The Lifeline IT Guide to Office Tech Accessories
Published: 15 May 2023
Choosing the best equipment for online meetings, calls and video conferencing can be a daunting task, as there are hundreds of different cameras and headphones on the market.
To help make things simpler, Lifeline IT’s gadget expert Adam Woolf gives some pointers on what to look for and how much to spend, as well as recommending the brands and products that perform well.
THE BASICS
- Test, test, test
Selecting the correct equipment is about trying different products to see what works best for you. Commented Adam: “With any kind of headphones or cameras it really is about trial and error to find what’s right for the individual’s usage. And don’t be afraid to send them back if the functionality isn’t great. Most reputable brands offer a no quibble refund if you’re not happy with the quality or performance.”
- NB: when first connecting a new camera or headphones, if they don’t initially work, try re-starting the device you’ve connected to. Or use a different laptop or computer in case it’s the USB port on the machine that’s faulty.
- Location, location, location
Make sure you choose something that is suitable for your work environment. Speakers that sound great in the isolation of your private home office will not be suitable for a communal office.
CAMERAS
- What to look for
Explained Adam: “Always choose one that has a microphone on board and avoid cheap cameras – you really do get what you pay for. At Lifeline IT we are constantly testing tech equipment and we’ve had bad experiences with some of the cheaper cameras as they don’t last very long.
- “Also, today’s iPhones and smartphones have excellent cameras that you can use with your PC or laptop and you can get mounts and holders to attach your phone to your screen. The only thing to remember is your camera will only be as good as the internet connection you have available.”
- What to spend
Between £50 and £100
- Brands and products
Logitech https://www.logitech.com/en-gb
Yealink https://www.yealink.com/en
Poly https://www.poly.com/gb/en
Phone mounts and holders https://shorturl.at/gnGIK
HEADPHONES
- What to look for
“It’s very important to have noise cancellation on the microphone – and don’t mistake this for noise cancellation on what you’re listening on, such as laptop speakers. It’s the microphone that does most of the work so it’s vital to have noise cancellation.“You could also consider getting Krisp, which is a virtual microphone and speaker noise cancelling app that integrates with your PC or laptop to improve sound quality and reduce background noise,” said Adam.
- What to spend
For cabled headphones, about £50 will get you a good quality set. If they are wireless, be prepared to spend around £100.
- Brands and products
Jabra https://www.jabra.co.uk/
Microsoft – good headphones for using with its Teams platform https://shorturl.at/acjBM
Yealink https://www.yealink.com/en
Bose – the QuietComfort® Earbuds II are excellent but quite expensive https://shorturl.at/zAT16
Krisp https://krisp.ai/
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We work with clients as partners. Our role is to:
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Lifeline IT was founded by current owners Daniel Mitchell and Adam Woolf 18 years ago.
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About
We work with clients as partners. Our role is to:
- Listen & learn
- Give expert advice
- Be there for you
- Help you grow.
Meet the Team
Lifeline IT was founded by current owners Daniel Mitchell and Adam Woolf.
They remain actively involved in the delivery of our premium service together with the rest of the Lifeline IT team: managers, engineers and other support staff.
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