> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.philsimon.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Office Setup of a Tech-Savvy Professor - URL: https://www.philsimon.com/office-setup-tech-savvy-professor/ - Published: 2018-07-11T12:35:14.000Z - Updated: 2025-07-04T20:22:25.000Z - Description: Here's the hardware that to use to make the magic happen. - Author: Phil Simon - Tags: Higher Education, Macs, Marillion, Productivity I get the whole minimalism movement. Really. Still, I just don't see how a spartan office setup is possible for a tech-savvy professor. In this post, I'll list and describe the tchotchkes that I use in the office and the classroom. Note that I'm leaving out some personal devices such as my iPhone and iPad. All non-Apple affiliate links below go to each product's Amazon page. ## In the Office It all starts with my [15" MacBook Pro](https://www.apple.com/macbook-pro/?ref=philsimon.com). I won't provide all of the technical specs but my laptop hums with 16 GB of memory. > If ASU didn't allow me to use a Mac, I don't know if I would have accepted the position. I've been a fan for a long time. I [switched to a Mac in 2010](https://www.philsimon.com/my-transition-1/) and only regret having waited that long. If ASU didn't allow me to use a Mac, I don't know if I would have accepted the position. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8f/b5/8fb5e321-49a6-4cf5-8a28-c6f6d5417e54/content/images/2025/06/monitor.jpg) #### Monitor For years I've been a two-monitor guy. The increase in productivity isn't two-fold; I find that it's exponential. For me, 23" (give or take) is the sweet spot. I'm a fan of [the Dell SE2416HX 23.8" Screen LED-Lit IPS Monitor](https://amzn.to/2KX9s3w?ref=philsimon.com). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8f/b5/8fb5e321-49a6-4cf5-8a28-c6f6d5417e54/content/images/2025/06/stand.jpg) #### Stand For years I've been a two-monitor guy. The increase in productivity isn't two-fold; I find that it's exponential. For me, 23" (give or take) is the sweet spot. I'm a fan of [the Dell SE2416HX 23.8" Screen LED-Lit IPS Monitor](https://amzn.to/2KX9s3w?ref=philsimon.com). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8f/b5/8fb5e321-49a6-4cf5-8a28-c6f6d5417e54/content/images/2025/06/keyboard.jpg) #### Keyboard It's just not healthy to hover over a computer all day. In my PC days, I used to use a Microsoft ergonomic keyboard. I haven't found proper one for the Mac that works for me. As a placeholder, I use the [Logitech Wireless Solar Keyboard K750](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FKV6AKS?philsim-20&ref=philsimon.com). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8f/b5/8fb5e321-49a6-4cf5-8a28-c6f6d5417e54/content/images/2025/06/mouse.jpg) #### Mouse I can't imagine using a "normal" wired mouse these days. As you can see, my desk is cluttered enough. I find that [this Anker AK-UBA 2.4G Wireless Vertical Ergonomic Optical Mouse](https://amzn.to/2J4QG8z?ref=philsimon.com) minimizes any wrist pain. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8f/b5/8fb5e321-49a6-4cf5-8a28-c6f6d5417e54/content/images/2025/06/HD.jpg) #### External HD It's silly not to back up your data—and not just in one place. For physical storage, I use this [Western Digital USB 3.0 2 TB external hard drive](https://amzn.to/2KXZ3Ih?ref=philsimon.com). Because ASU has purchased a Dropbox business license, I keep all of my files "in the cloud." This way, I'm protected if something happens to my external hard drive (which is exactly what happened last month). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8f/b5/8fb5e321-49a6-4cf5-8a28-c6f6d5417e54/content/images/2025/06/mousepad.jpg) #### Mouse Pad To provide additional wrist support, both at work and in the office I use the [Belkin WaveRest Gel Mouse Pad](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00000JRRD?philsim-20&ref=philsimon.com). That extra 1.5" or so of support really helps if I'm at my computer for more than a few hours. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8f/b5/8fb5e321-49a6-4cf5-8a28-c6f6d5417e54/content/images/2025/06/hub.jpg) #### USB Adaptor There's no way that I could get by with only a few USB ports. Because of this, I add a bunch more with [the USB Hub 3.0 Splitter, LYFNLOVE 7-Port USB](https://amzn.to/2zjbFow?ref=philsimon.com). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8f/b5/8fb5e321-49a6-4cf5-8a28-c6f6d5417e54/content/images/2025/06/headphones.jpg) #### Headphones I'm always listening to music but I don't want to disturb my colleagues. A while back I bought the [Skullcandy Hesh 2 Bluetooth Wireless Over-Ear Headphones](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B013J7JM4K?philsim-20&ref=philsimon.com) and I have no complaints. ## In the Classroom I'll sprinkle in videos throughout the semester. I pause the video at key points to spark in-class discussion. (I just can't dial up Jeff Bezos and have him give a guest lecture. A pre-recorded interview has to suffice.) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8f/b5/8fb5e321-49a6-4cf5-8a28-c6f6d5417e54/content/images/2025/06/stand2.jpg) #### Portable Laptop Stand Some ASU classrooms sport desks with adjustable heights. Unfortunately, not all of them do. Because I keep my slides as spartan as possible, I often include some notes in PowerPoint presenter view. This means that I need the laptop as close to my eyes as possible. The lightweight and portable [Filo Laptop Stand](https://fliostand.com/?ref=philsimon.com) is nothing short of a godsend. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8f/b5/8fb5e321-49a6-4cf5-8a28-c6f6d5417e54/content/images/2025/06/speaker.png) #### Speaker Although all ASU classrooms sport audio-visual systems, some are a little janky. In some cases, it’s just easier for me to use my computer’s native Bluetooth functionality. To this end, I’ll just bring my [Beats Pill 2.0 Portable Speaker](https://amzn.to/2J4O5vl?ref=philsimon.com) and turn it on. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8f/b5/8fb5e321-49a6-4cf5-8a28-c6f6d5417e54/content/images/2025/06/speaker-1.jpg) #### Slide Advancer I use slides and like to walk around when I lecture. I can’t imagine being tied to the desk and advancing my slides manually. Because of this, I use this [Wireless Laser Presenter](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M6ZB4GX?philsim-20&ref=philsimon.com). For some reason, the laser doesn’t work sometimes but it’s not a big problem for the most part. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8f/b5/8fb5e321-49a6-4cf5-8a28-c6f6d5417e54/content/images/2025/06/kipling-1.jpg) #### Backpack To put it mildly, my [backpack](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UsRP9EUrXjo&ref=philsimon.com) is pretty full. My shoulders and back have been revolting and I decided to listen to my body. I've recently swapped out my backpack for [the Kipling Alcatraz Solid Laptop Wheeled model](https://amzn.to/2QCBBjp?ref=philsimon.com). When you put it all together, it looks something like this: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8f/b5/8fb5e321-49a6-4cf5-8a28-c6f6d5417e54/content/images/2025/05/office-jpeg-1.jpg) (In case you're wondering, that's a Marillion backstage pass sticker next to my Mac's touchpad.) [Phil Simon: Department Names Don’t Matter. Just Help Me.More Apple issues are grinding my gears.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8f/b5/8fb5e321-49a6-4cf5-8a28-c6f6d5417e54/content/images/icon/cropped-newlogo-40.png)Phil Simon![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8f/b5/8fb5e321-49a6-4cf5-8a28-c6f6d5417e54/content/images/thumbnail/rude.jpg)](https://www.philsimon.com/blog/technology/just-help-me/) ## Simon Says: This office setup works for me. That covers everything. It might seem a bit elaborate, but collectively all of this gear helps me get quite a bit done in the office and in the classroom. (For my preferred software, click [here](https://www.philsimon.com/blog/higher-education/tools-tech-savvy-professor/).) --- ⌨️ It turns out that my setup closely resembles that of my friend [Josh Bernoff](https://withoutbullshit.com/blog/a-tip-for-writers-how-i-maximize-productivity-with-3-monitors?ref=philsimon.com).