Stuff I Use

Devices

  • Phones
    • Google Pixel 7
    • I’ve had this phone since its release, and it's... fine. The Tensor SoC and modem aren’t great, and the overall Pixel experience leaves a lot to be desired. But at the end of the day, it's just a phone, and I really only use it for banking, payments, calls, and music.
    • Xiaomi QIN F22
    • My weekend phone, which I’m using more and more frequently these days, is lightweight and distraction-free. If it had NFC, I’d be laughing. But hey, it was $50, so it’s a total steal.
  • Carrier: Public Mobile
    • Plan: 20 GBs (US / CAN / MEX) — $29.00/month + tax
    • I was with Telus for two years, but as is often the case in Canada, they raised my price, so the only way to get a better ratfe was by switching to a new carrier, which is exactly what I did. I pay less and notice no impact on my service. I do miss WiFi Calling from time to time, but I manage.

Computers

  • Minisforums UM790 Pro (Desktop)
    • Specs: AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS / Radeon 780M, 32 GB RAM, 2 × 512 GB NVMe SSDs
    • OS: Windows 11 Pro & Fedora
    • I needed a new computer to replace my bulky, aging desktop, so I finally pulled the trigger on this one. I was holding out for Apple to update the Mac Mini — at the time, it would’ve been the M1 — but they didn’t release it when I was ready to upgrade, so I went with this instead. Overall, it works well. I do have a few issues with the font rendering quality, but I think that’s more of an AMD and Windows thing than an issue with the device itself.
  • Lenovo ThinkPad T470s (Laptop)
    • Specs: Intel Core i7-7600U, 24 GB RAM, 512 GB SSD
    • OS: Windows 10 Pro
    • I’ve been using this for years, and I have no complaints. It’s got a 7th-generation Intel CPU, so the integrated graphics aren’t great, but honestly, it’s fine. I’m happy with Windows 10 and the reliability it brings. Eventually, I’ll probably switch to Fedora to help extend the life of this machine.
  • Monitor: LG DualUp (28MQ780-B)
    • This monitor is fine, but it’s not my favorite. The firmware has a few annoying quirks that LG probably won’t fix. For example, when you turn off the monitor, it cuts all power, meaning USB-C passthrough isn’t an option. It’s a strange decision. My previous Dell UW monitor allowed power passthrough, no matter whether the monitor was on or off.
  • Printer: Brother HL-2240 Monochrome Laser Printer
    • The GOAT. Seriously. I've had this printer for almost 15 years, and it’s still going strong. It doesn’t have networking, but I’ve used a Raspberry Pi Zero W with CUPS to get around that limitation. The performance isn’t stellar, though, since PDF processing—critical for how CUPS works—is slow on that Pi model. I’ll probably upgrade to a newer Raspberry Pi model down the line.

Peripherals

  • Keyboards:
    • Keydous NJ68
    • This keyboard is decent; it’s a 65%, which I definitely prefer. It has hot-swappable switches and double-shot PBT keycaps, but it’s definitely a low-end board by today’s standards. At some point in the future, I’ll likely swap this out, but for now, it’s functional.
    • Microsoft Sculpt Ergonomic Keyboard
    • I recently picked up this highly sought-after keyboard for just $40, which is a great deal compared to the steep prices they’re fetching on eBay/Craigslist. It’s comfortable to use when my hands need a break from my mechanical keyboard. However, I’d prefer an ergonomic layout without the gap the Sculpt has. Since I frequently use my left hand for the 'Y' and 'H' keys, the Sculpt feels like it’s designed more for right-handed use.
  • Microsoft Bluetooth Mouse 3600
    • Compact and reliable. I’ve tried numerous mice from Logitech, but none have impressed me as much as this one. Here’s what I’ve used from Logitech (aka Logi):
      • Logitech MX Revolution
      • Logitech MX Master 1
      • Logitech MX Ergo
    • Logitech mice have always annoyed me, though I won’t get into the specifics here. The TL;DR? I’ve consistently had problems with their scroll wheels jumping, an issue that’s well-known across the Master and Ergo lines.
  • Desk:
    • Fully Jarvis Standing Desk (24"x30")
    • I absolutely love this desk—so much that I ended up buying two of them. Living in a small space, like I do, means finding room for a WFH setup is tricky. This desk is the perfect size, though it’s a bit of a rare find. I was bummed when Fully got acquired by Herman Miller, as they were one of the few companies making small-sized standing desks. I managed to snag both of mine by looking on Craigslist in the US—one from Portland, Oregon, and another from Seattle, Washington. At this point, I plan to hang on to them, even if I end up with more space in the future.
    • Ergonofis Standing Desk (60"x30")
    • I used this when I lived in Toronto, and it was great, but it’s a bit large, so it’s currently disassembled and in storage. Three desks for one person is probably excessive, though. I guess I have a thing for standing desks.

Audio

  • Headphones: Bose QuietComfort 45
  • Headset: Logitech Vibe 125
    • These are fine, but definitely overpriced for what they are. The build quality isn't great, but the real issue is the software. When you mute or unmute using the hardware controls, it plays a confirmation sound — which overrides whatever you’re listening to. I’ve missed parts of conversations because that audio kicks in every time I go on or off mute.

Hosting & Cloud Services

  • Hosting: WebHostingCanada
    • I hosted my personal website on a Raspberry Pi 3 Model B with Debian and Apache for a while. When I was living with my parents, they had a static IP from their ISP (which they still have), so I used that to run my server. Technically, this violated the ISP's terms of service, but the traffic was low enough that they never caught on. Eventually, though, I had to stop after dealing with frequent ISP outages. These days, I use WebHostingCanada, and it’s been a great choice. I’ll probably stick with them for the long haul. Plus, I appreciate that they’re Canadian-owned — it’s a nice bonus in today’s world.
  • Cloud Storage: OneDrive
    • Since I use Microsoft Office, OneDrive comes as a useful bonus. It syncs well with both Windows and Android, and I’ve never had issues with it — unlike Google Drive, which has had its share of sync problems for me.
  • Media Server: Plex Media Server
    • It works fine for now, though I might consider switching to a FOSS alternative in the future. For the moment, my system’s set up well, and I’m not looking to go through the trouble of reconfiguring everything.

Networking

  • Home Lab: Pi 3 Model B
  • Smart Home: Philips Hue
  • Wireless Printing: Pi Zero W (uses CUPS for remote printing)
  • Media Streaming:
    • Chromecast with Google TV
    • Chromecast Audio
  • Internet Service Provider: Novus
    • Plan: 1 Gbps ↑/↓ with ∞ Bandwidth — $50.00/month + tax