Tools and Gear
This is a list of the hardware and software I'm currently using on a daily basis. I'm always on the lookout for tools that will help me be more productive and efficient, so if you have any suggestions, please let me know!
Oh, and just a heads up, most of these are Amazon affiliate links, so be sure to click them and buy something so I can keep the lights on around here! 😆
Hardware
- I recently updated my desk to a HUANUO 48″ x 24″ Electric Standing Desk and I've been really happy with it. It's not as fancy as some of the other desks out there, but it's sturdy, has a good range of motion, and the price was right.
- My desk chair is a Secretlab Titan Evo emblazened with the Batman logo with clear roller blade wheels that are super smooth, even on carpet.
- I'm currently using a 2021 16" Macbook Pro M1 Max with 64 GB ram and a 2TB SSH. And of course, it's covered in stickers!
- My external monitors are 2x Phillips 4K UHD Monitors.
- One of the best investments I ever made was splurging on a Moonlander Mark I keyboard. It's a bit pricey, but has easily been the most comfortable and customizable keyboard I've ever used.
- After a recommendation from one of my fav podcasters, I upgraded my mouse to a Logitech MX Master 3S and have been loving it!
- I recently upgraded my microphone to a Shure MV6 with a Pneumatic Neewer Low Profile Mic Arm and have been really happy with it.
- I use a Logitech HD Pro C920 webcam for video calls and recording videos.
- To light my office, I use 2 Neewer LED Panel Lights that I bounce off the walls + multiple strips of Govee Color Changing LED Strip Lights for background ambient lighting.
- With all these devices, I needed something to keep them all connected without having to deal with a bunch of cables...not to mention there are only so many ports on a Macbook. So I picked up a StarTech.com Thunderbolt 3 to Dual DisplayPort Adapter, a Selore&S-Global USB C to Dual HDMI Adapter, and a 13 port LATORICE Powered USB Hub to plug them all into. Then those are all connected via an OWC 5 Port Thunderbolt Hub. Now when I get to my desk, all I have to do is plug in 1 USB C cable and everything is good to go!
- I've always hated having to carry around all kinds of bricks and adapters to plug in and charge stuff. I searched for a while and nothing really worked great, but finally I found this Portable 7 Port Fast Charging Station. Now I can charge my laptop, phone, iPad, and anything else I need all at the same time.
- I also tried a bunch of different USB C cables, but my favorite one by far has to be the Dbilida 6.6ft Thunderbolt 3 Cable (40Gbps). I've had it for a long time and it's still doing great!
- I carry everything in a Mystery Ranch Blitz 35 Backpack.
- I listen to Beats Fit Pro earbuds most of the time, whether I'm at my desk or out and about.
- But when I don't have my earbuds in, I have a Beats Pill - Portable Bluetooth Speaker for when I want to jam out.
- Another small but awesome little piece of gear is the ProCase Hard Travel Electronic Organizer Case. This thing is fantastic for storing, organizing, and protecting all my cables and accessories.
- After a long search for the right power bank to carry with me, I finally found the Omni 20+ 20000mah Laptop Power Bank Portable Charger. It's been the perfect companion for my laptop and phone when I'm on the go.
Software
- While I use multiple AI tools for various tasks, my AI companion of choice is Claude Code for my daily work. I've spent lots of time building my own library of prompts, skills, and subagents to help me be more productive and efficient.
- I use Cursor as my primary editor with the GitHub Dark Default theme.
But I was a longtime Vim user too, so I still use that a good ammount (especially now that I'm in the terminal so much more with working with Claude). I have a custom theme called Breeze I use for Vim that's a fork of the Dracula theme. - My termainl of choise is Warp I really love it. It's a fantastic tool with so many little benefits I could (and do) go on about it for a while...but don't worry, I won't do that to you.
- I finally gave up on Arc since the company is no longer actively developing it 😢, so now my primary browser is Vivaldi, which is highly customizable and has a lot of features I love.
- I replaced Mac's built in Spotlight with Raycast (Pro version) for quick and easy access to multiple AI models and a bunch of plugins.
- For note taking I use Obsidian with a few different vaults to help keep things organized. Particularly my "second brain", which is where I keep all my notes and ideas...a method I learned from one of my favorite books, How to Take Smart Notes.
- I've been using 1Password as my password manager for years now. It used to be LastPass, but I switched a few years ago after some security concerns.
- I've been a loyal Proton customer for many years now. I use it for all my personal email, encrypted cloud storage, and VPN.
- I built BuzyBee to help myself manage all my tasks and projects using the GTD Methodology, and use it every day.
That's about it for now. I'll update this page as I find new tools and software that make my life easier and better.