Another RV office setup

[Neal]

We'll see how long this lasts but I'm rethinking my RV computer setup for the future. I love having my mega powerful PC tower with me but I really really really hate the clutter. Granted, my monitors kill the dinette ability for meals with visitors but it's still a mess that is annoying me.

What I'm thinking of trying going forward is going with the new Mac Studio when it comes out presumably this summer (WWDC time frame) with the M4 or later, otherwise a Mac Mini M4. I'll run Windows on VMWare Fusion but about everything I do now can also be done on Mac.

I really want as much of this computer nonsense concealed as possible. I'd go with a gaming laptop like the ASUS Scar 18 or 16 but I despise fan noise. My PC towers are silent (water cooled) as are Mac's.

So we'll see what the next RV trip holds for another computer iteration.

 

[DennisT]

The Apple chips are quite nice.

The M2 pro laptop I bought before retiring has performed quite well.

I looked hard and long at the studio option before going the laptop route. Still have my “trash can” Mac Pro with Xeon processors for video editing.

Just make sure the studio, you can get in the case if desired. The older minis you could and then they redesigned to be sealed so no upgrading memory or hard drive without taking it in.

Parallels works well on them for running Windows or any of the Linux flavors if needed.

There was a bug with Win 11 version for Apple silicone that wouldn’t let it get updated any longer but the Parallels team had a registry fix that got around that. MS is supposed to be doing an update that fixes the issue. I believe it was only a problem with the windows version on the Apple silicone.

 

[Neal]

For the computer geeks and those of us still working, during this last RV trip I got to use the keychron Q3 HE QMK keyboard which is a "hall effect" (magnetic switch) keyboard pictured in post 15 above. I really liked it. I have the Q6 MAX at home which uses different type of keys which I've really liked, however, I got addicted to the HE keys and yeah, I ended up replacing my expensive Q6 MAX with the expensive Q6 HE which I've been using a week now and love these keyboards. Quiet, great feel, high quality.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DSGSZGK9?tag=rvf01-20

 

[Neal]

Also of note, my favorite mouse has been the Logitech MX Master 3s even on Mac's as they are ergonomic and quiet click. They just came out with a new mouse, Logitech MX Master 4 which I got, it's super nice, seems to be more precise but feels slightly different so it takes a short getting used to. Has some new features. I like it.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FC5SJNQX?tag=rvf01-20

 

[Jim]

For the computer geeks and those of us still working, during this last RV trip I got to use the keychron Q3 HE QMK keyboard which is a "hall effect" (magnetic switch) keyboard pictured in post 15 above. I really liked it. I have the Q6 MAX at home which uses different type of keys which I've really liked, however, I got addicted to the HE keys and yeah, I ended up replacing my expensive Q6 MAX with the expensive Q6 HE which I've been using a week now and love these keyboards. Quiet, great feel, high quality.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DSGSZGK9?tag=rvf01-20

Programable keyboard? Magnetic keys? Customizable key RGB backlighting? That's not a keyboard, it's a work of art! Right up to the "wired" part. But still, that's an awesome keyboard.

 

[Neal]

Here's the manufacturer website with detail on this work of art:

https://www.keychron.com/products/keychron-q6-he-qmk-wireless-custom-keyboard

If you buy from them it will take weeks (China) to get it. I'm glad they are now pushing them to Amazon.

 

[ARD]

Literally just ordered this as I am no longer able to sit in a Lazy Boy and use a laptop. I really missed my old standing workstation anyway so will give it a go. Will update once it arrives.

Amazon.com

After a year of using your portable standing desk, what do you think of it? I've been looking at a few options like the Realspace P20 Standing Desk Converter or the FlexiSpot M7 series that would sit on my booth table, but I really like the idea of yours being completely portable. Have you had any issues with the legs and stability? They look a little spindly in the pics.

 

[Scotttkd2]

Sorry for the delay in answering. The tripod is very sturdy, and does fold up nicely to get it out of the way when not needed. I would up setting it behind the passenger captains chair and made that my "office" when stationary. I wish it had more space for papers and such like a desk, but then it wouldn't be portable would it. Overall, I was skeptical at first but very pleased with it.

 

[ARD]

Sorry for the delay in answering. The tripod is very sturdy, and does fold up nicely to get it out of the way when not needed. I would up setting it behind the passenger captains chair and made that my "office" when stationary. I wish it had more space for papers and such like a desk, but then it wouldn't be portable would it. Overall, I was skeptical at first but very pleased with it.

No worries. Thanks so much for getting back to me.

 

[AbdRahim]

Another quick question. How do the monitors connect to the Dell laptop? Are you using a docking station or do they plug directly into the Dell?

Follow up on my ever evolving RV office setup and work to outfit the dinette to be a good alternative to my home office. As posted on the site somewhere, I once removed the jack knife sofa and installed my 72 inch updesk, that was a great setup but took out the social in my coach. I think I finally found my happy place for my office setup which is now on version 28, see below.

On this brief trip I started out by trying a VIVO 3 monitor mount. I knew it would be painful for setup and teardown but let's give it a try. The problem is the clamp mount does not work well with the dinette and the corian top. I tried it and noticed just in time the clamp was slipping away, it's just too much weight. So I went back to the dual monitor mount at the top of this thread.

I ordered and had with me a VIVO laptop mount as I figured the only way I'd get a good 3rd screen (I ultimately need 4) was to use my laptop. I did this on my last trip using my dinner tray fold out stand setup next to my dinette, less than ideal for walking the narrow path from front to back of the coach. So I figured I'd take this laptop stand mount of the box and give it a try. I had a welcome surprise when seeing the parts and reading the instructions that it can also serve as a monitor stand. Hmmm, this is going to work out great, and it did, and does. I really like this setup.

I'm loving my Keychron keyboards I posted about, this is the one I'm using in the RV. The ones at home are Q6 Max series.

Today's teardown and setup of the 3 monitor config wasn't bad. The 3rd (right) monitor is optional and probably will remain stowed on shorter visits as I really only need it on Monday to Friday work.

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Who is he kidding. He has the flight simulator controls hidden, trying to convince us that he works that hard.