Well, I think you’re off your rocker but it has nothing to do with anything you wrote here. In fact, I think you did a nice job of presenting the bedrock basics of the home office rather than a laundry list that includes everything down to little action figures and cloth to wipe your display with. The one thing I would add to this list is a good desk/table. I totally tried to cut costs and got a $40 table from IKEA. For one thing, it’s way too small. I have a 23″ display, a laptop, a wireless keyboard, and a wacom tablet. It’s insufficient. Also, I tend to eat and drink at this desk quite a bit, and this piece of crap table top is not water resistant. I’m looking at an upgrade now (I used to have a folding table from Staples–it wasn’t all too much to look at but it wasn’t too expensive, was six feet long, had folding legs, and was tough tough durable. I wish I hadn’t gotten rid of it). So I would add to your list a good, durable desk with enough of an area that you can put your display back a bit so your nose is not touching your screen and so you can have ample room for reference books, phone(s), speakers (important), food and beverages, and whatever else (scanner, printer, etc., though I’d probably stash these two items underneath the desk.)

I will have to look into upgrading my DSL line, I never really thought about how much time I spend transferring files around.

Eric

And I’m with you on the mice, too. I’m using the older Logitech MX1000, have been thinking about the Revolution MX, but I’ve become addicted to 3 thumb buttons and I believe the Revolution only has two. I suspect I’ll switch before too long, though. :)

The key is to be able to keep trying the peripherals till you find one that you can’t live with out. I think a lot of people simply don’t know what they’re missing!

1. A way decent keyboard. I use a Logitech G11 (which is technically a gaming keyboard, but you can use the extra 18 keys for macros in any program (like Dreamweaver). The G11 and G15 both have glow behind illumination (done nicely). Great for late nights when the wife is sleeping or in low-light situations (since I tend to like the dungeon approach to work). I had a Saitek and its tactile feel was horrible. And some of the keys wouldn’t press unless you pounded them with about a 100 foot-pounds of pressure. Go with a quality keyboard from MS or Logitech. The G11 isn’t wireless but I don’t know what the attraction of wireless keyboards are anyway. Heaven forbid you need to access the BIOS. Keep your old PS/2 handy.

2. A high-quality mouse. I use a Logitech Revolution MX and can honestly say it is the best mouse I’ve ever used. Wireless, laser-light, and the scroll wheel is unbelievable. If you haven’t tried one, buy them. I paid the $100 buck (full retail) when it came out - after just two minutes of playing with it, but you can get them on eBay for about $60 now I think. I don’t use a mouse pad (dumb!) and it works great on any surface that I’ve had so far.

I go to other people’s computer setups frequently, and I’m always amazed at what they ‘tolerate’ on a daily basis. I wouldn’t use a computer for more than 10 minutes without my Revolution, but not at all if they had a dirty ball mouse or an icky keyboard. Hey, if you are going to use an old keyboard, at least use an original IBM (that came with the AT) - if you can find an adapter to PS/2. At least you can have the retro look and those loud clicky keys might be kind of cool in a geeky retro way. But if you just have a five year old generic keyboard, dump it. Get a modern keyboard and mouse. Save your fingers and hands for something fun later in life - like playing the piano.