What’s in your desk, Stevie Bonifield?

Stevie Bonifield is a information author right here at The Verge and, they are saying, “I cover a little bit of just about everything, from the FCC to AI shopping tools to Linux.” Before becoming a member of our information staff, they wrote weekend information for PC Gamer and did critiques, information, options, and guides for Laptop Mag, together with some tales for Tom’s Guide, IGN, TechRadar, and XDA. “I’ve been reading (and watching) The Verge since I was in high school,“ they add, ”so it’s fairly thrilling to be a part of the staff now.“

Outside of writing, Stevie says “I also love gaming, reading, and TTRPGs (tabletop roleplaying games). As you’ll probably be able to tell from my workspace, I’m kind of a total nerd.”

Let’s start with the fundamentals. Where is your work house situated?

My desk and work house are in my bed room. I share my residence with a roommate, so we each work from our bedrooms so we don’t distract one another in the course of the day. I don’t actually thoughts not having a separate workplace — it means I solely have to fret about adorning and managing one house as a substitute of two. I just lately moved to New Jersey from Pittsburgh, PA, so I’m nonetheless getting all the things arrange right here.

Could you inform us about your desk and your chair?

I’m utilizing a VIVO 3-stage adjustable desk with a VIVO 60-inch desktop and a Haworth Breck chair. I obtained each after I moved final month, so I haven’t been utilizing them for lengthy, however I like them up to now.

This is definitely a standing desk, which I’ve by no means used earlier than. I obtained it so I might have my desk peak fairly low — I’m on the shorter aspect and most desks are too excessive for me. This one goes all the way in which all the way down to 24 inches, decrease than even I would like, which is very nice. The possibility to make use of it as a standing desk is a cool perk, though that isn’t what I purchased it for. My cable administration below the desk nonetheless wants some cleansing up, however I’m engaged on it! I’ve a VIVO clamp-on cable management net containing most of it for now.

I just like the Haworth Breck up to now, but it surely’s a reasonably primary chair. Like my desk, a giant a part of why I obtained this one is its peak vary. It’s extraordinarily tough for me to search out first rate desk chairs that go as little as I would like them to (with out requiring a footrest). This one has a minimal seat peak of round 15 inches and has adjustable seat depth, each of which I’ve actually appreciated. That mentioned, I want it had a headrest.

Tell us in regards to the varied tech units you’re utilizing.

My setup is slightly loopy as a result of I’ve three completely different computer systems operating to my two displays.

My gaming PC lives on the ground below my desk. It’s at present briefly out of fee as a result of I’m having a {hardware} subject. Unfortunately, my RAM appears to be on the fritz, which is fairly dangerous timing contemplating the present RAM pricing nightmare. Most of it’s nonetheless working, although! It has an AMD Ryzen 7 7700X CPU, an AMD Radeon RX 6600 GPU, an Asus ROG Strix B650-A motherboard, and a pair of 16GB Corsair Vengeance DDR5 RAM sticks (which apparently have to be changed, after lower than a yr of use).

That’s additionally my Linux PC — it’s at present operating Fedora 41 with the Cinnamon desktop surroundings, however I’m updating to Fedora 43 quickly and planning to change to the KDE Plasma desktop surroundings.

Hanging off the aspect of my desk are my work and private laptops, each the M4 MacGuide Air. My laptops are solely related to my left monitor, which is a 27-inch 1440p Viewsonic Omni (VX2728J-2K). My gaming PC is related to each displays. I primarily play video games on the proper monitor because it has higher coloration accuracy. It’s a 27-inch 1440p Asus ROG Strix gaming monitor (XG27ACS).

Neither certainly one of my displays is something fancy, however each are ok for my wants. Between the 2, I might most likely suggest the ROG another, though I’m not an enormous fan of the buttons being situated on the again since I would like these to swap enter modes so I can change to my Mac. When I’m working in the course of the day I normally have my work laptop computer operating on the left monitor and my Linux PC on the proper monitor. My keyboard and mouse I selected particularly as a result of they make it straightforward to leap between all my units.

I’ve reviewed fairly just a few keyboards, so it’s slightly ironic that the one I’m utilizing now I really haven’t reviewed. It’s the Nuphy Halo75 V2 with Nuphy’s Mint switches. It sounds and feels nice, works actually easily with macOS, and I can soar between my laptops and PC with a fast keyboard shortcut. The battery life might be a bit higher, however admittedly I depart the RGB on, in order that’s most likely not serving to. Overall, although, I actually just like the design and sound high quality on the Halo75 — it’s one of many solely keyboards I’ve tried that I’m proud of out-of-the-box with out making any DIY customizations.

My mouse is definitely certainly one of my favourite units proper now. I’ve examined some nice gaming mice, however this one is my private every day driver and never one I reviewed. It’s the Razer Orochi V2, and I obtained it on sale for $35 on Amazon earlier this yr. It’s nothing fancy, however the dimension and really feel are excellent for me. Most gaming mice really feel sort of huge in my hand, however I swear Razer designed the Orochi for my palm particularly. Like my keyboard, it’s additionally in a position to soar between a Bluetooth connection and a 2.4GHz dongle. Despite the budget-friendly worth, it’s an incredible mouse.

Underneath that I’m at present utilizing a Matrix Blizzard mousepad. I obtained it on Amazon, however sadly, I feel it’s offered out now. I needed one thing with slightly little bit of a design occurring, however not something too detailed or distracting. This design nearly completely match what I used to be in search of. I want it was a tad thicker, but it surely’s extra attention-grabbing than a plain black mousepad, and that’s ok for me.

I’ve two controllers on my desk, a standard Xbox controller for my Mac and the wired Razer Wolverine V2 for my gaming PC. I don’t usually like wired controllers, however I actually love the Wolverine. The clicky buttons on Razer controllers are so satisfying to me, and so they have a tendency to supply persistently good efficiency in my expertise. My favourite cell controller can be from Razer, the Kishi Ultra.

My most popular headphones are my AirPods Pro 3. The ANC and spatial audio is improbable for watching reveals and flicks on my laptop computer (and helps me focus after I’m working). I don’t like sporting earbuds on a regular basis, although, so I additionally maintain a primary pair of on-ear Sony headphones round, the WH-CH250. The audio high quality on these isn’t notably spectacular, however they’re tremendous reasonably priced.

Last, however definitely not least, I even have a Razer Seiren V3 Chroma mic off to the aspect of my desk on a clamp-on mic arm I obtained on Amazon. I’ve been utilizing the Seiren for a pair years now for gaming and taking part in Dungeons & Dragons with my on-line group. The audio high quality might be a bit higher, but it surely’s a major enchancment over most built-in headphone mics, and I’ve by no means had any bugs or points with it. Notably, it really works on Linux for me while not having any tweaks or work-arounds.

That is a superb laptop computer holder you have got along side your desk. What is it?

I simply obtained that after I moved final month, and it’s certainly one of my favourite additions to my desk setup. It’s a double-decker laptop mount I obtained for round $30 on Amazon and simply clamps onto the aspect of my desk (no screws obligatory!).

I needed to release some desk house, and this lets me maintain each of my laptops close by and out of the way in which on the identical time. I additionally used a command strip to stay a USB-C hub to the again of the laptop computer tray, so I can shortly hop between my private and work laptops on my exterior monitor by simply transferring over the USB-C cable and charging cable.

Great wall decorations. Tell us a bit about your Elmville map and what surrounds it.

This is the wall throughout from my desk that individuals see when I’ve my webcam on, so I put all my coolest stuff on it. I’m an enormous fan of Dimension 20 on Dropout, so I instantly picked up a type of Elmville maps once they launched them. For those that haven’t checked out Dimension 20 but, Elmville is the principle setting for Fantasy High, among the best reveals Dropout has to supply, in my humble opinion.

The smaller horizontal image under the map is definitely a web page from Dropout’s 2025 Dimension 20 calendar that I obtained at their Madison Square Garden present final January. It’s a scene from season 2 of Fantasy High, and I simply thought the artist did such an incredible job with it that it deserved to be framed. Off to the proper above that one is a print I obtained from an artwork conference. It’s not from any present or film so far as I do know; the design simply resonated with me.

The two smaller prints above the map are additionally from artwork conventions and have been made by the identical artist, Natasha Tara Petrović. The purple one is a few cool Mothman artwork — I’ve a mushy spot for cryptids and spooky stuff. The blue one is a Dark Souls print that makes the sport look approach cozier than it’s.

And final however not least, I’ve obtained some Nanoleaf Elements tiles lighting up that wall. These are the primary sensible lights I’ve ever purchased, and so they’re fairly cool, particularly with the extra mellow wooden look. I’ve them set to shift colours and brightness all through the day.

You’re clearly into Star Wars and different science fiction / fantasy worlds, judging from the toys over your bookcase and the figures on that little shelf. Are you a critical fan or do you identical to the style?

I’m an enormous Star Wars fan. One of my earliest recollections is watching The Phantom Menace on VHS, and I’ve cherished the franchise ever since. Obi-Wan is my favourite character, which I’m noticing is a bit apparent in my work house.

The lightsaber above my bookcase is Obi-Wan’s from The Phantom Menace. I’ve had it since most likely kindergarten or first grade, so it’s slightly beat up. And subsequent to that I’ve obtained a particular version Obi-Wan Funko Pop. Then above my desk I’ve a Lego mannequin of Obi-Wan’s Jedi starfighter from Attack of the Clones.

On the shelf under that I’ve managed to squeeze within the Dungeons & Dragons collection minifigures I’ve collected (I’m just a few shy of the total assortment). These cabinets ended up being approach smaller than anticipated, so I’m planning so as to add extra so issues aren’t fairly so cramped. I believed Lego did an incredible job with these D&D minifigures, although, and would like to see them do extra D&D units. My private favourite from this collection is the dragonborn paladin.

The different Funko Pop subsequent to Obi-Wan is Vi from Arcane, which is a very phenomenal present and a private favourite of mine. I’m not a lot of a Funko Pop individual, however I’ll get them occasionally if it’s a personality I actually like.

I suppose I might say I’m a critical sci-fi and fantasy fan, though I have a tendency to attach with particular collection or books and stick to these. To return to the Star Wars instance, on one of many decrease cabinets in my bookcase, I’ve a lot of the outdated Jedi Apprentice books. They’ve gotten fairly onerous to search out, however I cherished them as a child, so I’m making an attempt to gather all of them once more.

On the fantasy aspect of issues, I really like epic fantasy like Lord of the Rings, but additionally like some YA books, particularly The Hunger Games and Percy Jackson. At the second, I’m studying The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss and Brigands & Breadknives by Travis Baldree, which is the third guide in his Legends & Lattes collection. Both are nice, though they’ve drastically completely different tones.

You even have a rock assortment!

I do! Much like a goldfish, it has grown to fill the dimensions of its container, and now it could actually develop no extra. I’ve all the time had an curiosity in geology and have had a number of the rocks and minerals in that case since I used to be a child.

I’ve a bunch of quartz, a geode, some copper, chalcopyrite, amazonite, dravite, moissanite, a sliver of obsidian, a lump of basalt, some feldspar and sedimentary rocks, and a bunch of smaller tumbled stones. There’s additionally a bit of petrified wooden within the again that I discovered in a streambed. My favorites are the chunk of amber within the entrance and the bismuth above it — I really like how bismuth crystals get that neat geometric form.

Anything else I missed that you simply’d like so as to add?

While I don’t use it for work, my Kobo Clara BW e-reader is sort of all the time on my desk. My bookcases are just about full (and a bit small — I’m planning to switch them finally), so I’ve been studying extra ebooks over the previous yr or so.

I switched from a Kindle to a Kobo a number of months in the past and have been loving the Kobo. The show and consumer expertise on the Clara are higher than their Kindle counterparts in my expertise, and you’ve got extra freedom so as to add books from outdoors Kobo’s retailer and again up all the things in your library on different units. My Kobo is in my on a regular basis carry now, though in hindsight, I want I’d gotten one with a coloration show.

Photography by Stevie Bonifield