The Toolbox

Tech gear to get the job done

🧰 The ToolBox

🖋️Pen & 📓 notebook

Grab any pen and an empty notebook. It doesn't have to be spiffy or expensive. I use cheap notebooks and pens to brainstorm ideas and write down to-do lists. Once you're done with them, you won't have to feel guilty disposing of them. 😄

💻 Laptop

I use an Acer Aspire 5 that I bought back in 2018 and so far, it's still working smoothly - which is a pleasant surprise! I mainly use it for basic tasks - internet surfing, writing emails, watching movies and TV shows, and doing video calls. If you're looking for mid-tier or high-tier upgrades, here are a couple of recommendations I can suggest for you.

• All-rounder - Acer Nitro 5

• Productivity powerhouse - Asus ProArt Studio Book Pro X

• Budget-friendly for Business - Lenovo ThinkBook 15 Gen 4

• 2 in 1 Laptop - Microsoft Surface Pro 9

• For college - Apple Macbook Air 13 (M1, 2020)

🖥️ Computer Monitor

They say bigger is better and I agree. I use the Xiaomi 34-inch curved computer monitor and I have no regrets about purchasing it. The computer monitor is a great investment especially since my main device is a laptop. The 32-inch ultrawide screen can easily fit three or more browsers without straining my eyes.

🖱️ Bluetooth Mouse

The Logitech M557 is a sturdy wireless mouse that I've been using for 3 years. It's battery-operated so keeping a couple of spare batteries around can come in handy. It has a window button shortcut you can press to open the Start Menu without clicking on the Menu screen. What I love about it is I rarely have any trouble with it.

⌨️ Bluetooth Keyboard

Mechanical keyboards are overwhelmingly popular but I use my trusty old Logitech K480 Bluetooth keyboard. It's compatible with any OS and connects up to 3 devices. The battery-operated wireless keyboard also has a ten-inch slot to place a tablet or phone device. It's pretty handy if you travel often and is a sturdy keyboard companion.

🖨️ Desk Printer

A desk printer can come in handy if you need to print out documents for personal or professional reasons. Some printers come with several features aside from printing. For instance, I own a wireless HP Envy 6055e All-in-One Printer that prints, scans, and copies documents. Its features are enough for small creative projects, like DIY stickers, flyers, and photo prints.

🎥 External Web Camera

For stellar video captures, the Logitech C505 Webcam delivers great quality. I recently bought mine last month and so far, I love how the webcam uses noise-reduction technology to capture 720 HD FPS resolution with clear video images. It's great for Zoom interviews, online streaming, or creating video content.

🎙️ External Microphone

For a plug-and-play audio capture device, the MAONO 192KHZ condenser microphone is suitable for starters, like me. It's cheap, easy to use, and compatible with all laptops, PCs, mobile phones, and PS4 - although you'll need an OTG adapter to connect the microphone for mobile phones. The MAONO USB microphone comes with a sturdy boom arm set to hold the microphone steady. It's great for video voiceovers, podcasts, YouTube videos, and more.

🎧 Headphones

Noise-canceling headphones are a must to help you focus and concentrate on your tasks. My Anker Q20 noise-canceling headphones have been immensely helpful in putting me in a focused state when I need to work and avoid noisy distractions.