Stevie Bonifield is a information author right here at The Verge and, they are saying, “I cowl a bit little bit of nearly every little thing, from the FCC to AI buying instruments to Linux.” Earlier than becoming a member of our information staff, they wrote weekend information for PC Gamer and did evaluations, information, options, and guides for Laptop computer Magazine, together with some tales for Tom’s Information, IGN, TechRadar, and XDA. “I’ve been studying (and watching) The Verge since I used to be in highschool,“ they add, ”so it’s fairly thrilling to be a part of the staff now.“
Exterior of writing, Stevie says “I additionally love gaming, studying, and TTRPGs (tabletop roleplaying video games). As you’ll most likely be capable to inform from my workspace, I’m sort of a complete nerd.”
Let’s start with the fundamentals. The place is your work area situated?
My desk and work area are in my bed room. I share my condominium with a roommate, so we each work from our bedrooms so we don’t distract one another in the course of the day. I don’t actually thoughts not having a separate workplace — it means I solely have to fret about adorning and managing one area as an alternative of two. I not too long ago moved to New Jersey from Pittsburgh, PA, so I’m nonetheless getting every little thing arrange right here.
Might you inform us about your desk and your chair?
I’m utilizing a VIVO 3-stage adjustable desk with a VIVO 60-inch desktop and a Haworth Breck chair. I obtained each once I moved final month, so I haven’t been utilizing them for lengthy, however I like them to date.
That is truly a standing desk, which I’ve by no means used earlier than. I obtained it so I may have my desk peak fairly low — I’m on the shorter facet and most desks are too excessive for me. This one goes all the best way right down to 24 inches, decrease than even I want, which is very nice. The choice to make use of it as a standing desk is a cool perk, although that isn’t what I purchased it for. My cable administration underneath the desk nonetheless wants some cleansing up, however I’m engaged on it! I’ve a VIVO clamp-on cable management net containing most of it for now.
I just like the Haworth Breck to date, however it’s a fairly fundamental chair. Like my desk, an enormous a part of why I obtained this one is its peak vary. It’s extraordinarily tough for me to search out respectable desk chairs that go as little as I want them to (with out requiring a footrest). This one has a minimal seat peak of round 15 inches and has adjustable seat depth, each of which I’ve actually appreciated. That stated, I want it had a headrest.
Inform us in regards to the varied tech gadgets you’re utilizing.
My setup is a bit loopy as a result of I’ve three completely different computer systems operating to my two displays.
My gaming PC lives on the ground underneath my desk. It’s at the moment quickly out of fee as a result of I’m having a {hardware} challenge. Sadly, my RAM appears to be on the fritz, which is fairly unhealthy timing contemplating the present RAM pricing nightmare. Most of it’s nonetheless working, although! It has an AMD Ryzen 7 7700X CPU, an AMD Radeon RX 6600 GPU, an Asus ROG Strix B650-A motherboard, and a pair of 16GB Corsair Vengeance DDR5 RAM sticks (which apparently should be changed, after lower than a yr of use).
That’s additionally my Linux PC — it’s at the moment operating Fedora 41 with the Cinnamon desktop surroundings, however I’m updating to Fedora 43 quickly and planning to change to the KDE Plasma desktop surroundings.
Hanging off the facet of my desk are my work and private laptops, each the M4 MacBook Air. My laptops are solely linked to my left monitor, which is a 27-inch 1440p Viewsonic Omni (VX2728J-2K). My gaming PC is linked to each displays. I primarily play video games on the proper monitor because it has higher shade accuracy. It’s a 27-inch 1440p Asus ROG Strix gaming monitor (XG27ACS).
Neither considered one of my displays is something fancy, however each are adequate for my wants. Between the 2, I might most likely suggest the ROG yet another, though I’m not an enormous fan of the buttons being situated on the again since I want these to swap enter modes so I can swap to my Mac. After I’m working in the course of the day I normally have my work laptop computer operating on the left monitor and my Linux PC on the proper monitor. My keyboard and mouse I selected particularly as a result of they make it simple to leap between all my gadgets.
I’ve reviewed fairly just a few keyboards, so it’s a bit ironic that the one I’m utilizing now I truly haven’t reviewed. It’s the Nuphy Halo75 V2 with Nuphy’s Mint switches. It sounds and feels nice, works actually easily with macOS, and I can bounce between my laptops and PC with a fast keyboard shortcut. The battery life could possibly be a bit higher, however admittedly I go away the RGB on, in order that’s most likely not serving to. Total, although, I actually just like the design and sound high quality on the Halo75 — it’s one of many solely keyboards I’ve tried that I’m proud of out-of-the-box with out making any DIY customizations.
My mouse is definitely considered one of my favourite gadgets proper now. I’ve examined some nice gaming mice, however this one is my private each day driver and never one I reviewed. It’s the Razer Orochi V2, and I obtained it on sale for $35 on Amazon earlier this yr. It’s nothing fancy, however the measurement and really feel are good for me. Most gaming mice really feel sort of monumental in my hand, however I swear Razer designed the Orochi for my palm particularly. Like my keyboard, it’s additionally in a position to bounce between a Bluetooth connection and a 2.4GHz dongle. Regardless of the budget-friendly worth, it’s an excellent mouse.
Beneath that I’m at the moment utilizing a Matrix Blizzard mousepad. I obtained it on Amazon, however sadly, I believe it’s offered out now. I needed one thing with a bit little bit of a design happening, however not something too detailed or distracting. This design nearly completely match what I used to be searching for. I want it was a tad thicker, however it’s extra fascinating than a plain black mousepad, and that’s adequate for me.
I’ve two controllers on my desk, a standard Xbox controller for my Mac and the wired Razer Wolverine V2 for my gaming PC. I don’t usually like wired controllers, however I actually love the Wolverine. The clicky buttons on Razer controllers are so satisfying to me, they usually have a tendency to supply persistently good efficiency in my expertise. My favourite cellular controller can be from Razer, the Kishi Ultra.
My most well-liked headphones are my AirPods Pro 3. The ANC and spatial audio is incredible for watching reveals and flicks on my laptop computer (and helps me focus once I’m working). I don’t like sporting earbuds on a regular basis, although, so I additionally preserve a fundamental pair of on-ear Sony headphones round, the WH-CH250. The audio high quality on these isn’t significantly spectacular, however they’re tremendous reasonably priced.
Final, however actually not least, I even have a Razer Seiren V3 Chroma mic off to the facet of my desk on a clamp-on mic arm I obtained on Amazon. I’ve been utilizing the Seiren for a pair years now for gaming and taking part in Dungeons & Dragons with my on-line group. The audio high quality could possibly be a bit higher, however it’s a big enchancment over most built-in headphone mics, and I’ve by no means had any bugs or points with it. Notably, it really works on Linux for me with no need any tweaks or work-arounds.
That could be a nice laptop computer holder you will have along side your desk. What’s it?
I simply obtained that once I moved final month, and it’s considered one of my favourite additions to my desk setup. It’s a double-decker laptop mount I obtained for round $30 on Amazon and simply clamps onto the facet of my desk (no screws obligatory!).
I needed to release some desk area, and this lets me preserve each of my laptops close by and out of the best way on the identical time. I additionally used a command strip to stay a USB-C hub to the again of the laptop computer tray, so I can shortly hop between my private and work laptops on my exterior monitor by simply transferring over the USB-C cable and charging cable.
Nice wall decorations. Inform us a bit about your Elmville map and what surrounds it.
That is the wall throughout from my desk that individuals see when I’ve my webcam on, so I put all my coolest stuff on it. I’m an enormous fan of Dimension 20 on Dropout, so I instantly picked up a type of Elmville maps after they launched them. For many who haven’t checked out Dimension 20 but, Elmville is the primary setting for Fantasy Excessive, probably the greatest reveals Dropout has to supply, in my humble opinion.
The smaller horizontal image under the map is definitely a web page from Dropout’s 2025 Dimension 20 calendar that I obtained at their Madison Sq. Backyard present final January. It’s a scene from season 2 of Fantasy Excessive, and I simply thought the artist did such an excellent job with it that it deserved to be framed. Off to the proper above that one is a print I obtained from an artwork conference. It’s not from any present or film so far as I do know; the design simply resonated with me.
The 2 smaller prints above the map are additionally from artwork conventions and have been made by the identical artist, Natasha Tara Petrović. The purple one is a few cool Mothman artwork — I’ve a mushy spot for cryptids and spooky stuff. The blue one is a Darkish Souls print that makes the sport look method cozier than it’s.
And final however not least, I’ve obtained some Nanoleaf Elements tiles lighting up that wall. These are the primary sensible lights I’ve ever purchased, they usually’re fairly cool, particularly with the extra mellow wooden look. I’ve them set to shift colours and brightness all through the day.
You’re clearly into Star Wars and different science fiction / fantasy worlds, judging from the toys over your bookcase and the figures on that little shelf. Are you a critical fan or do you similar to the style?
I’m an enormous Star Wars fan. One among my earliest recollections is watching The Phantom Menace on VHS, and I’ve cherished the franchise ever since. Obi-Wan is my favourite character, which I’m noticing is a bit apparent in my work area.
The lightsaber above my bookcase is Obi-Wan’s from The Phantom Menace. I’ve had it since most likely kindergarten or first grade, so it’s a bit beat up. And subsequent to that I’ve obtained a particular version Obi-Wan Funko Pop. Then above my desk I’ve a Lego mannequin of Obi-Wan’s Jedi starfighter from Assault of the Clones.
On the shelf under that I’ve managed to squeeze within the Dungeons & Dragons collection minifigures I’ve collected (I’m just a few shy of the complete assortment). These cabinets ended up being method smaller than anticipated, so I’m planning so as to add extra so issues aren’t fairly so cramped. I believed Lego did an excellent job with these D&D minifigures, although, and would like to see them do extra D&D units. My private favourite from this collection is the dragonborn paladin.
The opposite Funko Pop subsequent to Obi-Wan is Vi from Arcane, which is a really phenomenal present and a private favourite of mine. I’m not a lot of a Funko Pop particular person, however I’ll get them on occasion if it’s a personality I actually like.
I assume I might say I’m a critical sci-fi and fantasy fan, though I have a tendency to attach with particular collection or books and stick to these. To return to the Star Wars instance, on one of many decrease cabinets in my bookcase, I’ve many of the outdated Jedi Apprentice books. They’ve gotten fairly laborious to search out, however I cherished them as a child, so I’m attempting to gather all of them once more.
On the fantasy facet of issues, I really like epic fantasy like Lord of the Rings, but additionally like some YA books, particularly The Starvation Video games and Percy Jackson. For the time being, I’m studying The Identify of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss and Brigands & Breadknives by Travis Baldree, which is the third e book in his Legends & Lattes collection. Each are nice, though they’ve drastically completely different tones.
You even have a rock assortment!
I do! Very similar to a goldfish, it has grown to fill the dimensions of its container, and now it could possibly develop no extra. I’ve all the time had an curiosity in geology and have had a few of the rocks and minerals in that case since I used to be a child.
I’ve a bunch of quartz, a geode, some copper, chalcopyrite, amazonite, dravite, moissanite, a sliver of obsidian, a lump of basalt, some feldspar and sedimentary rocks, and a bunch of smaller tumbled stones. There’s additionally a bit of petrified wooden within the again that I discovered in a streambed. My favorites are the chunk of amber within the entrance and the bismuth above it — I really like how bismuth crystals get that neat geometric form.
The rest I missed that you just’d like so as to add?
Whereas I don’t use it for work, my Kobo Clara BW e-reader is nearly all the time on my desk. My bookcases are just about full (and a bit small — I’m planning to interchange them finally), so I’ve been studying extra ebooks over the previous yr or so.
I switched from a Kindle to a Kobo a number of months in the past and have been loving the Kobo. The show and consumer expertise on the Clara are higher than their Kindle counterparts in my expertise, and you’ve got extra freedom so as to add books from exterior Kobo’s retailer and again up every little thing in your library on different gadgets. My Kobo is in my on a regular basis carry now, though in hindsight, I want I’d gotten one with a shade show.
Images by Stevie Bonifield
