What do we use for hardware?

As well as using mostly open-source and free software, anacubist decided to use preloved hardware and furniture. Has it worked and are we happy about it?

There have been no issues with buying preloved hardware. TradeMe has been the main source of finding people selling their hardware. I usually check prices for a week or so to see prices before starting to bid. My advice, always have a maximum price and do not sweat it if you get beaten by a few dollars.

Here is a rundown of stuff around the office.

The iMac I'm writing this on was a previous rental machine and is in close to perfect condition. It is an older model, but with software patches it runs Catalina. I added a few sticks of extra RAM (again preloved) to get it to 20GB. It came with Apple keyboard and magic mouse. It is a spinning hard drive, but fast enough.

It has a nice 27-inch screen, and I added a secondary 24-inch full HD screen, I was given by a previous employer.

A Mac mini 2010 has a minimal iOS development environment on it. It may go, as it's intended use has gone. The DVD drive was replaced by an extra hard drive. I use Screen Sharing to connect to it, when needed.

When I need to be mobile, I have a low specification MacBook Air. It is the oldest model which can run Big Sur. It is powerful enough to use Visual Studio Code to edit JavaScript and test Node based stuff. Also handy for taking into town on the train etc.

There is an 3TB Time Capsule on top of a bookshelf, which backs up the 3 Apple devices.

All Apple devices were bought and then upgraded using TradeMe.

I use an iPhone 6s which I have used since it was released. (Thanks for letting me keep it! You know who you are.) When it gets dropped from the iOS support, I'll look for a reasonably priced, second edition iPhone SE. I like the form factor. When possible, I use real hardware when developing and testing.

We also have a few Windows machines in the network. They all allow Remote Desktop for screen display. There are two laptops and a Lenovo ThinkCentre M73. The ThinkCentre has a few Docker instances for local testing. One laptop is a HP Elite Folio 9470m. I bought it from US eBay several years ago. The other is a Lenovo ThinkPad E590, which Lenovo were selling off in a sale. All three machines have 16 GB RAM and SSD drives and additional hard drives.

Networking is handled by a small D-Link gigabit switch plugged into the fibre to the house. Everything which can, uses a cable. Much better than WIFI. The time capsule provides office wireless for mobiles etc.

We decided to get a new printer as it was 50% off. Color LaserJet Pro, scanner etc. Sits on the network.

I'm a keyboard and pointing device snob. I use the Microsoft Sculpt Ergonomic Keyboard and a Logitech MX Ergo trackball. There is an Apple keyboard and mouse attached too.

Office desks were bought just after first COVID-19 lockdown. Office chair was from local person here in Upper Hutt.

Music is provided by an Amazon Dot Echo I was given as a gift and Apple Music.

There is also a HP blade enclosure filled with sixteen blades, totalling thirty-two computers and 1.5 TB RAM. It sounds like a jet engine when powered up. A TradeMe deal costing less than a new Logitech MX Ergo trackball. That is a story for another time.