Hello, Friend! Welcome to the blog. This evening blog is about a small project I've worked on and that is my tech for work for work is with minimal compromises. Keep that part in mind. It is also designed for travel but I use these items in my day to day life on my journey with digital illustrations and writing. It started with the idea of an entire work setup that could fit into any messenger and not compromise in my work flow.
At the time I used a dell OptiPlex 2070 refurbished desktop slim model with an a monitor I had picked up from the sidewalk during a random evening job searching while living in a small town in the sunshine coast. The tablet I was using was the HUION KAMVAS GT-221 that I got for my 17th birthday in early 2019 and had used it up until mid 2024. It was not only a decent tablet but also a solid secondary monitor, with the only damage to it on the programable keyboard shortcuts, which happened because I had accidently drop it one day while rearranging my bedroom one summer evening, it was fine for me as I hadn't used them before or after the incident that occurred.
The first item I got when gathering my "Travel station" is a laptop that I still use to this day, The ASUS Vivobook 13, which was 500$CAD at the time of purchase. I hope to replace it with a major upgrade in the near future (Read to Ko-Fi Goal here). The laptop has many issues with it, which prevents me from using for recreational use, goes as follows: No. 1 - The RAM; The base amount of RAM/Memory is 4GBs DDR4 SODIUM Memory, the lack of RAM as well as the generally weak CPU prevents me from working on heavy graphic intensive projects and couldn't even run basic software I use everyday such as Paint Tool SAI Ver. 2. The same week of purchase I ordered a 4GB DDR4 SODIUM Memory RAM from Amazon, however it still wasn't enough for SAI 2, so that same week I order from the same brand t0 8GBs, going from 4GBs to 12Gbs, it had made the laptop useable at the very least. I had wanted to see how much I can downgrade as before I had a gaming laptop that costed nearly 2000$CAD. No. 2: Storage - The laptop's base storage is 128GB M.2 SSD. I had try to replace with an 1TB M.2 SSD which was apart of my previous desktop I had built years prior, however for whatever reason the laptop wouldn't reading for whatever reason. So I left the SSD as is, using the 1TB SSD as an external drive that holds my games, media and every single digital illustration and project I've kept/worked on since the age of 15. I continue to be frustrated with the device and I would personally recommend getting a second hand Think Pad as you would spend half the money and equal the performance
Secondarily: My tablet(s) Before upgrading to the HUION KAMVAS 13, I had used the HUION Inspiroy Keydial KD200 bluetooth. I like the bluetooth aspect of it and love that it charges with USB-C with a battery that lasts a respectable amount of time, however it would just barely fit in my messenger and being left handed the kaypad wasn't often useful in my workflow, in fact it halted it more often that I thought it wouldn't have. regardless of it's faults it is still a worth while investment but would only personally recommend it for a very specific kind of person. one who is right handed who actively uses keyboard shortcuts and requires the use of a dial. I almost forgot to mention the dial since I hadn't used it as much as I initially thought I would. I really only got the tablet as I thought the second pen that came with the GT-221 had finally kicked the bucket for good, however later on I found the correct charging cable for the pen some few weeks after storing it away after moving to the Sunshine Coast. The tablet (Both the GT-221 and Inspiroy Dial) now reside second hand with my cousins who somewhat have an interest in the digital arts.
As of late July 2024 I had bought the HUION Kamvas 13 on sale during Amazon's Prime Day sale. And it is nearly everything I had hoped for in a small formfactor display tablet, especially from HUION, a brand I continue to be satisfied with, personally buying more than a handful of their products in the past. It is perfect middle ground from th GT-221 and the Inspiroy. The only issues I have with the device are a diver issue and one that involves trouble, but I'll go over the driver issue first. For unexplainable reasons both the GT-221, Kamvas 13 and possibly other HUION Display Tablet (Though I can't verifiy) the display when zooming in and out from any software such as Paint Tool SAI Ver. 2, Clip Studio Paint EX or Krita zoom in/out from the bottom left, sometimes at random. I suspect this to be an out of date driver issue. I don't think it's my device as with the GT-221 had gone through 1 custom built (by me at age 16), an ASUS ROG Laptop as well as the Dell Optiplex 2070 slim, all with the same issue. My second issue with the Kamvas is the lack of protection when packed. I hope in the near future either HUION or third party releases some kind of protective sleeve for the device. My concern for the lack of protection for travel is mitigated by a previous HUION branded string bag that was included with one their older Insparoy models from 2018.
Accessories:
Mouse: After month's of looking at mice, reading reviews and watching my YouTube videos on the subject, my final verdict for computer mice is the Logitech Master 3S. I have one issue with the mouse and that is at random the profiles for assigned software will delete themselves without notice or reason. Otherwise it is the perfect mouse for productivity and recreational use such as gaming. It is now the only computer mouse I use and have all three profiles set for my travel station, desktop and iPad 10. It will likely be the last mouse I'll ever buy for a good long while. The only upgrade I ask for are maybe programable buttons on the right side of the device as my fourth and pinky finger are left unproductive. for Paint Tool SAI Ver. 2 (The only profile programmed) I have mouse 3 and 4 programmed as Undo and Redo respectively. The side scroll wheel is set as + and - which are set to rotate the canvas counter clockwise as well as clockwise. The hidden thumb button, which I didn't notice until programming, is set to mirror the canvas. Mirroring is important for digital illustrating as you don't want things looking slanted or warped in the final product.
I even programmed what normally is the scroll wheel lock to reset the view point on the canvas, which greatly effects my workflow.
Keyboard: My most recent purchase at the time of writing, The Logitech MX Mechanical mini is a great keyboard and will likely also be my last keyboard that I will purchase in the foreseeable future. The only key that is missing is the Print Screen key, which is mitigated by face that it is programmable to a limited set of keys in the Logi Options software. I don't normally care about RGB backlit, especially on keyboards and mice, but I am happy with the white backlights on the keyboard, which is helpful yet not distracting when working in dark or poorly lit environments. The tactile brown switches are satisfying and is by far the best typing experience with mechanical keyboard. It is not loud and in your face like it was with my previous experience on a mechanical keyboard from Razor. And the small form factor allows it to fit in my messenger bag that I got as a gift from my aunt in Christmas 2023. I have the HUION Kamvas set on top of the Vivobooks keyboard, thanks to the feet on the device it does not compress hard enough to set of any of the keys.
Laptop stand: I use a folding laptop stand for elevated height, it is a generic that that is dime a dozen at any online or trach store available. As mentioned before I have the Kamvas 13 proped ontop of the laptop so I have a duel screen setup. I hope to get on like this one that rises the device a little higher as I am 5'10 and it will be helpful for my neck. Ergonomics are important for not only health and wellbeing but also overall workflow
I also got a set of cable ties and primarily use the small ones to manage everything, the rest were given to two of friends who had recently built their own gaming power stations.
The messenger I use from VX VONXURY on Amazon. With a messenger I don't necessarily need a tech or cable organizer as the bag is designed with zippered and open pockets that nearly fits my every need, pen holder included. I am happy with the fact it has a strap for luggage bags which made it easy for my shoulders and back when traveling over BC Ferries and Vancouver's weather, even keeping my devices dry during a heavy rain storm. I only have one gripe with it and that is the fact that the intiror lining is black, with my accessories being dark grey or black made it a small hassle to find the right cable. I hope for mt next messenger to have an inside lining be white or a distinct colour that pops like orange. Otherwise I am overall happy with their product.
Lastly I have also used two backpacks, which I will write about both in the same section here: First on is the TomToc Navigator 40L. I got it for my birthday in 2024 and have used for travel across BC ferries from The Sunshine Coast to Vancouver BC, it is well designed and I have used it on occasion for my laptop. However since my laptop is 13 inches it goes deep into the laptop sleeve so I leave it in the tablet sleeve. I don't often use it these days and is more used for storage but otherwise is worth its price and will certainly be used for more international travel hopefully in the near future.
Second: Herschel Classic XL grey Raven Crosshatch. I got at a near by Best Buy as an everyday daypack and have thrown my setup in it a couple of times. It is a fine daypack though it would use for ventilation in the back. I am more than happy with it's very minimal interior, sporting only one pocket inside the main compartment and only outside pocket. I especially like the grey with the Raven Crosshatch pattern. Though for the tech I should probably get a tech organizer as the pocket is used exclusively for my laptop, tablet and books
That is pretty much it when it comes to my setup for work, I still use the Dell Optiplex primarily for gaming, as the CPU is good enough to run the games I normally play alone or with friends. I plan on installing more RAM and putting in a low end GPU so I can install a version of Steam Decks OS and use it purely as a casual gaming console device on a TV. I set up a KO-FI goal to upgrade the laptop with more plans in the future. But those are for another day. For now my goal is pretty much where I indented it along with a downgrading experiment. It was a fun experiment and really gave me a prospective I wouldn't have otherwise if I kept with the best of the best method, I am grateful for the time and money spend and see it as a positive experience. With a goal set I will be working towards an upgrade, that may have been mentioned once or twice in this blog.
With all that being said, I hope you have a wonderful evening and thank you for reading.
Cheers!
-Taylor Reeves
Yorumlar