(Part 2) Best computer monitor accessories according to redditors

If OP is worried about this happening again (because people are nosy) they could consider getting a screen cover. I used to use one if I took my laptop to a coffee shop so people wouldn't see me writing sex scenes and freak out. They're pretty affordable and easy to find online. Example of what I'm talking about.

Not saying OP should have to hide what they're doing on their computer, just if they want to it's an option.

Yeah I’d bring it up to HR and you can get a privacy screen on Amazon for ~$60

If you really want to get fancy with it and don't have an extra lamp laying around, you could get one of these LED kits. They attach to the back of the TV and create a perfect boarder of light on the wall behind it. You can pick which colour you want so it'll always fit the mood.

Something that I recently invested in for my PC was a NZXT Hue 2 Ambient Lighting kit which has a bunch of extra features.

You'll need to get an HDMI input LCD controller board to drive the LCD. These typically run $20 - $40 depending on which one you need. Make sure it's compatible with the LCD by checking the model number. Example: https://www.amazon.com/Controller-CLAA154WP05-LP171WP4-1440x900-30Pins/dp/B06XCGMLK7

Then you need something to produce a video signal. One of the cheaper solutions is a Raspberry Pi, which is around $35. https://www.amazon.com/Raspberry-Pi-RASPBERRYPI3-MODB-1GB-Model-Motherboard/dp/B01CD5VC92

You'll need an HDMI cable, and a place to plug them in (might need a power strip).

Finally, you'll also need a monitor, keyboard, and mouse to get the Pi setup .

Once you have all that put together, you could do lot's of neat things like streaming a webcam to have a "virtual window", or showing a "dashboard" of relevant sports scores, stock prices, etc. Some people combine them with a "two way mirror" to make a "Smart Mirror" that can show your day's agenda.

For comparison, you could get a 24" - 32" Smart TV, with potentially similar functionality, for about $130 to $150.

Bad idea. Plastic wrap is a static magnet.

Better to get a large [antistatic cover] (https://www.amazon.ca/Computer-Dust-Solutions-Antistatic-Translucent/dp/B00DTGG0EM/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=antistatic+pc+cover&qid=1574228339&sr=8-4) instead.

www.amazon.com/Image-Mechanics-IMA904800F003-Pro-Storage/dp/B004PKUTT8 plus a bankers box of your choice.

Here you go! A really neat-looking black/white themed PC. I went with only one to start because you shouldn't need any more than this for 1080p and all you should need to upgrade for 4K is another 980 Ti (the motherboard supports SLI and the power supply is massively strong).

CPU

No sense cheaping out and getting an i5 at this price tier - Skylake's Hyper-Threading is better than ever and in games that can use all threads that means a really noticeable improvement.

CPU Cooler

High-power, extremely silent and beautiful to look at. A good pairing for the 6700K.

Motherboard

The Z170-DELUXE is a beautiful and feature-packed motherboard with onboard wireless and a whole host of other features (including SLI, so you can add a second 980 Ti later).

Memory

16GB of 2666MHz RAM, to help with overclocking if you decide to go that way. Will work fine at 2133MHz too.

Storage

I opted for a single 500GB SSD because it's fast, awesome, and should hold all your games. If you need more space you can just install another SSD or a hard drive (there's space).

Video Card

It's a 980 Ti. Best single 1080p card on the market right now (overkill yes, but why not?) and will do very nicely in SLI if you decide to upgrade to 4K.

Case

The Phantom 410 is a very nice-looking and sophisticated case, with that "techy" vibe you were looking for - removable toolless drive bays, three pre-included fans, onboard fan controller - it's a whole lotta case, and not too expensive either!

Power Supply

80+ Platinum, 1000 watt power supply - this is a phenomenal unit and will easily handle a second 980 Ti if you decided to add it. Will help keep any potential overclocks rock-stable.

OS

You can't transfer it, so yeah.

For illumination, go with something like this (but not this exact model) to get the best lighting. I left you some budget so you can get as many light strips as you please.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

Type|Item|Price
:----|:----|:----
CPU | Intel Core i7-6700K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor | £289.98 @ Aria PC
CPU Cooler | Phanteks PH-TC12DX_BK 68.5 CFM CPU Cooler | £44.97 @ Overclockers.co.uk
Motherboard | Asus Z170-DELUXE ATX LGA1151 Motherboard | £221.77 @ Amazon UK
Memory | Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2666 Memory | £77.99 @ Amazon UK
Storage | Samsung 850 EVO-Series 500GB 2.5" Solid State Drive | £111.49 @ Amazon UK
Video Card | EVGA GeForce GTX 980 Ti 6GB Superclocked+ ACX 2.0+ Video Card | £511.14 @ Aria PC
Case | NZXT Phantom 410 (White) ATX Mid Tower Case | £76.25 @ Amazon UK
Power Supply | EVGA SuperNOVA 1000 P2 1000W 80+ Platinum Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply | £152.12 @ Amazon UK
Operating System | Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM (64-bit) | £72.30 @ CCL Computers
| Prices include shipping, taxes, rebates, and discounts |
| Total | £1558.01
| Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-01-07 22:48 GMT+0000 |

If you go with this please send pics.

If you don't care about aesthetics and it's just a temporary once-in-a-while thing, just throw a kitchen-size garbage bag over it - cheap and easy.

If the appearance is important, you can buy dust covers on Amazon that should work. Here's an example:

https://www.amazon.com/Computer-Solutions-Antistatic-Translucent-Available/dp/B00DTGG0EM

No idea if that one's any good, but you can probably find others if you look.

We use something like this: http://www.amazon.com/Image-Mechanics-1002-Pro-Storage/dp/B004QDTRGA


Not sure where we got it, but I'm assuming someone gave it to us. No way we spend that much money on foam.

A quick google search for "macbook lcd controller board" showed many promising results, here is one: https://www.amazon.com/Controller-LP141WX3-B154EW02-LP154W01-1280x800/dp/B07C9MQZ82/

These might be the fans [HERE] (https://www.amazon.ca/JONSBO-JONSA-192-Solar-Eclipse/dp/B078JQX1CD/ref=sr_1_197?ie=UTF8&qid=1539099551&sr=8-197&keywords=120mm+rgb+fan)

You can also install a glossy screen protector on the screen. It will make the matte finish clear
https://www.amazon.com/Screen-Protector-Compatible-Widescreen-Desktop/dp/B07P8MDY61/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?keywords=27%2Binch%2Bscreen%2Bprotector%2Bglossy&qid=1558114232&s=gateway&sr=8-1-spons&th=1

I installed a matte one for my 15.6 laptop

This is the one I got:

Bio-Kleen M01709 Waste Holding... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07L6M761C?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Good fit, definitely antiglare, screen clarity still looks good.

Nice. I'm two mounting screws away from having both of mine on the back of my monitor via one of these. I seem to have lost my screws though. :(

Something like this might be a more cost effective option; basically the same stuff as you put on a phone, just larger:

https://www.amazon.com/Protector-Widescreen-Desktop-Monitor-ViewSonic/dp/B072MRFCWW/

Heck - you might look into also some of those protective films used by glass companies; though I don't know how easy they are to remove and replace.

Get a privacy screen protector. https://www.amazon.com/Monitor-Privacy-Protector-Compatible-Widescreen/dp/B07SYJLJN5?ref_=Oct_CANReleaseC_15782011_0&pf_rd_r=WXRDRYGH1RCDW6ZNKFDX&pf_rd_p=c48e08b8-c7cb-5478-a680-9c58e7baea83&pf_rd_s=mobile-hybrid-6&pf_rd_t=30901&pf_rd_i=15782011&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER

Did they update to Windows 10 yet? In the notification area there is “night mode” on my personal windows 10 pro laptop, unsure if it’s enabled for Windows 10 Enterprise.

If the comm desk doesn’t approve, then maybe this is a good shot. It’s just like a privacy filter, albeit for eye strain. Worth a shot. Anti Blue Light Screen Protector (3 Pack) for 20 Inches Widescreen Desktop Monitor. Filter out Blue Light and relieve computer eye strain to help you sleep better https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01NAM4N4L/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_JgoLAbWMDKJW3

I did a little bit of research to see if anyone even makes a matte screen protector for the Studio. I found a couple on Amazon, one of course doesn’t have any reviews, and the other is a bit mixed, neither mention anything about using the Surface Pen or any other stylus. Unfortunately, looking on Google wasn’t really much help either.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N23FVIK/ref=psdc_2348631011_t1_B07JDGVC5P

https://www.amazon.com/PcProfessional-Protector-Microsoft-radiation-microfiber/dp/B01NBV8N2P

Maybe you can find the same protectors (from the same brands) for other devices and see what people are saying about them.

Edit: I should also probably chime in that matte screen protectors do affect the screen quality and colors, probably a reason why a lot of people don’t really use it on the Studio. I personally wouldn’t bother getting one if I had a Studio (hopefully someday!), but I think its a must on tablets.

Yeah Bezels are considered old fashioned these days, so there's a lot of mobile pc's without them on the market.

By tabs, I mean the little hard plastic adhesive things that hold the protector onto the monitor, but with no bezel you wouldn't be able to use that. Maybe there's a giant protector out there that just 'sticks' to the monitor like a cell phone.

Actually they do have these.
https://www.amazon.com/Screen-Protector-Compatible-MacBook-Released/dp/B01N5BX70N/ref=zg_bs_3012923011_3?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=ZAY2RYSWYBTR7K0CD07D

I kind of went on a tangent about tabs in my last comment, my mind was focused on those big privacy /anti-glare screens you put on desktop monitors. So forget all that, sorry.

Maybe you could trim something like in that amazon link.

Also, if you're going to be working with a stylus for a prolonged period of time, you might also like the stylus glove. I've used that for a little whiteboard I had when studying math, it works pretty well.

It really is easy, anyone could do it with a little instruction!

The controller can be bought on Amazon here, though it is specific to my panel. I advise that anyone interested ibn the controller do a lot of shopping first, I nearly bought one from eBay that lacked a lot of features such as isn't files from a USB drive, a remote, and 1080p capability, rf tuner, and sound. There's lots of them out there just asking to revive a screen!

I have several pet clinics as clients. Is there a good way to protect my desktops and tower servers from hair and dander?

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Possibly something like this? https://www.amazon.com/water-resistant-smooth-antistatic-computer/dp/B00DTGG0WY/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1551112779&sr=1-1&keywords=pc+cover

I used to do industrial IT work. Electronics mfgs use dust bags, not air filters in dirty environments. You can buy them online.

https://www.amazon.com/water-resistant-smooth-antistatic-computer/dp/B00DTGG0WY/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?keywords=pc+dust+bag&qid=1567509422&s=gateway&sr=8-1

I'm not sure what your price point is but for $13 you can get Silverstone white 12" led strips. I have 2 of these in my case(top & bottom), and it looks great. The light is awesome, but the adhesive sucks. I had to get some sticky back velcro. I did that instead of double sided tape so I could remove and adjust as needed. Overall $20 total for great lights. Amazon link:

https://www.amazon.com/Silverstone-Flexible-12-Inch-Light-LS01W/dp/B00DJ7BNWA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1486771427&sr=8-1&keywords=silverstone+led+strip+white

The registry changes are only necessary until Veeam puts buttons in the GUI, slated for next release.

We use this for carrying hard drives in transit, I like them a lot:
http://www.amazon.com/I-NC05-3-5-Inch-Drive-Protection-Box-Milky/dp/B002FDRYTA/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

We use these for mounting the drives:
http://www.amazon.com/ORICO-6518SUS3-Docking-External-Enclosure/dp/B00A5323NO

And we use these for storing the drives long term:
http://www.amazon.com/Image-Mechanics-1002-Pro-Storage/dp/B004QDTRGA/ref=sr_1_2

Personally I have one of these:
http://www.amazon.com/StarTech-SuperSpeed-Docking-Station-Cooling/dp/B0055PL2YI/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1397139069&sr=8-6&keywords=esata+dock

And I built one of these for cheaper:
http://www.amazon.com/Image-Mechanics-IMA904800F003-Pro-Storage/dp/B004PKUTT8/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1397139100&sr=8-2&keywords=prostorage

Stuff from here:
http://www.foambymail.com/PE2-_2/anti-static-polyethylene-foam-2-2lb-pink.html

And built inside a plywood box with a lid.

I keep the drives under my desk at work and take them home once a month to sync up the changes with my ZFS array.

Hard disks in storage should keep their data for many many years. In fact I have a 6GB HDD from 1998 that I actually tried booting the computer it was in (Win98) around 2 years ago and it it powered on and everything seemed to work fine. So that disk has lasted at least 1998-2012 (14 years).

Hard disks should last much longer than burned BluRay disks. Not sure how they would compare to tape though, but a tape drive is very expensive. I'm sure you could do research on how long drives without power last.

My backup itself is not redundant. I do keep checksums on my backup disks of all the files and verify them from time to time so if I did encounter bit rot or something I could replace the file from my array. The really important irreplaceable data I keep 3 copies of, but most of it is media that I could reacquire if I really had to (if it bit-rotted or failed to restore from backup for some reason) so I am OK with one non-redundant copy of that data.