With more people working from home, setting up a home office has become necessary. Creating a productive and comfortable home office environment can significantly enhance your work efficiency and well-being. Here are five must-haves for an optimal home office setup:
5 Must-Haves for for Your Home Office
- Ergonomic Chair Invest in a chair that supports your back and promotes good posture. Features like adjustable height, lumbar support, and comfortable padding are essential.
- Adjustable Desk A desk that can be adjusted for sitting and standing positions helps reduce the strain from prolonged sitting.
- Multiple Laptops or PCs Having a working laptop and a gaming PC allows you to enjoy the benefits of portability and power, cater to different usage scenarios, and provide redundancy in case one device fails or needs maintenance.
- Multi-Monitor Setup Using two or more monitors can significantly increase your productivity by allowing you to multitask efficiently.
- Docking Station or KVM Switch A docking station that supports multiple peripherals, high-resolution displays, and fast data transfer rates can streamline your workspace, especially if you use a laptop. On the other hand, for those using multiple computers, a KVM switch can help you control multiple devices with a single keyboard and mouse setup, reducing desk clutter.
Since you’ve already built a comfortable and multitasking home office utilizing the first four must-haves, why don’t you streamline all the workflow and boost your productivity using a dock or a KVM switch?
*For the differences between a docking station and a KVM switch, please refer to KVM Switch vs. Docking Station: Choosing the Right Solution for You
A docking station that supports multiple peripherals, high-resolution displays, and fast data transfer rates can streamline your workspace, especially if you use a laptop. Among the many options available, Dell docking stations stand out for their reliability and performance. Models like the Dell Dock WD19 and WD22 are renowned for their superior features and build quality.
For those using multiple computers across different monitors, a KVM switch can be a game-changer. However, there are a few things you need to pay attention to when looking for a right device.
5 Things to Look for on a KVM Switch
- Port Compatibility Ensure that the KVM switch supports the ports of all your computers and monitors. No matter which types of ports are in your devices, make sure that the KVM switch support HDMI 2.1, DP 1.4 (better support DP Alt Mode), USB-C 3.0 or any other ports with relatively higher standards. The number of ports is also crucial; ensure there are enough to connect all your devices without needing additional adapters or hubs.
- Resolution and Refresh Rate Make sure the KVM switch can handle the resolution and refresh rates of your monitors. Most KVM switches now support 1080p@@60Hz/120Hz/144Hz and 4K(2160p)@60Hz/120Hz/144Hz. Even some support 8K@60Hz.
*If you want to have a even better experience when editing or gaming, you’d better look for ones supporting Dynamic HDR, VRR (G-Sync, FreeSync), and ALLM.
- System Support It is crucial that the KVM switch supports the operating systems and hardware of all your computers. As of 2024, the most popular PC operating systems in the market include Unix/ Windows/ Debian/ Ubuntu/ Fedora/ MacOS X/ Raspbian/ Ubuntu for Raspberry Pi and other Linux-based systems.
- Easy Switching Look for a KVM switch that offers a convenient switching mechanism, whether it's a physical button, keyboard shortcut, or remote control. The ease of switching between computers can significantly impact your workflow efficiency.
- Additional Features Some KVM switches come with additional features that enhance their usability and compatibility. For example, EDID emulation ensures that the monitor's resolution and icon arrangement remain consistent when switching between computers. Additionally, other KVM switches offering keyboard and mouse (K&M) pass-through support a wide range of keyboards, including wired, wireless, mechanical, and gaming keyboards.
After explaining what makes a good KVM switch, I have some perfect KVM switch recommendations right for you needs. As a leading brand in pro AV industry, TESmart introduced our 8K KVM switches in July. Besides all the functions and features mentioned above, we have more to offer.
TESmart 8K KVM Switch Docking Stations
TESmart 2-Port 8K60 USB-C KVM Switch Gaming Dock w/ ADI Chip, EDID, 4K144Hz for Gaming, 2 Laptops 1 Monitor——Experience true 8K60Hz vision with TESmart's pioneering EDID emulation technology in CKS201-M23, a USB-C KVM switch docking station. Long a leader in EDID emulation, TESmart introduces this advanced solution powered by HDMI 2.1, offering 12-bit color precision for 8K/4K editing and superior performance for 4K/144Hz gaming, enhanced with Dynamic HDR, VRR, FVA, and ALLM technologies. CKS201-M23 supports resolutions up to 8K@60Hz and is compatible with Nvidia and AMD graphics cards for stable, tear-free gaming visuals. The package includes complete PC cables, 2 USB-C cables, and a built-in 60W power module for each laptop. It supports wired network connections, USB 3.2 Gen 1 for super-speed data transfer, and multiple input switching methods. CKS201-M23 ensures seamless operation with features like K&M pass-through, EDID emulation, and support for various operating systems, making it ideal for home, office, or educational use.
Additionally, its sibling product, CKS202-P23, offers dual 4K60 support for two laptops and two monitors, providing larger screens, higher resolutions, and greater performance.
TESmart DP 1.4 Dual 8K@60Hz KVM Switch Gaming Dock for 2 PCs 2 Monitors, w/ EDID, G-Sync FreeSync——Experience dual 8K60 vision with DP1.4, enhanced by TESmart's pioneering EDID emulation technology in DKS202-M24, a dual-monitor KVM switch docking station. This advanced solution supports 12-bit color precision for dual 8K/4K editing and excels in dual 4K/144Hz gaming with G-Sync, FreeSync, FEC, and DSC technologies, compatible with Nvidia and AMD graphics cards for stable, tear-free visuals. Achieving dual 4K@144Hz/165Hz through DSC 1.2a, DKS202-M24 includes complete PC cables, 2 USB 3.0 cables, and 4 DP cables. It efficiently manages two PCs with a single keyboard, mouse, and dual 8K60Hz displays, supporting resolutions up to 8K@60Hz and backward compatibility with 4K@60Hz/120Hz/144Hz. With modes for extending or splitting desktops, four input switching methods, seamless K&M operation, EDID emulation, USB 3.2 Gen 1, hot plug support, and wide OS compatibility, it is perfect for home, office, or educational use.
Its sibling product, DKS203-M24, supports two DP 1.4 PCs and three DP 1.4 monitors for enhanced performance.
Conclusion
Different people have different ideas about must-haves in home offices. But I assure you that these 5 items will take your WFH experience to a next level, ensuring productivity, comfort, and efficiency like never before. A KVM switch, of course, is the icing on the cake completing your WFH setup.
