What I Use: January 2019 (Premium)

Back when the “SuperSite for Windows” was a thing, I would take an occasional look at the technology I used regularly. I continued this series in slightly altered form here at Thurrott.com, but usually in shorter, more targeted articles that looked at specific trips, circumstances, or product types. So here’s a more modern take on my old “What I Use” series, a more complete look at the hardware, software, and services I use each day.

Note: It may be interesting to compare the hardware sections here with last year’s What I Use: PCs, Peripherals, and Software (Premium) to understand what does (and doesn’t) change over that period of time.

Note: These are the products I really use. And while there may be occasional affiliate links below, I’m not trying to “sell” you anything, in partnership with some hardware or software company. Again, this is what I really use.

Computers

While I maintain a wide range of computers of various types, mostly for testing purposes, my day-to-day computing occurs on a small range of “core” machines, which typically consists of one desktop PC and one or more portable computers.

Desktop computer

I’ve been using the HP EliteOne All-In-One (AIO) PC with a 27-inch (flat) 4K display for over a year, but I’ve upgraded it from 8 to 16 GB of RAM. Aside from the display, which is amazing, and the form factor, which is modern and attractive, it’s pretty much a basic, mid-level PC with a quad-core Intel Core i5-7500 processor, 16 GB of RAM, and a 256 GB SSD. It has integrated speakers in the base, which is fine, and some unique hardware controls for work-based messaging that I don’t use. Expansion is great, with five full-sized USB 3.x ports, one USB-C port, and HDMI-in and HDMI-out (it can be used as a display as well).

I use a variety of peripherals permanently with this PC, including the Microsoft Sculpt Ergonomic Wireless Desktop Keyboard and Mouse, which I highly recommend, a Logitech HD Pro Webcam C920, which is probably a bit out of date by this point, and the Focusrite Scarlett Solo (2nd Gen) USB Audio Interface and a Heil PR 40 microphone with PL2T Boom Mount that I use for podcasting.

Portable computers

With the understanding that I switch between different review laptops routinely, the following are among my favorites and are the ones I choose to travel with or use around the home.

Microsoft Surface Laptop 2. Perfect display, perfect, keyboard, and perfect touchpad, but with lackluster expansion. This one is black, which I like, and it’s powered by an 8th-generation Intel Core i5 processor. Read my review.

HP Spectre Folio. My favorite convertible PC is wrapped in a unique leather body that gives it a nice look and feel. Read my review.

Apple MacBook Air (2018). Apple’s newest MacBook Air is regularly derided by reviewers for being too little, too late, but I love it. My only gripe is the price: It’s about $200 too expensive. Read my review.

Acer Chromebook Spin 13. Acer’s business-class Chromebook combines an excellent display with a professional-looking design and Android app compatibility. This is my preferred Chromebook. Read my review.

Server

I no longer maintain a Windows Server-based server at home, but I do use a WD My Cloud EX2 NAS (network-attached storage) with 4 TB of total storage in a RAID 1 configuration. It works great and acts as a secondary backup for work and personal documents, and photos, and my old ripped DVD collection. Read my review.

Smartphone and wireless service

If you followed my smartphone buying foibles this past Autumn, you know that I went back and forth on a number of handsets, and that we are awash in good choices. But I’ve stuck with Project Fi—now Google Fi—as my wireless carrier, and love it, and I primarily use my 2017-era Google Pixel 2 XL (128 GB).

That said, I do rotate between review phones, and maintain a few additional phones, like a 2016-era Apple iPhone 7 (128 GB, refurbished) and a OnePlus 6T (128 GB) for testing purposes.

I wrote about the mobile apps I rely on here.

Tablet

After watching my beloved iPad mini (4th-generation) succumb to dings and battery life and performance issues, I finally gave in an purchased a 128 GB iPad 9.7 (2018). It’s a bit bigger and heavier than I’d like, but I use it every day to read and, when traveling, to watch videos. Apple’s iPad is the only consumption tablet I’d ever consider.

I wrote about the mobile apps I rely on here.

Xbox

I use a Microsoft Xbox One X just about every day, mostly to play Call of Duty. I’ve added a Seagate Game Drive for Xbox (2 TB) external drive for more storage, and have been playing with a customized Xbox Wireless Controller that I designed using Xbox Design Labs. (My preferred Elite controller is falling apart and needs to be replaced.) I literally just destroyed the excellent HP gaming display I was using with the Xbox by mistake, so I switched to an older 32-inch HP 1440p display which, surprise, looks and sounds great. I may just keep using it.

Bose noise-canceling headphones

You’ll recognize these from my many “What I Use” travel posts, and this is the one piece of travel gear I cannot live without. The in-ear Bose QuietComfort 20 Acoustic Noise Cancelling headphones are small, light, and unobtrusive, and they take up almost no space in a bag. Highly, highly recommended.

Internet and TV

We get Internet access via RCN because it is the only decent choice in the rural community in which we live. Our service is 300 Mbps down and 30 Mbps up, but that’s on a good day when there’s a full moon. It’s been mostly reliable. But I would switch to FIOS instantly, at any cost, were that available here.

As you may have read, we cut the cord last year and no longer use cable TV service. Instead, we use some combination of YouTube TV, Netflix (Premium Ultra HD plan), Hulu (No Commercials plan), Amazon Prime Video, and other services. We buy and rent movies from Apple usually. We switch between a 2016-era Roku Premiere+ and an Apple TV for our set-top box. And we watch TV on a 2016-era Samsung Smart TV with 4K and HDR capabilities.

Software

I use the latest versions of Windows 10 Pro or Home, macOS, and Chrome OS on the relevant PCs and devices, of course. I wrote about the applications I rely on here.

Online services

I wrote about the online services I rely on here.

Home office

I use a cheap IKEA SKARSTA standing desk that I never use standing, and a Herman Miller Aeron chair, which is at least 17 years old now but still works well.