Our editors’ desk setups: Kevin the compact one

Kevin Hofer

25.1.2024

Translation: Eva Francis

In this series, our editors will reveal which equipment they use every day – be it for work or gaming. Kevin likes small gadgets.

I’m a fan of small keyboards and PCs. They leave plenty of space for bits and bobs without my desk looking cluttered. See the picture above? That’s my desk. However, only one side of it is this tidy. To the right, there’s usually a chaotic scene involving a test bench, test products or my soldering station.

Computer: water-cooled in Mini-ITX form factor

Monitor: Dell S3220DGF for gaming and working

My Dell S3220DGF’s a few years old. But it’s still a very good monitor for gaming and editing pictures. What more could I want? 32 inches is a good screen size, in my opinion.

Unfortunately, this exact monitor isn’t available anymore, but the Dell S3222DGM still is. It’s also supposed to offer great value for money. However, it doesn’t feature HDR10.

Keyboard and mouse: MX Master 3 custom keyboard for working and Deathadder V3 Pro for gaming

I don’t understand how people can type on an MX Keys, Magic Keyboard or any other membrane keyboard. As Keycap Kevin, I won’t tolerate anything else than a mechanical keyboard. I own over 20 of them, so I take turns. In the picture, you can see my Mode Envoy. The Macro-Pad above it is the Voice Mini by Owlab.

For work, I use Logitech’s MX Master 3. However, I have the impression Logitech’s quality has decreased in recent years. Or do I have higher standards than I used to? At least the Swiss-American manufacturer still does the best office mouse – although the Master 3S was a step backwards.

I use the Deathadder V3 Pro for gaming. It sits so well in my hand that I’d happily use it for work, too, if I didn’t have my MX Master.

Audio: Meze 99 Classic and Razer Leviathan V2

The Razer soundbar doesn’t offer the best sound, but thanks to the subwoofer – which I’ve placed under the desk as a footrest – the ensemble offers a good soundscape. I mainly use the soundbar when my family’s out or in the summer when it’s 30 degrees in the office and too hot for my Meze headphones.

Microphone and webcam: RØDE NT-USB Mini and Razer Kiyo Pro

I’ve been using the Razer Kiyo Pro camera for a while now. It’s a few years old, but still works well.

Chair and desk: König & Neurath Valyou and Contini desk

When I’m not sitting, I like to work standing up. This is possible thanks to my Contini office desk. It’s two metres long, so I have enough space to the right of my PC for my test bench and other devices.

Bits and bobs: welcome guests on my desk

The Play Tray serves as a temporary storage space for screws and a fidget toy to calm my nervous disposition. I spin the ball around in it – like others do with a fidget spinner.

I’ve placed two small plastic plants on my desk to add some life to it. Real plants wouldn’t survive, trust me. What else? Well, my external SSD for backups is always connected and I have pens, scissors, a carpet knife and a ruler at the ready, although I rarely write by hand.

If you’ve missed an episode of our desk setups, here’s the full list:

Samuel:

David:

Flo:

Jan:

Kevin:

Domi:

Tinu:

Kevin Hofer

Senior Editor

kevin.hofer@digitecgalaxus.ch

From big data to big brother, Cyborgs to Sci-Fi. All aspects of technology and society fascinate me.

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