Work from home devices?

[dreamin_disney]

Hello. My job is letting staff work from home. I have an iPad but might need a back up just Incase.
anyone recommend an inexpensive laptop, chrome book or desktop?

btw is a chrome book about the same as a laptop or very different?

To those that use an iPad.....
I will be needing to turn mic on and off throughout sessions , do you just use the iPad mic button or use a plug in/ Bluetooth mic?

if I use regular ear buds can they still hear background noise?

any tips or advice welcomed. Thanks in advance

Btw-I have a printer and regular cheap earphones

 

[M:SpilotISTC12]

Your iPad should do the job if it's one of the more recent ones. If your iPad is older I'd upgrade. iPads are great for Zoom calls or other video conferencing apps. Might be worth getting a better set of bluetooth headphones with a mic just so it sounds better for your coworkers. The iPad's mic is ok but not great but would have the same functionality as Bluetooth headphones. Usually the bluetooth headphones won't pick up any background noise but the higher quality the headphones the better you and your coworkers will sound.

Bose has good ones but expensive. You can find a deal on B&H sometimes. Just do your research when it comes to shopping for headphones.

 

[tvguy]

I've been working from home since March of last year. The company provided laptops to those of us assigned to work at home due to the pandemic, as I would expect any employer to do. That way THEY control the security of the system you are logging into, and make sure you have a computer powerful enough to run the software they expect you to run. They also provided a MiFi for me to connect to the internet with 10GB of data a month, but I use my home Internet connection. I only use the MiFi if there is an issue with my internet which has happened about 6 times since March.
I can't speak to ipads, most of us use PC laptops, but I know those who got Mac's do run into issues with Apple software updates conflicting with the VPN security software. Not a big deal, but usually knocks them out of service while they run diagnostic. Never more than 30 minutes, sometimes only 10 minutes. Never had that issue with PCs.
As for the mike, we use zoom and we turn the mike on and off in the Zoom software....same with the camera

 

[dreamin_disney]

I've been working from home since March of last year. The company provided laptops to those of us assigned to work at home due to the pandemic, as I would expect any employer to do. That way THEY control the security of the system you are logging into, and make sure you have a computer powerful enough to run the software they expect you to run. They also provided a MiFi for me to connect to the internet with 10GB of data a month, but I use my home Internet connection. I only use the MiFi if there is an issue with my internet which has happened about 6 times since March.
I can't speak to ipads, most of us use PC laptops, but I know those who got Mac's do run into issues with Apple software updates conflicting with the VPN security software. Not a big deal, but usually knocks them out of service while they run diagnostic. Never more than 30 minutes, sometimes only 10 minutes. Never had that issue with PCs.
As for the mike, we use zoom and we turn the mike on and off in the Zoom software....same with the camera

My employer doesn’t have devices for us. We have to supply our own stuff and sign agreement.

 

[luv2sewtjr]

My school issued me a chrome book for teaching and I will not use it for Zoom. It doesn’t have enough RAM and the audio and video quality isn’t good. I don’t know how it would be as a participant, but I bought an inexpensive laptop at BJs to use for Zoom meetings. I like having two screens available anyway.

 

[piccolopat]

To answer your question we would really need to know what you would need to do with a device. To start, what software do you use at work that would need to run on your device and what are the requirements for each? How do you connect to your company's network? What security software do they require? To me, a Chromebook is fine for basic internet browsing but I prefer a laptop or desktop for everything else.

 

[eMoneyBug]

what are the best work from home jobs?

 

[tvguy]

My employer doesn’t have devices for us. We have to supply our own stuff and sign agreement.

What does your IT department recommend?

 

[_19disnA]

To answer your question we would really need to know what you would need to do with a device. To start, what software do you use at work that would need to run on your device and what are the requirements for each? How do you connect to your company's network? What security software do they require?

I agree. Some companies have internal networks that require any outside PC user to be configured to access that network and usually includes some sort of software and logon procedure. If you are using an Apple product, you will find that other types of PC's will take some getting used to since they tend to use different ways to accomplish the same thing. Switching back and forth between Apple and PC based products can be confusing for those who don't do a lot of computer work. Desktops tend to be less expensive then laptops if you don't need the device to be portable.

Would also ask your IT people before buying a device that isn't compatible with your company network & software. Many basic laptops will work fine unless the software you are using requires something more advanced.

 

[KPeterso]

I am very surprised your company is not supplying all the needed items to work at home. When I was sent home in March, I was sent with my laptop (that I have been working from for years), docking station, monitors, etc... I can use my laptop as my phone for all calls or to call people so I don't have to use my personal cell for it. I have been on a laptop for work for years as they are what we are all issued so we always had the opportunity to work at home if sick.

As someone else said, ask your IT department what will work with the programs that you need to utilize and how to best be on the network.

 

[Best Aunt]

I agree with others about asking your IT Department. When I decided to buy a new laptop, I knew that I would be using it to work from home, so I asked my IT Department what specs I would need. They gave me information to use when shopping. Your IT Department will know how well your necessary apps will work with a Mac, a Windows computer, a Chromebook, an iPad, or another tablet.

 

[Lumpy1106]

I grabbed my laptop when we were hurried out of the office in March, and went back a week later to grab my chair and two additional screens (chair was a special ergonomic chair I have due to a back surgery, the monitors I was given the OK to grab by IT). We were later told not to do that, but I am SO glad I did! I honestly would have purchased the additional screens and the chair if I had not borrowed them from the office. It is a total game changer having the right setup. MORE than having the equipment, you really need a good WiFi connection. We upgraded our WiFi, then tried a couple of different extenders. Nothing, and I mean nothing compares to the nest-type extenders (Google, eero, any of those that are expandable). We have full speed, full signal all over our entire house and detached garage - almost better than i had in my office.

Agree that your company should be helping you out with this as the whole setup I have is probably around $1000, not including the computer.

 

[afan]

We already all had laptops and some people already worked from home a tiny bit. We were all able to take what we needed home equipment wisr and then they ordered what we'd need at work to replace it. Once this is all done some will desk share since some will still work from home parts of the week. It'll help us not need to move to a new office space as we've outgrown where we are. I do use my cell but I get so few and make fewer calls in a week that it's fine. If it was more I'd get a cell from work which is what my boss did. We'd also been using Skype for meetings and im and they'd been planning to switch to teams so did it early and it transitioned very well. We were lucky that a lot of this was already in place due to having several locations already that no one really noticed a change in how we worked other than we were now at home.

 

[tvguy]

My employer doesn’t have devices for us. We have to supply our own stuff and sign agreement.

What is in the agreement? I had to sign one but I am using company equipment taking responsibility for it. Those that opted to use their own equipment have to install certain company provided software to protect the company network. I am not an IT expert but that is what my son does for a living and he felt the software they were using was a bigger security risk to the corporate network than having nothing.

 

[dreamin_disney]

Today was my first day working from home. I had a good day. The iPad worked and I was able to do my job. I did have to do a little more clicking and going between different screen/pages because it wouldn’t let me split certain programs.

it would be nice to have a larger screen or a second smaller one so I don’t have to keep clicking back and forth. I think a wireless or Bluetooth mouse would be good too and keyboard. For now it’s ok until I learn tips and tricks. A bigger screen woukd be easier on the eyes


My job won’t supply anything not even borrow devices, cameras, mics , mouses, etc. We have to have our own device, high speed WiFi and not responsible and no compensation for anything. Sites are still open for now so Just happy to work for home

 

[dreamin_disney]

What is in the agreement? I had to sign one but I am using company equipment taking responsibility for it. Those that opted to use their own equipment have to install certain company provided software to protect the company network. I am not an IT expert but that is what my son does for a living and he felt the software they were using was a bigger security risk to the corporate network than having nothing.

That we will use our own device, we have high speed wife, we will buy what’re we need ( web cam or mic if we don’t have one) and understand no compensation. We will remain professional, quiet space , work our hours etc

 

[tvguy]

That we will use our own device, we have high speed wife, we will buy what’re we need ( web cam or mic if we don’t have one) and understand no compensation. We will remain professional, quiet space , work our hours etc

I have basic internet. Just tested, 22 download, 1.8 upload. No issues. The folks that seem to have issues have top of the line high speed internet, like around 400. They don't normally have speed issues, they seem to have a lot more outages than I do. HOWEVER, I work 3 am to 1130 am and the issues tend to happen in the 3 am to 5 am time frame. I have to wonder if that is when many internet providers do resets and other brief outages for system maintenance.
Only thing we are expected to pay for is our internet connection, however many have company cell phones and can use that at a Hot Spot. I do not have a company cell phone so that is why they gave me a MiFi. We absolutely can't be down. I would be paying for that internet connection anyway and lord knows I am hundreds of dollars ahead of the game just not having to commute 13 miles each way to work.

 

[AquaDame]

I have basic internet. Just tested, 22 download, 1.8 upload. No issues. The folks that seem to have issues have top of the line high speed internet, like around 400. They don't normally have speed issues, they seem to have a lot more outages than I do. HOWEVER, I work 3 am to 1130 am and the issues tend to happen in the 3 am to 5 am time frame. I have to wonder if that is when many internet providers do resets and other brief outages for system maintenance.
Only thing we are expected to pay for is our internet connection, however many have company cell phones and can use that at a Hot Spot. I do not have a company cell phone so that is why they gave me a MiFi. We absolutely can't be down. I would be paying for that internet connection anyway and lord knows I am hundreds of dollars ahead of the game just not having to commute 13 miles each way to work.

It's interesting you mention this... we were also sent home to work remote in March. I work in our IT department and it also seems the people I support that have the most problems have the top of the line internet packages also. I assume its because their providers keep crowing that they must not have a fast enough connection rather than actually take the time to troubleshoot with them... the few folks that have taken the time to go through it with me I've been able to help. The ones who say they're too busy and just want it to work can just keep calling Comcast and paying too much I guess.

 

[afan]

It's interesting you mention this... we were also sent home to work remote in March. I work in our IT department and it also seems the people I support that have the most problems have the top of the line internet packages also. I assume its because their providers keep crowing that they must not have a fast enough connection rather than actually take the time to troubleshoot with them... the few folks that have taken the time to go through it with me I've been able to help. The ones who say they're too busy and just want it to work can just keep calling Comcast and paying too much I guess.

I was very thankful one of our IT guys helped me when I asked so that I didn't have to go through comcast. We got a new modem from them, because the one we had was older and it was time for an upgrade. But the IP address it got assigned was conflicting with our VPN. He knew how to log into my comcast account and fix it and it's been fine ever since. It took maybe 20 min with him and then the time for the modem to reset, it'd have taken forever if I'd had to blindly go through comcast.

We did have one outage, from morning until around midnight. Ended up working the rest of my hours the next day on Saturday which was fine. Comcast did give us $10 for the trouble without having to ask which was also nice. I will say it's been about the only thing they've ever done that made me happy, normally I just yell at their stupid phone menu until I get a person

 

[starry_solo]

I work from home part-time. At the beginning of this pandemic, last March-ish, maybe closer to the end of March, we were offered the opportunity to work part-time from home. Then beginning April 1st, we worked full-time from home, until the middle of June, which coincided with the primary portion of my job getting back into the office. So, since then, we've been allowed to work part-time from home

The office provided laptops that we use to connect at home and at work (at work, there's a converter box we connect to, to connect it to 2 regular computer screens). The office offered to let us bring one of the computer screens home, but I still want 2 at the office when I'm there so it's not worth it for me to lug it home part-time so the laptop screen it is.

I have the hotspot on the company provided cell phone to use for the internet, as needed