See that funny-looking thing on your desk? Underneath all the cables, papers, and diet soda cans? That’s your computer. And it really wants you to clean up a bit. So you’re going to get organized. Tekserve’ll help. We’ve got some great products to cut down on the clutter and some great apps to get your workspace, finances, and digital life under control. Because a clean workspace is a happy workspace.
Remember when desktop computers were huge, clunky and took up entire desks? Yeah we do too, and it sucked. Thankfully, the new iMac solves that issue in the most stylish way possible. Thin and low profile, you won’t have to sacrifice your workspace when you drop this powerhouse on top of it. In fact, the new iMac takes up less desk space than most laptops.
Some Ideas to Get Those Cables & Cords Under Control
If you’re like us, you’ve got a bunch of those dull white Apple chargers floating around like nasty white blobs, waiting for your tired iPad and iPhone. CableKeeps, on the other hand, are neat and organized. The fun fish-shaped rubber piece slides over a charger, allowing you to neatly wrap a cord around the finny “tail.” The iPhone model can also double as a charging pedestal when plugged in. And you never have to clean the tank. Check out
this video for more info.
How many times have you had to lunge at your laptop charger just as the cable was about to fall behind your desk? If you answered “too often,” then you should really consider some better cable management. If you’ve got cables that you want to stay in one place, the peel and stick CableDrops are a lifesaver. Stick them on or near the edge of your desk for an elegant and effective solution to cable mess.
It’s easy for a workspace to become crowded with cables. Power cables, USB devices, hard drives, and the like all contribute to a messy workspace. Not to mention they have a tendency to slip off the table, ending up with you fumbling around under your desk. Much like the CableDrop, Cordies aims to keep cables on the table but without the peel-and-stick aesthetic. It’ll sit on top of your desk like a paperweight and keep all your cables in one convenient place.
Have you looked under your desk lately? Or behind your TV? We know. Horror show. CableBox is one of those ideas that is so simple, you’ll be angry you didn’t think of it first. Slip a power strip inside, and the discreet box hides the swamp of wires floating around the back of your stuff. Your secret’s safe with us.
Don’t believe us? Check out this before and after taken by Tekserve’s own Chris D., who used a CableBox for behind his TV.
Your Apple cables are boring. They’re dull, they get dirty, and quite frankly they’re not that interesting. These cables from Dexim come in a bunch of different colors and have a visible charging current that glows when they’re charging. Once your device is charged, they stop glowing, letting you know it’s time to unplug. They’re a nice way to add a little character to all those cables you’ve got.
You know that anger and frustration you feel whenever you’ve got a plug that’s too large to fit into a power strip or surge protector? It’s okay, man – we’ve all been there. But if this is a situation you find yourself in regularly, you might want to check out these power strips. All 6 plugs rotate 360-degrees, meaning you won’t have any problems accommodating those large plugs. Plus it’s got two USB ports on the end, eliminating the need to plug some devices into an outlet. A must have for any computer desk.
Some Things To Help You Unclutter Your Desk
When getting organized, simplicity is key. And simplicity is just what you’ll get with the Nest. It’s clean, simple, and makes displaying an iPad or tablet on a desk a much more enjoyable experience. It holds a tablet either standing up or laying down making it a great typing stand. Plus you can stash small things like keys, flash drives, and business cards in the cradle area, making it twice as useful for getting things off your desk.
Elegant and sturdy, the BookArc is a vertical desk stand for an iPad or MacBook.
The BookArc has a low profile and is ideal for anyone that uses their MacBook Air or MacBook Pro with an external monitor or display, essentially turning a laptop into a desktop. The vertical design helps to greatly reduce the space your computer takes up, and it looks great doing it.
They say the ideal height for a computer screen is just above eye level. For those users that find their iMac on the low side, the HiRise from TwelveSouth is looking to solve that problem. This adjustable stand works with any iMac or Apple Display, and not only elevates your screen, but also provides storage space in the base of the stand. The front plate of the HiRise detaches, revealing a compartment for keys, an iPod or iPhone, an external hard drive, or any other small items on your desk. Use it to match the height of your Thunderbolt Display to your iMac for an even eye level across both screens.
Free your desk from the hardship of mounds of paperwork. If your desk looks like it’s about to cave in, you might want to consider a NeatReceipts scanner. They’re extremely low profile, taking up about the same area as a three-hole punch and can scan through a pile of documents faster than you may realize. We’ve found Neat Receipts scanners to be essential in helping to make the transition to a paperless workplace. Not to mention one of these comes in pretty handy once tax season rolls around.
Look at the screen you’re reading this on. Chances are it could use a cleaning. Screens get dirty. Especially touch screens. It’s unavoidable, but it doesn’t mean they have to stay dirty. iKlear cleaning kits are the best way to clean dirt, grime, and fingerprints off of your screen or device. Also makes a great cleaner for the keyboard and case for your MacBook as well as CDs and DVDs. Everyone should have a bottle of this stuff not far from their computer.
If you’re looking for a minimalist desk setup, the Apple Wireless Keyboard and Trackpad are an attractive and low profile option. Most new iMacs come with these accessories, but if you’re a laptop user looking to set up a home workstation, you can’t go wrong here. Pair them with a monitor and the TwelveSouth BookArc to convert any Mac laptop into a desktop workstation.
Apps to Get Your Digital Life Organized
How much money did you spend at the bar last month? How about on Starbucks, or at the grocery store? You may not know off the top of your head. But Mint does. Mint is the best free way to manage your money. It keeps track of all your accounts and automatically categorizes your transactions. The data is then put into helpful graphs and charts that make it easy to track your spending and saving.
Clear (iOS and Mac)
As far as productivity and organization goes, there’s nothing like a good list. Maybe that’s why you aren’t very organized – you’re just not making good lists. Clear (for both Mac and iOS) has a really fresh, gesture-based approach to making lists. Pull down to add an item, swipe an item to complete, drag items around, etc. It’s all very intuitive and is a great-looking app too. Your lists sync to iCloud, so you won’t have any problems moving between versions. Daily to-do’s, grocery lists, reading lists, and long-term goals are all arranged in one clutter-free place. Check out
this video to see how it works.
If you’ve got a gigantic rolodex on your desk, it’s probably time to join us in this century. That’s where CardMunch can help. CardMunch uses your iPhone’s camera to capture the information off of a business card. The cool thing is that CardMunch doesn’t try to guess what’s on the card. Instead, it sends the image to a human transcriber at LinkedIn who then sends the contact info back to you. It’s not as quick as other apps, but you always get a perfect transcription. CardMunch is easily the best solution for those stacks of business cards you wind up with after events and trade shows.
Happening Around Tekserve
Staying safe on the Internet starts with good passwords. After all, it’s embarrassing to have to explain to your colleagues why they’re getting spam emails from you stating you made $2000 in one week. How many passwords do you have? How many are the same or similar? This class from Tekserve Academy will teach you the best way to make a strong password, what you can do to remember them, and how to keep them safe. Tekserve Academy classes are free for Tekserve INsiders.
The first step to getting organized is cleaning out that overcrowded apartment. And we’re willing to bet you’ve got some broken or outdated electronics you have no chance of using again. Well, we’ve teamed up with the Lower East Side Ecology Center again to offer free eWaste recycling all around NYC this month. Drop by Tekserve this Saturday (1/19) and get rid of that 15-year-old PC you’ve been holding onto for some reason. As a bonus, all participants will be entered to win a new MacBook Air. Visit Tekserve.com/Recycling for a full list of dates and acceptable items.
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