{"id":11513,"date":"2010-02-24T14:28:37","date_gmt":"2010-02-24T08:58:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/?p=11513"},"modified":"2026-10-15T14:30:20","modified_gmt":"2026-10-15T09:00:20","slug":"dream-technology-for-home-office","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2010\/02\/dream-technology-for-home-office\/","title":{"rendered":"Home Office Technology: Dream Gadgets for Your Home Office (2026)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Some people are happy with a pen and paper, and others want every new gadget for their workspace. This guide to <strong>home office technology<\/strong> started in 2010 with a fun list of &#8220;dream&#8221; gadgets. We have updated it with the tech that really makes a home office better today: a good screen, wireless display, smart lighting, your own cloud storage, clean power and a few fun touches.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Quick answer:<\/strong> The most useful home office technology is a large, sharp monitor, a good webcam and microphone for calls, a USB-C dock to connect everything with one cable, adjustable lighting, and reliable backup storage such as a NAS. Add a surge protector or UPS, then finish with a gadget or two that makes the space fun to work in.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-39048\" src=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/3631119830_7be2edf6aa_d.jpg\" alt=\"Home office technology setup with large monitors on a desk\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/3631119830_7be2edf6aa_d.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/3631119830_7be2edf6aa_d-150x112.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/3631119830_7be2edf6aa_d-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_89 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6add6c42d0525\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"ez-toc-cssicon\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #1a202c;color:#1a202c\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #1a202c;color:#1a202c\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6add6c42d0525\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2010\/02\/dream-technology-for-home-office\/#Home_office_technology_starts_with_a_big_screen\" >Home office technology starts with a big screen<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2010\/02\/dream-technology-for-home-office\/#Wireless_display_and_one-cable_docking\" >Wireless display and one-cable docking<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2010\/02\/dream-technology-for-home-office\/#Cameras_and_microphones_for_video_calls\" >Cameras and microphones for video calls<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2010\/02\/dream-technology-for-home-office\/#Smart_lighting_for_your_workspace\" >Smart lighting for your workspace<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2010\/02\/dream-technology-for-home-office\/#Your_own_home_office_cloud\" >Your own home office cloud<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2010\/02\/dream-technology-for-home-office\/#Clean_and_green_power\" >Clean and green power<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2010\/02\/dream-technology-for-home-office\/#Fun_touches_for_a_home_office\" >Fun touches for a home office<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2010\/02\/dream-technology-for-home-office\/#Home_office_technology_checklist\" >Home office technology checklist<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2010\/02\/dream-technology-for-home-office\/#FAQ\" >FAQ<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2010\/02\/dream-technology-for-home-office\/#What_technology_do_I_need_for_a_home_office\" >What technology do I need for a home office?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2010\/02\/dream-technology-for-home-office\/#Is_a_TV_a_good_monitor_for_a_home_office\" >Is a TV a good monitor for a home office?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2010\/02\/dream-technology-for-home-office\/#Do_I_need_a_NAS_for_a_home_office\" >Do I need a NAS for a home office?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2010\/02\/dream-technology-for-home-office\/#How_can_I_reduce_eye_strain_at_my_desk\" >How can I reduce eye strain at my desk?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Home_office_technology_starts_with_a_big_screen\"><\/span>Home office technology starts with a big screen<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>In 2010 our guest author suggested a huge flat-screen TV for the home office, and advised skipping the 3D TV hype, which turned out to be good advice. Today, a large, sharp computer monitor is the better buy for work. A 27-inch 4K screen gives room for two windows side by side and keeps text crisp. Browse a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/go\/lg-27-inch-4k-ips-monitor\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\">27-inch 4K IPS monitor<\/a> on Amazon.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Wireless_display_and_one-cable_docking\"><\/span>Wireless display and one-cable docking<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-11551\" src=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/usb-vga.png\" alt=\"wireless USB to VGA adapter\" width=\"162\" height=\"96\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The original article loved wireless USB to VGA adapters for streaming video from a computer to a bigger screen. That idea lives on: most laptops, phones and smart TVs can now cast or mirror wirelessly, which is handy for presentations, video calls and showing off photos.<\/p>\n<p>For a desk setup, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/go\/usb-c-docking-station\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\">USB-C docking station<\/a> is the modern upgrade. One cable connects your laptop to the monitor, keyboard, mouse, network and charger.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Cameras_and_microphones_for_video_calls\"><\/span>Cameras and microphones for video calls<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Video calls are now a big part of home office work. A good webcam such as the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/go\/logitech-brio-4k-webcam\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\">Logitech Brio 4K<\/a> and a USB microphone like the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/go\/blue-yeti-usb-microphone\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\">Blue Yeti<\/a> make you look and sound far better than a built-in laptop camera and mic.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Smart_lighting_for_your_workspace\"><\/span>Smart lighting for your workspace<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-11550\" src=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/light-tape.jpg\" alt=\"light tape for task lighting\" width=\"200\" height=\"105\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Back then, flexible light tape was the cool way to light up a work area and colour-code different zones. Today, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/go\/led-strip-lights\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\">LED strip lights<\/a> do the same job, often with app or voice control, adjustable brightness and colour. Put warm light behind your monitor to reduce eye strain, and use a good desk lamp for task lighting.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Your_own_home_office_cloud\"><\/span>Your own home office cloud<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-11548\" src=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/pogoplug.png\" alt=\"Pogoplug personal cloud device\" width=\"112\" height=\"86\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Our 2010 pick was the Pogoplug, a small box that shared a hard drive over the internet so you could have your own cloud. Today the same idea comes as network attached storage. A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/go\/nas-storage\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\">NAS drive<\/a> keeps your files at home, backs up every computer in the house, and lets you reach your files from anywhere. Pair it with an online backup or a free cloud service such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2012\/04\/get-more-free-dropbox-space\/\">Dropbox<\/a> for a second copy.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Clean_and_green_power\"><\/span>Clean and green power<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-11559\" src=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/illumicharger.png\" alt=\"solar powered IllumiCharger\" width=\"100\" height=\"134\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The solar-powered IllumiCharger was a fun eco gadget that soaked up light and charged USB devices off the grid. Solar chargers and power banks are still useful for charging phones during power cuts. For your computer, a surge protector is a must, and a UPS (uninterruptible power supply) gives you time to save your work when the power fails.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Fun_touches_for_a_home_office\"><\/span>Fun touches for a home office<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-11546\" src=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/canvas-clock.png\" alt=\"canvas art clock\" width=\"100\" height=\"162\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Every home office needs a clock and a little artwork, and our guest author loved a canvas clock that looked like a painting until you noticed its hands. Small touches like this make a workspace pleasant to spend hours in. Add a plant, a comfortable chair and good cable management, and your home office will be as nice to look at as it is to work in.<\/p>\n<p>If your desktop computer is the slow part of the setup, see our guide on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2022\/12\/upgrade-old-desktop-pc\/\">how to upgrade an old desktop PC<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Home_office_technology_checklist\"><\/span>Home office technology checklist<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>A large, sharp monitor at eye level<\/li>\n<li>A USB-C dock for one-cable connections<\/li>\n<li>A webcam and microphone for calls<\/li>\n<li>Adjustable lighting<\/li>\n<li>Backups on a NAS or cloud service<\/li>\n<li>A surge protector or UPS<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"FAQ\"><\/span>FAQ<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_technology_do_I_need_for_a_home_office\"><\/span>What technology do I need for a home office?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Start with a reliable computer, a good monitor, fast internet, a webcam and microphone for calls, and a backup plan for your files. Add a surge protector or UPS to protect it all.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_a_TV_a_good_monitor_for_a_home_office\"><\/span>Is a TV a good monitor for a home office?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>A TV can work for presentations, but a computer monitor is usually better for daily work because it shows sharper text and sits at a comfortable distance on a desk.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Do_I_need_a_NAS_for_a_home_office\"><\/span>Do I need a NAS for a home office?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Not always. If you have lots of files or several computers, a NAS makes backups and file sharing easier. For light use, a cloud storage service may be enough.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_can_I_reduce_eye_strain_at_my_desk\"><\/span>How can I reduce eye strain at my desk?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Use soft background lighting behind the monitor, position the screen at eye level, and take short breaks away from the screen.<\/p>\n<p><em>Originally written by guest author Mike Caldwell of Bari Leather Furniture. Updated for 2026 by QuickOnlineTips. Photo by mkosut on Flickr under CC.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, QuickOnlineTips earns from qualifying purchases.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Some people are happy with a pen and paper, and others want every new gadget for their workspace. This guide&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":39048,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[44],"class_list":["post-11513","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-gadgets","tag-guest-posts"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11513","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11513"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11513\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":67297,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11513\/revisions\/67297"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/39048"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11513"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11513"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11513"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}