Sharing My Remote Work Setup (Hardware Edition)

With Taiwan entering a Level 3 alert due to the pandemic, some companies have started transitioning to remote work. Working in Japan, I’ve been working remotely since last year, so I thought I might be able to share some of my experience.

Preparation

Once you decide to set up a remote work environment, I recommend placing your orders “immediately” after deciding on what gear to buy. When the pandemic first started spreading in Japan, I hesitated a step too late, which meant waiting a long time for gear like webcams to arrive.

Workspace

If you are working from home, it’s best to carve out a dedicated space as your office area. Working from a laptop on the living room sofa and coffee table leads to poor posture and health issues over time, not to mention making it hard to concentrate. I recommend checking out this Remote Work Shopping List. It has plenty of recommended gear for remote work. Buying everything on it would cost quite a bit, so to start, just pick the items that are most essential to you.

My current setup involves tucking the laptop behind the external monitor to save desk space. You can also use a stand to use your laptop as a secondary display.

Standing Desk

A standing desk is pretty essential for heavy computer users. Unless you are completely comfortable maintaining a fixed height, I’d still recommend getting one. I am currently using the FLEXISPOT E3W standing desk (¥45,000). If you aren’t particular about the desktop surface, you can purchase one bundled together. In my case, I bought the desktop separately from a hardware store.

Chair

Similarly, it’s best to invest in a decent chair. After all, you’ll be spending your entire workday in it, and the quality of your chair directly affects your physical health. Personally, I use an ITOKI office chair from Japan (YL7-BK-AEL, ¥34,900). If you have enough budget, go straight for a Herman Miller ergonomic chair.

4K Monitors

I’m used to a dual-monitor setup, though a curved monitor is also a good option. Since I had already upgraded one monitor previously, only one of them is 4K.

• BenQ 27-inch HDR EW2780 (¥24,877)
• Dell 27-inch 4K U2720QM (¥59,800)

Keyboard

Keyboards come down to personal preference. Right now, I’m using the legendary HHKB keyboard, specifically the HYBRID Type-S model (¥35,200). It supports up to 4 Bluetooth devices plus one wired connection (USB), making it extremely convenient to switch between multiple devices. As you might notice, there’s a wooden wrist rest below the keyboard to keep my wrists from bending excessively while typing.

The HHKB keyboard has a few notable features:

A Non-Standard Layout

CapsLock is replaced by Control. It takes some getting used to at first, but once you’re familiar with it, your pinky only needs to move a tiny bit to hit Control, which is super convenient. Delete is moved right above Enter, reducing the distance your finger needs to travel when deleting.

Minimalist Key Count

The HHKB is designed without unnecessary keys—it doesn’t even have dedicated arrow keys (you have to press Fn to use them).

Capacitive (Topre) Switches

The typing feel is quite different from mechanical keyboards, and it is significantly quieter. I originally switched to try the HHKB because long typing sessions on mechanical keyboards were causing finger fatigue. Since switching to the HHKB, that fatigue has almost completely disappeared.

Designed for Engineers

HHKB was originally designed with programmers in mind. If you are already used to Vim, you should pick it up easily (no arrow keys, and Ctrl is located conveniently to the left of the A key).

The downside is that it is noticeably more expensive than typical mechanical keyboards.

Video Conferencing

The built-in camera on a MacBook has mediocre resolution. If you want better video quality, an external webcam is recommended. I recommend the Logitech C920 (¥7,480), which supports 1080p. Just a heads up: back when I bought mine, I delayed too long during the pandemic surge and it went out of stock; I had to wait over two weeks for it to arrive. I suggest ordering early.

Microphone

Audio is crucial—in fact, it matters even more than video. The most frustrating thing in remote meetings is when someone sounds muffled or unclear; over time, that friction builds up. I’m currently using a Blue Yeti (¥17,100). Generally speaking, even entry-level microphones offer great sound quality; it just depends on your standards for audio.

Noise-Canceling Headphones

If you share your living space with others, noise-canceling headphones can help keep you focused without distractions. I’m currently using the Sony WH-1000XM3 (the WH-1000XM4 is out now). If you aren’t an audiophile, AirPods Pro are also more than sufficient.

Wi-Fi Router

Network quality determines remote work efficiency. Beyond internet speeds, choosing the right Wi-Fi router is key. I recommend the video by the creator “分享家 - 羽” (Sharer Yu)—it basically covers everything you need to know. I’m currently using the Google Nest Wifi (¥19,800), which isn’t currently sold in Taiwan (one of the few perks of living in Japan). Spec-wise, it’s more than enough for my needs—in fact, it’s well beyond what I require.

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SwitchBot Hub Mini

This is a Wi-Fi-enabled infrared blaster. Whether it’s turning on the AC or TV ahead of time while you’re out, or setting schedules for lighting, SwitchBot handles it all. Paired with Google Home, you can turn lights on and off without reaching for a remote, which has been incredibly convenient for me.

Google Home Nest

My most frequent use case is setting time reminders—such as reminding myself to prepare lunch at noon—to help avoid the blurred boundaries between work and personal life that often happen with remote work. When used well, Google Home can integrate many tasks, like setting alarms, timers, checking calendars, listening to the news, and controlling smart home appliances.

Wishlist

• Indoor plants: I’d like some greenery to bring a bit of life into the room.
• Air purifier: Since I work from home all day, keeping the air quality clean is essential.

Closing Thoughts

I remember writing down my Reflections on 4 Months of Remote Work in Fukuoka around this time last year, wondering when I’d finally be able to safely return to Taiwan. It looks like the journey home will have to wait a bit longer. I hope the pandemic settles down soon, and I hope I can head home before too long.