While you might not have chosen to work from home, it can still be a rewarding experience. You get to spend your working hours in a comfortable, familiar environment, perhaps even in your favorite comfy clothes. You don’t have to commute to work and face brutal traffic. And it can be easier to maintain a healthy work-life balance – as long as you’re able to step away from your laptop.
If you’re just getting set up to work from home for the first time, however, it can be tricky to choose the best laptop computer, peripherals and networking gear you need to get into the groove. Our partners at ASUS have provided this guide to their work from home laptops and other gear to keep you running on all cylinders wherever you need to set up shop.
Why your laptop or PC is the centrepiece of your home office
The first element of your home office to consider is your PC or laptop computer. It’s your primary tool for collaborating with your team, organizing files, creating presentations, sketching out your next idea… or even relaxing with a favorite show or a game, so you need a machine that fits your unique needs.
Your work-at-home gig might include a device allowance to spend on technology, or perhaps you’re logging in from the family PC and it isn’t working as well as it once did. It’s one thing to tolerate some minor annoyances from an old computer that you only use occasionally. It’s another to suffer through them for your entire work day.
Either way, if your home office needs a new computer, you have a few decisions to make. The first is whether to get a desktop or a laptop. If performance and value are your primary concerns, desktops are a good choice. They offer easy upgrade opportunities down the road. Graphics cards, processors, storage devices and memory are all usually accessible in standard-sized cases. Replacing an aging peripheral or display is as easy as unplugging one device and plugging in another. And if your workflow requires some serious CPU or GPU horsepower, desktop PCs can offer the highest performance.
If portability is your primary work from home concern, a laptop is a natural companion as you move between your home office, finding a more private space for a virtual meeting, or taking a break on your couch. Laptops range from ultra-compact, traveling companions to full-fledged desktop replacements that harness the most powerful components that can fit into a portable device. Many people have found that a laptop is the best computer for work at home, and it’s quite likely you can find one to handle all your needs.
The ASUS Chromebox 3 delivers cloud-connected essentials
Need to quickly set up a basic PC or laptop for email, the internet and everyday office applications like a word processor for work at home? The ASUS Chromebox 3 can get you up and running without fuss.
This affordable, space-saving desktop is a great choice. The setup process hardly takes longer than plugging in a mouse, keyboard and monitor. The Chromebox 3 runs Google’s lean and fast Chrome OS. If your organization is one of the many that rely on web applications such as Google’s G Suite of office apps, this diminutive device might be the best computer for work at home.
Efficient and capable Intel processors up to the Core i7-8550U power the Chromebox 3. It’ll easily keep up with your everyday web applications. Chrome OS automatically keeps software updated and applies the latest security patches, so you’ll have peace of mind as you work. There’s plenty of USB ports for plugging in all your peripherals, including a reversible USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-C port, and you can use the HDMI port or DisplayPort over USB Type-C to connect the Chromebox 3 to up to two monitors. If desk space is at a premium in your office, you can attach the Chromebox 3 to the back of any monitor that has a VESA mount.
The ExpertBook B9450 reduces battery anxiety
Even if you work from home, you often don’t have time to sit and wait for your laptop to charge. The ExpertBook B9450 offers outstanding battery life in a chassis so thin and light you’ll hardly notice it in your bag.
A laptop serves its main purpose when it’s light enough for you to carry around, and the ASUS ExpertBook B9450 fits the bill. It’s a mere 14.9mm thin, and thanks to its magnesium-lithium chassis, it’s as light as 865g. Narrow display bezels help the laptop keep a compact footprint, as well. As a result of these NanoEdge bezels, ASUS was able to fit a 14” display in a chassis footprint more typical of 13” laptops.
The ExpertBook B9450’s battery proved itself good for 20 hours of productivity in ASUS internal tests. Even if you should manage to run the battery down, it can recharge to 60% in just 39 minutes with the included charger.
Powerful components complete the B9450’s feature set. It’s powered by 10th Gen Intel processors up to a Core i7, and is equipped with Wi-Fi 6 (Gig+) and up to 16GB of LPDDR3 memory. It has a pair of Thunderbolt 3 ports, giving you access to fast peripherals and a powerful option for connecting more displays. A face-sensing webcam and a fingerprint sensor give you multiple ways to keep business-critical information secure, too. In addition, the ExpertBook B9450 comes with a 3-year warranty and 1-year Accidental Damage Protection.
Interested in a new work from home laptop or desktop PC? Visit CDW.ca/ASUS or contact your CDW Account Manager for more information.
