Over the past 30 years I have incorporated a number of time saving tips and tricks when working with computers, I thought I would start a thread here for others to share their best, most unique, tips for improving work efficiency at your work station. Let's not post things that are very common, like I added wifi in my house, or bought an ipad as these are not what I would consider unique, different and novel. Maybe how you integrated an ipad as a time saving device would be novel and unique.
I will begin with one of my oldest tips and how I make it work.
1. Most people use one CPU at their work station. I found that I can improve work flow and reduce system crashes by building a computer designed around a common task. Today, I typically work with 4 computers where 3 are switched to a single mouse, Keyboard, and monitor. The fourth is a laptop on my desk that I usually take with me on trips. At home it is used mainly for e-mail. The other three are desktop tower systems switched by a KVM switch. More on KVM's later. Two of the desktop towers are designed for video processing and editing and one is connected to 2 monitors, one of which is a 3D video display monitor. The 3rd desktop is mostly for internet and business applications like invoicing and purchasing, stock trading etc. My KVM switch can support 4 CPU's so I do have a 4th space in the rack for an experimental system that I use for testing new software and anything I want to do that if it goes bad could the main work tools in my office. Having this test system has saved me loads of downtime over the years. When experimental stuff passes the quarantine period, I move it to the other computers for prime time. The reason why I need two video desktop computers is because: 1. Video work is often deadline critical. If a system goes down, I can't afford to mis a deadline, so the most important need for two is redundancy to guard against a system breakdown. Second reason is that most video work is done in two parts, one where you are hands on and the other hands off. Setting up the edits is hands on, rendering the completed edit decision list is hands off. Having two allows for rendering and disk burning while working on another project with the second computer.
2. KVM switch- For years I have used a PS2 switch with VGA level monitor. However, recently I have moved to a much simpler KVM that costs a fraction of my original hardware. It is compact and is switched with a remote toggle button I can stick with velcro to my monitor. The brand is iogear and it works very well and cost $40 at COMPusa. While it comes with cable set, it still may need some USB and VGA extension cables to reach. A good KVM is critical to my setup.
3. Industrial strength keyboard- For many years I have used a special keyboard from Focus. It was a PS2 design. The features were rather unique with a built in calculator that had a send key to sent the displayed number to the application. But what I really liked was a set of programmable function keys that can send a text string to your application. Once you program the keys in the keyboard ( so software required ) to the non-volatile memory, any time you needed to do a repetitive task, like enter a 20 digit password, or enter your credit card number, or enter your street address, one keystroke is all it took. I had everything I type programmed into those keys and I bought an accessory 24 PF key accessory for it. No, these are not your typical $7.99 102 key USB keyboard, but they save time and well worth the price of about $100. Unfortunately, they do not support the USB converters, so when switching to the better KVM and modern USB based systems, I needed something better. The first was to upgrade to a Bella custom keyboard that supports my video editing work. It also has 13 programmable function keys. Has a jog shuttle video transport as well as other multimedia keys. But, unfortunately, the universal special stuff requires a special driver and a software to be loaded on each machine, else it is just an expensive keyboard. Fortunately, for me, my video editing software has the support for the Bella keyboard built in. I still needed a better universal programmable function keyboard. For years I had searched for these but there was nothing better than the Bella. Finally, I found the answer. .::Genovation::. ControlPad 682 USB and PS/2, 35 key, Macro Programmable Keypad This keypad plugs into the USB hub of my Bella keyboard and is switched flawlessly with the KVM. It is programmed ONCE with some software into the keypad's nonvolatile memory and supports some very sophisticated macros. I spent a couple days setting up my keypad with printed key labels. This keypad is not cheap but IMO is well worth the price to save a ton of time doing repetitive typing.
I will begin with one of my oldest tips and how I make it work.
1. Most people use one CPU at their work station. I found that I can improve work flow and reduce system crashes by building a computer designed around a common task. Today, I typically work with 4 computers where 3 are switched to a single mouse, Keyboard, and monitor. The fourth is a laptop on my desk that I usually take with me on trips. At home it is used mainly for e-mail. The other three are desktop tower systems switched by a KVM switch. More on KVM's later. Two of the desktop towers are designed for video processing and editing and one is connected to 2 monitors, one of which is a 3D video display monitor. The 3rd desktop is mostly for internet and business applications like invoicing and purchasing, stock trading etc. My KVM switch can support 4 CPU's so I do have a 4th space in the rack for an experimental system that I use for testing new software and anything I want to do that if it goes bad could the main work tools in my office. Having this test system has saved me loads of downtime over the years. When experimental stuff passes the quarantine period, I move it to the other computers for prime time. The reason why I need two video desktop computers is because: 1. Video work is often deadline critical. If a system goes down, I can't afford to mis a deadline, so the most important need for two is redundancy to guard against a system breakdown. Second reason is that most video work is done in two parts, one where you are hands on and the other hands off. Setting up the edits is hands on, rendering the completed edit decision list is hands off. Having two allows for rendering and disk burning while working on another project with the second computer.
2. KVM switch- For years I have used a PS2 switch with VGA level monitor. However, recently I have moved to a much simpler KVM that costs a fraction of my original hardware. It is compact and is switched with a remote toggle button I can stick with velcro to my monitor. The brand is iogear and it works very well and cost $40 at COMPusa. While it comes with cable set, it still may need some USB and VGA extension cables to reach. A good KVM is critical to my setup.
3. Industrial strength keyboard- For many years I have used a special keyboard from Focus. It was a PS2 design. The features were rather unique with a built in calculator that had a send key to sent the displayed number to the application. But what I really liked was a set of programmable function keys that can send a text string to your application. Once you program the keys in the keyboard ( so software required ) to the non-volatile memory, any time you needed to do a repetitive task, like enter a 20 digit password, or enter your credit card number, or enter your street address, one keystroke is all it took. I had everything I type programmed into those keys and I bought an accessory 24 PF key accessory for it. No, these are not your typical $7.99 102 key USB keyboard, but they save time and well worth the price of about $100. Unfortunately, they do not support the USB converters, so when switching to the better KVM and modern USB based systems, I needed something better. The first was to upgrade to a Bella custom keyboard that supports my video editing work. It also has 13 programmable function keys. Has a jog shuttle video transport as well as other multimedia keys. But, unfortunately, the universal special stuff requires a special driver and a software to be loaded on each machine, else it is just an expensive keyboard. Fortunately, for me, my video editing software has the support for the Bella keyboard built in. I still needed a better universal programmable function keyboard. For years I had searched for these but there was nothing better than the Bella. Finally, I found the answer. .::Genovation::. ControlPad 682 USB and PS/2, 35 key, Macro Programmable Keypad This keypad plugs into the USB hub of my Bella keyboard and is switched flawlessly with the KVM. It is programmed ONCE with some software into the keypad's nonvolatile memory and supports some very sophisticated macros. I spent a couple days setting up my keypad with printed key labels. This keypad is not cheap but IMO is well worth the price to save a ton of time doing repetitive typing.
I also need to verify my 3D blu Ray disk burns on a conventional 3DBD player so I have one of those connected to my 3D monitor as well. 
