{"id":821,"date":"2025-07-29T18:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-07-29T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.actutech.app\/whats-on-your-desk-cameron-faulkner\/"},"modified":"2025-07-29T18:00:00","modified_gmt":"2025-07-29T14:00:00","slug":"whats-on-your-desk-cameron-faulkner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.actutech.app\/en\/whats-on-your-desk-cameron-faulkner\/","title":{"rendered":"What\u2019s on your desk, Cameron Faulkner?"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" data-caption=\"\" data-portal-copyright=\"\" data-has-syndication-rights=\"1\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/07\/257865_WoyD_Cameron_Cfaulkner_0006.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0,0,100,100\" \/><figcaption>\n\t\t<\/figcaption><\/p><\/figure>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-none\"><em>Cameron Faulkner describes himself as \u201ca New York City transplant who\u2019s lived in Brooklyn since 2012.\u201d He continues, \u201cWhen I\u2019m not at work, I try to get as far away from my computer as I can (I don\u2019t always succeed), spending time with my wife, 15-month-old son, and two cats. I enjoy walking around, playing video games, drinking coffee, and keeping myself busy with a never-ending list of tasks.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-none\"><em>He is currently commerce editor at <\/em>The Verge<em>, where he helps other commerce writers find good deals, edits their work, and writes about gaming accessories, monitors, and other fun gadgets worth knowing about. He is also the first <\/em>Verge<em> staffer to be featured twice on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/22264684\/remote-work-desk-home-set-up-cameron-faulkner-acer-lg-tech-reporter\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">What\u2019s on Your Desk<\/a> \u2014 and here\u2019s why. <\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-none\"><strong>When you first talked to us about your home office space,<\/strong><strong> it was 2021 and you were working out of a studio apartment. What\u2019s changed?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-none\">Yep, we upgraded to a space where I have my own office that isn\u2019t five feet away from my bed. Now it\u2019s 10 feet away. A studio apartment is like a furnace to forge your relationship and your organizational skills. While I succeeded at the relationship part, it was always a challenge to live minimally enough so as to keep things relatively clutter-free, especially since we also had two cats in the mix. Needless to say, I don\u2019t particularly miss it \u2014 though my desk setup is close to the previous one as it was before.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/07\/257865_WoyD_Cameron_Cfaulkner_0001.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0,0,100,100\" alt=\"\" title=\"\" data-has-syndication-rights=\"1\" data-caption=\"&lt;em&gt;A standing desk with two displays make for a great workspace.&lt;\/em&gt;\" data-portal-copyright=\"\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-none\"><strong>Could you tell us about your desk and chair?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-none\">The desk that I\u2019m using is a <a href=\"https:\/\/store.hermanmiller.com\/standing-desks\/jarvis-bamboo-standing-desk-rectangle\/2542428-1.html?lang=en_US\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Fully Jarvis Bamboo Standing Desk<\/a>, and it\u2019s the kind of thing that I love because I never have to think about it, or clean it often. I encourage anyone who\u2019s curious about a standing desk to give it a shot. There are some days \/ weeks \/ seasons when I use it while sitting, but it\u2019s nice to have the flexibility to stand if I want to keep my blood flowing. I bought this desk from Fully before that company was acquired by Knoll, which was later acquired by Herman Miller. That said, the Jarvis bamboo standing desk is still available to buy through Herman Miller, but I\u2019m not sure if its build quality and feature set are the same.<\/p>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-none\">As if I haven\u2019t already said Herman Miller enough, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hermanmiller.com\/products\/seating\/office-chairs\/sayl-chairs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">the chair is the Sayl<\/a> from that company. It\u2019s breathable and comfortable.<\/p>\n<div class=\"product-block\">\n<h3>Insta360 Link<\/h3>\n<figure class=\"product-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/chorus\/uploads\/chorus_asset\/file\/23909869\/cfaulkner_220727_5351_0003.jpg?w=300\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"The Insta360 Link camera on a table\" \/><\/figure>\n<h3>Where to Buy:<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Insta360-Link-Official-Sticker-Noise-Canceling\/dp\/B0C2CFW1QV\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> $179 at <strong>Amazon<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bhphotovideo.com\/c\/product\/1719900-REG\/insta360_cinstbj_a_link_4k_ai_webcam.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> $179 at <strong>B&amp;H Photo<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/store.insta360.com\/product\/link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> $179 at <strong>Insta360<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-none\"><strong>Here\u2019s the long one: tell us about the various tech devices you\u2019re using. (And please be specific about the model, etc.)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-none\">My tech setup has changed a bit since my last WOYD appearance in 2021, but mostly in incremental ways.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-none\">I have the same dual monitor setup (the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Acer-XV272U-Pbmiiprzx-Technology-DisplayHDR400\/dp\/B07MQBPMJ2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">27-inch Acer Nitro XV272U<\/a> and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/LG-27GL650F-B-Ultragear-Compatible-Monitor\/dp\/B07R7636MH\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">27-inch LG 27GL650F-B<\/a>). My webcam got a big improvement. It\u2019s the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/insta360-Link-Noise-Canceling-Microphones-Specialized\/dp\/B0B826KS4B?th=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Insta360 Link<\/a>. I <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/23288456\/insta360-link-webcam-review-software-features-price\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">reviewed it<\/a> for <em>The Verge<\/em> back in 2022, but the one I have is personally owned. I don\u2019t take advantage of the gimbal or gesture-based controls as much as I thought I would \u2014 I just think it produces a nice, clean image.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-none\">I also got a set of <a href=\"http:\/\/amazon.com\/Kanto-Composite-Amplifier-Subwoofer-YU2WALNUT\/dp\/B00GMPDAHM\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Kanto YU2 desktop speakers<\/a> that have just the kind of minimalist design that I\u2019m looking for. Those connect to my computer via USB, but also have speaker cable inputs for use with a receiver or a record player. Fun fact: they also connect via USB to my <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/nintendo\/686603\/nintendo-switch-2-review\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Nintendo Switch 2<\/a>, and I enjoy listening to game audio through them when I\u2019m having a quick handheld gaming session at my desk.<\/p>\n<div class=\"product-block\">\n<h3>Kinesis Freestyle Edge RGB<\/h3>\n<figure class=\"product-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/07\/kinesis.jpg?w=300\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"Two hands, each on a half of a split keyboard\" \/><\/figure>\n<h3>Where to Buy:<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/KINESIS-Gaming-Freestyle-Mechanical-Keyboard\/dp\/B07STXYG5T\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> $199 at <strong>Amazon<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/gaming.kinesis-ergo.com\/product\/freestyle-edge\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> $199 at <strong>Kinesis<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-none\"><strong>Do you prefer the split keyboard?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-none\">I\u2019ll never go back to normal keyboards after buying this <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/KINESIS-Gaming-Freestyle-Mechanical-Keyboard\/dp\/B07STXYG5T?th=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">split ergonomic model from Kinesis<\/a>. It\u2019s a gaming keyboard, technically, so it has mechanical key switches and programmable LEDs under each key. I couldn\u2019t find another split keyboard suitable for gaming at the time when I bought it (at least, not one with a design that didn\u2019t look atrocious), and I\u2019ve been happy with this model. The downside is that it\u2019s now a lot tougher for me to find merit in laptop keyboards, since they quickly give me wrist pain.<\/p>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-none\">Initially, most people I talk to about these keyboards are of the opinion that they\u2019d never figure out how to use one, and that anyone who does is not from this planet. It does look strange, I\u2019ll give them that. But I think that they\u2019re a more natural way to type, since you can hold your arms and wrists more comfortably instead of contorting them unnaturally to type on a row-based keyboard.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/07\/257865_WoyD_Cameron_Cfaulkner_0003.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0,0,100,100\" alt=\"\" title=\"\" data-has-syndication-rights=\"1\" data-caption=\"&lt;em&gt;A split keyboard could be more comfortable than a traditional one.&lt;\/em&gt;\" data-portal-copyright=\"\" \/>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/07\/257865_WoyD_Cameron_Cfaulkner_0002.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0,0,100,100\" alt=\"\" title=\"\" data-has-syndication-rights=\"1\" data-caption=\"&lt;em&gt;Some toys make any workspace more pleasant.&lt;\/em&gt;\" data-portal-copyright=\"\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-none\"><strong>I love that grouping of tchotchkes: the little plastic eggs, the 1960s-style timer, the sand art ornament.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-none\">Welcome to the fidget corner of my desk. The blue sphere that looks a little bit like the old AT&amp;T logo spins around on a base. It\u2019s so satisfying to hold and tinker with. The red egg is none other than Silly Putty, which I\u2019m frequently molding into various shapes off-camera during calls. The timer is a Pomodoro timer, and I use it when I need some uninterrupted time to focus on a task (all thanks to this <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/23466074\/pomodoro-timers-focus-productivity-app\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">2022 piece<\/a> from Victoria Song that inspired me to buy one). Lastly, the sand art display was a gift during <em>Polygon<\/em>\u2019s 2024 secret santa extravaganza. We all got together over Zoom and had a gift exchange. We had a lot of fun over there. Anyway, the sand art display is so soothing, and I love rotating it to see how the specks fall differently every time. It\u2019s simple, yet beautiful.<\/p>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-none\"><strong>Tell us about the poster with the two people (you and your wife?) walking by a decorated wall.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-none\">I realized at some point in the last few months that I have an abundance of open wall space and a bunch of photos that I love to look back on. So, why not put more memories up on the wall? The one that I chose here is a photo from our engagement shoot, which was taken in front of a graffiti-covered building that has since been bulldozed. I just thought it was a nice photo back in the day, but it has evolved into a reminder that things can change around us, and sometimes within us, but that we\u2019re committed to walking together throughout the journey. I\u2019m really glad that I get to look at it every time I walk into the office before work.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/07\/257865_WoyD_Cameron_Cfaulkner_0005.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0,0,100,100\" alt=\"A poster showing a graffiti\u2019d wall with two people in front of it walking hand in hand.\" title=\"A poster showing a graffiti\u2019d wall with two people in front of it walking hand in hand.\" data-has-syndication-rights=\"1\" data-caption=\"&lt;em&gt;A photograph from an engagement shoot.&lt;\/em&gt;\" data-portal-copyright=\"\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-none\"><strong>I understand there\u2019s a great story behind the coin \/ currency collection that you keep in your desk.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-none\">Yes! My grandfather gave me his coin collection before he passed, and it\u2019s one of those things where I wish I would have asked what made him take it up as a hobby, and how he obtained some of this stuff. I know he never went on the internet (bless his heart), and he never mentioned going to shops or auctions to look for obscure Buffalo nickels from the early 1900s. Based on how comprehensive it is, it\u2019s clear to me that he really loved doing it.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-none\">Now, I keep it near my desk to pull out and examine any time I need to lose myself in history, or in thinking about my grandfather. I wonder about all of the hands throughout time that these coins and bills passed through. Conceptually, I hate money and all of the power that billionaires who have a lot of it can wield (often to negative effect), but I really enjoy handling this old currency. It\u2019s lost to time and is no longer accepted as legal tender in society, but it still holds a lot of value to me.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-2 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/07\/257865_WoyD_Cameron_Cfaulkner_0004.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0,0,100,100\" alt=\"\" title=\"\" data-has-syndication-rights=\"1\" data-caption=\"&lt;em&gt;Two storage units, one of which holds an interesting collection.&lt;\/em&gt;\" data-portal-copyright=\"\" \/>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/07\/257865_WoyD_Cameron_Cfaulkner_0007.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0,0,100,100\" alt=\"\" title=\"\" data-has-syndication-rights=\"1\" data-caption=\"&lt;em&gt;A coin collection that holds memories of a grandfather.&lt;\/em&gt;\" data-portal-copyright=\"\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-none\"><em>Photographs by Cameron Faulkner \/ The Verge<\/em><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Cameron Faulkner describes himself as \u201ca New York City transplant who\u2019s lived in Brooklyn since 2012.\u201d He continues, \u201cWhen I\u2019m [&hellip;]<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center 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