A few weeks ago, I started having problems with my Samsung 22” monitor. It would flicker for a couple of minutes at startup, and then return to normal operations. According to research I’ve found on the web, this is due to a blown capacitor in the unit. It’s fixable, if you know what you’re doing and have skills with a soldering iron. Since I don’t know what I’m doing when it comes to electronics, and my soldering skills may need a FEMA declaration, I decided it was better to admit defeat early, and buy a replacement. I finally broke down this week and bought a new monitor. Well, actually I bought two new monitors—two 22” ASUS monitors on Amazon for about $125 each (plus tax.)

Why two? Didn’t I already have dual monitors in my office? Yes, I did have my 22” inch screen and a 19” one beside that. But when I work from home, I have to use my work laptop, and I like to plug my 22” monitor into my laptop, since the tools I use at work require a lot of space. But that means that at the end of every day (and sometimes during the middle of every day if I need my home PC for something), I have to reach around behind the monitors and unplug on cable, and plug in another. I know, it sounds like I’m being lazy. I mean, isn’t a 19” screen enough? It should be. But trying to use a single, low resolution, 19” monitor for anything besides surfing the web is like typing with one hand tied behind my back. And for the modest investment of an extra $125, plus $35 for another swing-arm mount, I get this freaking cool setup.

We were talking about rearranging our desks at work the other day to be closer to each other, and the manager who runs our group said it was fine—he just wanted us to maximize our productivity. I (half-jokingly) said “Then I’ll just work from home.”

Seriously, I’ve got this office set up about as perfectly as I could ever want. Perhaps I could use a little more storage space, and a new chair, but really, I can’t complain.

Actually, I love it, so I won’t complain at all.