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Wireless Desktop Keyboard and Mouse, which I highly recommend, a Logitech HD Pro Webcam C920, which is probably a bit out of date by this point, and the Focusrite Scarlett Solo (2nd Gen) USB Audio Interface and a Heil PR 40 microphone with PL2T Boom Mount that I use for podcasting.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