What’s in your desk, Kallie Plagge?

Kallie Plagge, The Verge’s senior copy editor, has been working within the media for over 10 years now, primarily at gaming web sites. She was primarily a online game critic for lots of that point and was the opinions editor at GameSpot for about three years, earlier than finally turning into the senior copy editor at Polygon. “I used to be there for 3 years earlier than Vox Media offered the model, and I used to be lucky sufficient to be provided the identical position at The Verge,“ she explains.

We requested Kallie to inform us about her dwelling workplace setup.

That appears like a fantastic area. The place in your house is it?

I at the moment dwell with my mother and father, and so they have been beneficiant sufficient to provide me a separate workplace area. It’s subsequent to my bed room, after which my dad’s workplace is simply down the corridor. After I lived right here through the covid lockdown, I labored from the eating room desk, so it’s a giant improve!

May you inform us about your L-shaped desk? It appears to be like like you could have separate working and gaming areas.

I used to be intent on getting an L-shaped desk after I purchased this a couple of years in the past from Goal, and I can’t return. At my outdated desk, I had a KVM change so I might use only one monitor and keyboard with each my work laptop computer and my gaming PC, and that labored positive. However as soon as I’d been working from dwelling for some time, I noticed I most popular to have “separate” work and gaming areas, even when it solely concerned swiveling my chair 90 levels. That little bit of psychological separation helped me actually really feel like I used to be transitioning out of labor mode.

Even with all of the area of an L-shaped desk, I nonetheless wished a giant drawer unit for all my spare cables and stationery. This one is the Ikea Alex drawer unit on casters, and it doubles as even extra floor actual property for issues like my PC tower and private laptop computer. I simply actually need to have the ability to unfold out to focus.

Inform us about your chair.

My dad truly purchased this chair for me throughout lockdown. As a result of I’d been working within the eating room, I used to be utilizing a eating room chair, and he might inform it wasn’t very comfy. It is a Respawn gaming chair, and I added foam pads from Amazon to the armrests for further consolation.

Right here’s the lengthy one: inform us concerning the varied tech units you’re utilizing.

Hoo boy. On the work aspect, I’ve a Keychron K2 wi-fi mechanical keyboard with crimson switches. I selected it primarily as a result of it has a Mac mode with Mac-compatible keycaps, which implies I can simply use shortcuts that require the Command key. My mouse is only one I had available — a Razer Mamba wi-fi gaming mouse, although I take advantage of it wired as a result of I desire wired mice. Please ignore my soiled mouse pad.

On the gaming aspect, I’ve a Logitech G713 wired mechanical keyboard with GX crimson linear switches. It got here with the cloud wrist relaxation, which was admittedly the primary motive I purchased it over different keyboards. (I bought a wet day-themed mouse pad from a small stationery store referred to as Unicorn Eclipse to finish the look.) I additionally favored the tenkeyless structure; my earlier keyboard had a quantity pad and two rows of programmable keys, and though establishing macros was good, it took up approach an excessive amount of area on my desk. Plus, I solely ever used the quantity pad to enter the PC shortcut for em dashes.

I additionally bought the matching Logitech G705 wi-fi gaming mouse, which, once more, I take advantage of wired. I used to be nervous it might be too small — it’s particularly marketed as having a “smaller match,” and my arms are a reasonably common measurement — however I truly like it! It’s comfy and made me understand the Razer mouse is barely too massive for me.

The Dell monitor is a hand-me-down, and I’m not likely specific about displays. I solely want it had a second HDMI port, as a result of proper now, I simply manually change the HDMI cable from my Xbox Sequence X to my gaming PC and again, relying on what I’m taking part in. It’s not an enormous deal, however an additional port would make it simpler to arrange my Nintendo Change 2 dock at my desk.

As a result of I’ve two stations at this desk, I even have two pairs of headphones. For on a regular basis use, I’ve the Bose QuietComfort 35 II noise-canceling headphones that I put on continuously. (I don’t even hearken to something. I simply actually like dampening outdoors noise!) And for gaming, I’ve a SteelSeries Arctis 7X wi-fi headset that’s suitable with each PC and Xbox. It additionally has a dial on the fitting ear cup that lets me fine-tune the steadiness between sport and chat audio, which is critical for me after I’m taking part in multiplayer video games with associates.

My gaming PC is an entire different factor, and I don’t need to get into the specs, that are fairly midrange. However since you’ll be able to see the chassis: it’s a Cooler Grasp MasterBox NR200 Mini-ITX case. It was a present, and I love its kind issue.

That’s an lovable Pikachu — love the swimsuit!

Thanks! I’ve a large assortment of Pokémon merch, together with a whole lot of Pikachus in numerous outfits and with totally different themes, and the remainder of them dwell in my bed room. However I like having businessman Pikachu on my desk! I imported him from Japan in early 2015; his official title within the US is Intern Pikachu, however I feel that’s underselling his {qualifications}.

And a Pokémon tabletop fan, as effectively!

I’m obsessed with this Poliwhirl fan. I additionally imported this from Japan — it was a part of a latest onsen-themed assortment, and a whole lot of these collections by no means come to the US for quite a lot of causes, so I pulled the set off instantly. It has three velocity settings, there are felt pads on the toes so it doesn’t slip or wobble whereas it’s on, and you’ll angle it upward. I really like getting helpful objects that even have a intelligent and cute design, and that is the epitome of that.

You may have a pleasant, comfortable-looking sofa.

I really like this sofa! It’s from Article. It’s comfy, but it surely’s not so squishy that you simply sink into it, and that was the objective.

Is {that a} desk bike? Do you utilize it a lot?

It’s! It’s a Flexispot V9 Professional desk bike. I’m utilizing it extra now that it’s getting hotter outdoors, since taking a stroll is much less interesting in 100-degree warmth. I do discover that I’ve a tough time specializing in editorial work whereas using the bike, so it’s actually solely good for after I’m in a gathering with my digital camera off. However I do prefer it — I’ve very unhealthy ankles, and I can’t actually run, so it’s a pleasant option to get some extra intense cardio.

Is there something we didn’t cowl that you simply’d like so as to add?

Enterprise Pikachu says thanks for studying.

Images by Kallie Plagge / The Verge.