon Tools lets you ditch the external drives and mount disc images from CDs, DVDs, and Blu Rays instead. When you mount a disc image you can use the software just as if the disc was inserted in your computer.

Another great perk of mounting discs from a file is that the access speeds are much faster than from an optical drive. That means when you use software from a virtual CD it can install up to 50x faster.

Check out these articles for more information about ripping and mounting disc images.

Google Chrome (Windows, Mac, Linux)

Google’s web browser was created with netbooks in mind. Besides being really fast, Chrome has a great user interface that maximizes web content and keeps the browser bits to a minimum. Now that Chrome supports extensions, Firefox users can install many of their favorite add-ons so to get the same browsing experience.

With these applications, you should find that you can maximize your productivity and get a lot more out of your netbook. Have any suggestions that would be a good addition to this list? Share them with us in the comments.

Image credit: zieak / CC BY 2.0

Home Office Design Ideas and Tips for a Web Worker

Tim Lenahan — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 01:31:34 +0000

Web working is turning out to be a very popular idea these days. Many people are turning to the Internet for their main source of income, making the physical place they work in a bit less important (I’m beginning the journey to web working myself). Those who make their living using the Internet don’t necessarily need to be tied down to some office cubicle on the tenth floor of some huge office building anymore. For many folks, in order to accomplish the task of working from home (or some other place) the work space becomes very important.

In this article I would like to share some home office design ideas that every web worker needs to know when setting up their home office. I have scoured the Internet and have found some blogs and links that I think will help us immensely in our journey to equipping the home office. Some tips will refer to the work atmosphere, while others will refer to actual work equipment.

In my web search for home office design ideas, tips and tools, I came across the blog of Connie Bensen.

She works as a community strategist and in a post back in 2007 she shared a bit about her home office. If you watch the photo presentation linked to in the post, you’ll find out that her home office has these attributes:

Location is downstairs, out of her main living area – there could be a few reasons for this, one of which being that there are less distractions and more control over the work environment.
Multiple computer desktops, including personal laptop, employer issued laptop and a flat panel monitor – she’s keeping her social networking feeds separate from her “work.” I wrote an article about using multiple monitors to be productive.
A 3-in1 printer.
A large screen television for playing the Food Network – some people may find this type of thing a distraction but it could also offer a much needed reprieve.
A seating area for doing email.
Cats – having pets and petting them can offer great relaxation when needed. Be careful they don’t become a distraction, such as walking across keyboards!
Atmosphere addons, such as a fireplace and a great view.

Web Worker Daily is an awesome one-stop place to find many tips for web workers but let’s take a look at just a few articles about the (home) office. First of all, check out 7 simple ways to improve your home office.

I won’t spoil the whole article for you, but a few tools shared in the article are:

A houseplant – it can be a healthy addition to your surroundings to see some green plants when all you’re used to looking at are the walls and a computer screen.
A whiteboard – whether it’ll be for a daily task list, messages or presenting, I think I’ll be needing one of these! Check out online whiteboard-type tools!
Healthy snacks and drinks – as much as I love to eat, I haven’t set up a snack area yet. I like the idea of making HEALTHY snacks more accessible so they’re the first I reach for. I was also considering adding a small fridge to my office space but I’m not sure how much it would add to my electric bill.

They also did an article about ergonomics in the home office. Like the author, I have found myself with discomfort because of working at a desk (my problem was lower back pain). He added a better chair with better back support, external mouse and keyboard (I couldn’t live without my external peripherals!) and regular breaks including exercise. The post also offers a list of ergonomic tips for on the go times and a list of links to help you with your office situation.

Also via Web Worker Daily, add a pen and paper to the tool list for the home office!

The folks over at Undress For Success have a few suggested office tools to add to your home office arsenal that I hadn’t thought of.

Although they are pretty heavy on the Apple thing, they have some good points by suggesting these tools:

A webcam – great idea, especially if you intend to interact with humans at some point! Sometimes the written word or phone conversations just won’t cut it.
Mobile phone – the writer went directly into an Apple pitch without talking about the specifics of why a mobile phone is so important, but some of the perks are obvious. Being able to be contacted anywhere is a plus. Being able to text yourself notes to remember when you return to your office is another. The list could go on.
Tech support – have a plan WHEN something goes wrong that you can’t fix! Notice I said WHEN not IF! Have some kind of contact that you can immediately turn to when things go whackadoodle!

OK, let’s summarize when we’ve found in these articles. I’ll break it down into two categories, location and equipment.

Location

1. Out of the way – A good location is one with the least amount of distractions possible and the main living area does not fall into this category!

2. Comfortable atmosphere – Choose colors, views, lighting, etc. that is conducive not only to relaxing but also focusing.

3. Houseplants – These can add color and give you something other than electronics to look at. I suppose they can add oxygen to the air too, right?

4. Animals – I have several cats and they provide much needed breaks when they mosey into my space looking for some lovin’. Obviously if you are allergic or you really dislike animals, this can add a distraction.

5. Snacks – I put snacks in this category because the idea is that HEALTHY snacks should be located someplace that they are easy to get to. Otherwise I’d head to the fridge for something unhealthy, and that’s not good!

Equipment

1. Desk – Think ergonomically!

2. Computer - I use a laptop but have it set a level so as to not strain my neck and have an external flat panel hooked to it.

3. Multiple monitors – For some tips on using multiple monitors, read my other post.

4. External keyboard and mouse – This can work to reduce strain but I also make use of it to add speed and accuracy.

5. 3-in-1 printer – Being able to print and copy is necessary for any home office. A scanner is also good to reduce paper clutter if you prefer to stay organized on your computer.

6. Note paper and pen – Jot thoughts down you want to come back to this way! I also write down reminders I need to remember first thing in the morning.

7. A whiteboard (and pegboard) – There are many uses for these which is why I still need to get one (or both).

I know there is more that I can add to this list of the web worker’s home office design ideas. What can you add?

Image credits: MorgueFile.com

Tonido: Cloudless Computing On Your Desktop

Damien Oh — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 16:01:05 +0000

While there are plenty of sites that allows you to upload your files and share with others, there might be a handful of you that are paranoid about the privacy of your data or who are concerned that your data will get lost when the third party sites go out of business. Tonido could be the solution to tackle this. With Tonido, you can now create a web server and access/share your local files online.

The concept behind Tonido is simple. Instead of storing all your data on a third party site and worrying about your privacy, you can instead keep all your files on your local hard drive and use a web server to connect to your computer. There is no need to worry about your data being lost, and you are able to have access to your files, be it online or offline.

In fact, if you take the extra effort to try out Tonido, you will find that it is more than just a web server. It is more of a desktop suite that comes with various extensible applications to allow you to organize your photos, music, project collaborations and a Personal Information Manager (PIM) to manage your personal life.

When you first install Tonido, it will prompt you to create a profile. This profile will be the account that you use to access your desktop, both online and offline.

Once you have logged into the dashboard, you should see all the applications line up on the left pane.

Jukebox

The Jukebox module is where you can import all your music and play them over the Web.

Photos

Instead of uploading all your photos to Flickr or Photobucket just to share them with your friends, you can easily create a share group and share all your photos with others within this Photos modules. You can also tag and comment on other people’s photos.

Thots

Fancy a personal blog but do not want others to see it? The Thots application serves as a diary or a personal journal where you can post random thoughts to it.

Several things that Thots allows you to do: keep a personal journal to record the events in your life, Twitter support to share individual thots, bookmark webpages and clipping text from the web (with Firefox plugins) and many other things you can do with a blog.

Webshare

Whenever you need to share a file or folder from your desktop, there is no need to zip it up and upload it to the web anymore. With Webshare, you can easily add your folders and share them with your friends.

Workspace

Tasks, Calendar, Contacts, Notes and Files all in one place. You can use the Workspace to enter your appointments of the days, the tasks that need to be done and all the contacts you have. On the front, you will be able to see a quick summary of all the appointments for the day, to do list and so on. There is even a feed module that you can subscribe to so you won’t ever forget anything.

One thing that I find lacking is an email module to access your email.

Remote Web Access

By default, the remote web access is disabled. Luckily, you can quickly turn it on without much fiddling around. On the center of the dashboard, you can find a link “Run Web Access Setup Wizard”. Click on that and follow a few steps. In as little as 5 minutes, you will be able to get a connection to the web and access your data anywhere with Internet access.

Tonido runs on multiple platforms (Windows, Mac and Linux) and it is free for personal use. There is no mention of pricing on the site, but it seems that there will be a premium version in the future.

Overall, Tonido is a great software with plenty of useful applications for web workers. I certainly find myself using it very often on my Linux computer. What about you?