Do I Really Need These Computer Accessories? | Review

Computers were and still are one of the greatest gifts of technology, but they have evolved a lot since they were first invented! First, it was in the form of a non-portable desktop that you use at your home or office to do your work. What’s more, there was a keyboard, monitor, mouse, and set of speakers you also needed. But over time, we now have laptops, which are easy to move and come with more power to do your tasks on the go. Also, the list of accessories is growing!

To make the most of your computer, you will need some essential accessories. When buying one, though, you should ask yourself: Do I really need this accessory? If you’re not absolutely sure what you needed, here are some of the must-have accessories for your computer are as follows:

A mouse is one of those essential accessories you will need. It will be a cursor that lets you perform different functions like scrolling, clicking, opening files, etc. You can buy a gaming, wired, or wireless mouse as per your use and need.

Similar to a mouse, you can get a wired, wireless, or keyboard set specially designed for gaming. Generally, a wireless mouse and keyboard set makes for a great combo! The gamers or people who do lots of typing will prefer to have a wired keyboard with tactical keys similar to a typewriter machine.

A pad for your keyboard and mouse will be a great accessory, as it will help you keep them safe. The pads for both devices will keep away the dust, dirt, and grime that might be present on the surface. So, no need to worry about the scratches on the mouse, keyboard, or surface you are using. Moreover, a mouse pad will improve the movement and let you scroll or smoothly move your pointer.

A high-quality sound speaker is also one of the essential accessories for your computer. It will make the overall movie watching and gaming experience great when properly paired and placed inside your room.

It is a must to keep all your tangling and scattered wires arranged. With this, you can keep your phone charger, keyboard wire, headphone wires, and other wires in one place and can identify them easily.

Suppose you want to keep the sound to yourself instead of blasting it out loud to the entire room. To listen to music, watch videos, and play games, you will need headphones. Note that you can buy wired or wireless headphones depending on your preference.

Suppose you are using a laptop as your daily computer. In that case, you will not get many USB ports to plug in different devices simultaneously. If you want to plug in more devices, you will need to buy a USB hub to get some extra ports.

Want to store some interesting videos, songs, or important documents that you can use anytime, anyplace? Buy a flash drive to save them all and transfer it directly to your desktop or laptop by connecting via a USB port.

This is a slim device that will give you extra storage to keep your important files, videos, and images safe. You can attach it to any computer, laptop, or tablet to view them and easily carry it anywhere you want!

You should buy an ergonomic office chair that is comfortable to sit in for a long period of time. Such chairs are made with high-quality and durable materials, proper back support, armrest, and other features that let you sit for long hours without any discomfort.

These were just a few essential accessories that you can buy to make your computer more functional and productive. On top of what we’ve already listed, you can also consider a projector, power strip, separate monitor, blue light glasses, microphone, cleaning kit, and much more.

Accessories for your computer

Accessories can add additional functions to your computers. Others make your daily work more comfortable or easier. Some will come with your computer as standard, while others can be added as required

Accessories such as a keyboard and mouse may be essential in order to operate your computer. Others - such as headphones, cameras, graphics tablets and barcode readers - may be useful for specialist tasks or the facilitate certain ways of working.

Computer accessories are also known as computer peripherals and can include printers and scanners and storage devices.

The best way to assess which computer peripherals would be useful for your business is to define your IT requirements, then match suitable accessories with these.

Get the right computer monitor

It's important everyone in your business has a computer monitor which is adequately clear, large and bright.

Larger computer monitors are easier to work with. Computer monitors with a 21” screen (measured diagonally) should be the minimum, but larger sizes are increasingly affordable.

If you can afford it, a 27" screen will give you an impressive space to work in. Go for a monitor with a higher resolution too (1920 x 1080 pixels or more) - this measures what you can fit onto the computer monitor.

Look for computer monitors which can be easily swiveled, tilted and adjusted for height. Some are touch-sensitive, allowing you to control your software by tapping, swiping and dragging on the screen.

If your employees are working from a laptop, you will have to weigh up the benefits of a smaller laptop or tablet when working on the move against the benefits of a larger screen and full-sized keyboard on a laptop when working for longer periods of time in one place.

If your employees are multi-tasking or working on projects that are graphic heavy they may want to use two monitors at the same time ('dual screen').

A dual-screen setup can improve productivity by giving you more space to work in, if your computer supports it. Just bear in mind the law of diminishing returns if you fancy going beyond two screens!

Computer keyboard and mouse

Most desktop computers come with a cheap keyboard and mouse as standard. These are usually basic models which may have poor ergonomics or be unpleasant to use. Laptops may have a built-in touch or track pad instead of a mouse.

People who spend all day typing or using the mouse on their computer may see significant benefits from a better keyboard and mouse. It's not just about being comfortable – conditions like repetitive strain injury and carpal tunnel syndrome are associated with poor ergonomics.

Unresponsive keyboards and inaccurate mice can also dent the efficiency of staff, especially if they're great touch typers or designers who need pixel-perfect precision. In these cases, it's worth finding an input device that fits the needs of the person using it.

A good keyboard should cost from £30 and a mouse about £20. Mice can be wired or wireless and the prices are more or less comparable these days. It is a matter of personal preference and comfort and usability are likely to play a larger part in any purchasing decision.

Unlike other pieces of hardware in your business, it may be unwise to standardise on a single type of keyboard and mouse for everyone. People have individual ergonomic needs, so you cater for these by offering a range of models.

Audio and video accessories

The rise of homeworking - which has increased exponentially thanks to the COVID-19 outbreak - has meant that many face-to-face business meetings and interviews are now taking place virtually. Many businesses have invested in web cams, headphones and speakers to improve the quality of these virtual meetings and calls.

Speakers, video cameras, headphones, microphones and headsets are useful for video conferencing, placing voice over IP (VoIP) calls and listening to music at work (if you allow it).

While many laptops have a built-in camera, a traditional desk top computer may not. Adding a web cam makes it possible to have both audio and video when joining a virtual meeting. A plug-in web cam can cost as little as £25.

A headset with built in microphone can be purchased from as little as £30. The beauty of these is that is that it leaves the users hands free while they are on the call. A pair of speakers - useful if there are several of you on a conference call - can cost as little as £10.

Projectors

Computer projectors are an alternative to computer monitors. They allow you to project a large image onto a blank wall or screen – typically from a laptop. Projectors are useful for presentations and meetings and can be connected to tablets and digital TV boxes, too.

As with computer monitors, check the resolution. Look for a minimum resolution of 1024 x 768 pixels but aim higher if possible.

If space allows, you should also consider investing in a pull-down screen on which to project the image. These can be installed on the ceiling, wall or positioned on a stand and are available from as little as £50.

Look for projectors that are capable of projecting at full HD (usually referred to as '1080p') to ensure the best quality image and compatibility with modern devices. Brightness is also important and is measured in 'ANSI lumens'. A projected rated at 1,200 should be ok in a dim room, while 2,000 ANSI lumens should suit a normal office environment.

Most projectors will offer a range of inputs, but make sure yours has at least an HDMI input and 'VGA' input.

Other types of input device

Your business might also use these other types of input device:

Best PC Gaming Accessories

We hope our list of must have PC gaming accessories has gotten you off on the right direction. If you need more gift ideas check out our list of gifts for gamers.

What accessories do I need for PC gaming?

When trying to decide how to improve your PC gaming space, it helps to think about what kind of a gamer you are.

If you’ve ever played a game and wished that there was a simpler or faster way to perform an in-game task, then odds are that someone out there offers an affordable solution!

All you have to do is find it.

Integrating the perfect gaming accessories into your setup will add enormously to the enjoyment of your playtime, and once you’ve found what works best for you, you’re never, ever going to want to go back.

Why buy a PC gaming mouse/keyboard/accessory?

Since pretty much the beginning, the mouse and keyboard have been the primary controls for PCs, and while most computer games are designed with these inputs in mind, there are times when it’s hard to shake the feeling that something could be done to make it feel a little more comfortable. After all, despite its mighty gaming potential, the PC is first and foremost a tool, not a toy, which is why even computers marketed towards gamers are still designed with productivity in mind.

As such, your setup may need just a little bit of tweaking and configuration before it feels like the most natural way to play games.

This is why gaming-specific accessories are so useful.

A mouse designed for gameplay will more than likely feature additional buttons that make it easier to quickly issue commands, or a keyboard might feature an ergonomic design more conducive to moving an avatar than for typing. Those are just a couple examples of the ways that you can improve a game session with the right accessory, and while these kinds of features might not be strictly necessary for normal computer use, they can be a huge benefit for gaming, providing the comfort to keep players immersed in their single-player story, or the competitive edge that means the difference between victory and defeat in multiplayer.

Why is Gaming on a PC better?

Choice, graphics, and performance.

A gamer is a gamer, no matter what platform they use, and the importance of consoles in bringing gaming into the mainstream cannot be ignored, but there is a reason why PC gaming is thriving like never before.

Because a PC can be so easily upgraded and accessorized, computers are totally free from the hardware limitations that consoles inevitably run up against in the years following their launch, and on a PC, the same games can be made to look better and run significantly faster than their console versions.

Not only that, but there are also many more options for control. For laid-back, couch-style gaming, it’s generally possible to use controllers from the last two console generations on your computer, but most PC gamers swear by the classic mouse and keyboard combo, and with good reason.

The number of available keys on your keyboard means that you can do things in a single key-press that sometimes involves multiple steps in a console game, and if we’re just talking about shear precision, there isn’t a gamepad in the world that can hold a candle to a mouse. With more robust options for customization, you can optimize your control schemes to practically sing in harmony with your abilities, because on PC, the physical limits on your skills no longer apply.

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