My unusual computer setup

[TStoneMBD]

Some people have been interested in how I have my monitors setup, and I really recommend it. I'm still on the ancient CRTs because they do me just fine and I really dont care about upgrading to flat panels right now. There are other things I need to spend my money on first and I'd rather just bank the money altogether.


http://img309.imageshack.us/img309/4089/picture247qp.jpg


While I am on my computer, my recliner is often back with the footrest up. My neck is always supported by the backrest.

My elbow and wrist lean on the armrest at all times as that is where my mouse lays, making my setup immune to any carpal tunnel pitfalls. The keyboard rests on my lap, which is fine for me, but if that doesnt work for you you can purchase a stand to place your keyboard on instead.

Directly across in front of me is my beautiful television and I have it running at all times while I'm on the computer.

My setup is very comfortable and I like this so much more than the traditional desk/office chair setup. I recommend this setup to anyone who finds their current setup uncomfortable. The only problem with this setup is that in order for me to view my monitors I need to turn my head right or focus my eyes in that direction. This may cause some neck problems or back pain for me in the future. However, I have been using this setup for about a year now and my back seems perfectly fine.

Because I currently use CRTs, I need them to be located at the side of the recliner. If your setup has flatpanels you can get a table like this to sit the flat panels directly in front of your eyes to prevent neck strain:

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0002AJ838.16._AA384_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg


I will be purchasing a laptop in the near future and if I choose to make it my main setup I will probably be purchasing a cart just like this.

[sublime]

I'm still on the ancient CRTs because they do me just fine

your eyes are paying a price for your cheapness /images/graemlins/smile.gif

[jba]

I use a recliner, a cart for the 2001fp monitor, and:

http://img.shopping.com/cctool/PrdImg/images/pr/177X150/00/01/59/f7/e0/22673376.JPG

[sublime]

how does the joystick work? looks like a cool idea

[krimson]

[ QUOTE ]
I use a recliner, a cart for the 2001fp monitor, and:

http://img.shopping.com/cctool/PrdImg/images/pr/177X150/00/01/59/f7/e0/22673376.JPG

[/ QUOTE ]

How does this work?

[jba]

[ QUOTE ]
how does the joystick work? looks like a cool idea

[/ QUOTE ]

it has four shoulder buttons like a ps2 controller; these are mapped to my four tables, so I hit L1 and the mouse and focus go to the top-left table, L2=bottom left, etc. square = fold, triangle = check/call, circle = raise. two of the little select buttons are mapped to auto-post blind and sit out checkboxes. I use a slightly modified version of this autohotkey script I found on the web (http://www.onlinepokerfaq.com/guide/mouseless-poker.html). I hate using a mouse now.

[mmmmmbrother]

best video game ever

[sublime]

it seems the grip is more natural, so it would cause less stress to your 'pointing' hand. true?

how much did the mousestick cost?

[jba]

[ QUOTE ]
it seems the grip is more natural, so it would cause less stress to your 'pointing' hand. true?

how much did the mousestick cost?

[/ QUOTE ]

well I've put in tons of hours on a playstation, so I love the feel and layout of PS2-ish controllers. If you don't, maybe you won't like it so much. I get absolutely no fatigue after hours of multitabling though which wasn't true when I was using a mouse.

I bought this one for around $30, but you can use any PC gamepad and it will work, this one is on the expensive side because it's wireless.

froogle link (http://froogle.google.com/froogle?q=Logitech+Cordless+Rumblepad+2+&btnG=Sear ch+Froogle)

[krimson]

I'm developing some bad wrist issues, so definitely will look into this. Does Autohotkey handle > 4 tables whatsoever?

[jba]

[ QUOTE ]
I'm developing some bad wrist issues, so definitely will look into this. Does Autohotkey handle > 4 tables whatsoever?

[/ QUOTE ]

yeah, if you download the party two hands script and edit it in notepad or whatever, you can see that all it's really doing when you move to different tables is moving the mouse to certain x/y coordinates on your monitor, you can easily add four more commands that move to four different coordinates.

[ QUOTE ]
The only problem with this setup is that in order for me to view my monitors I need to turn my head right or focus my eyes in that direction. This may cause some neck problems or back pain for me in the future. However, I have been using this setup for about a year now and my back seems perfectly fine.


[/ QUOTE ]

I get neck problems by watching your setup! how can you play like this for more than a year??

[TStoneMBD]

[ QUOTE ]
I'm still on the ancient CRTs because they do me just fine

your eyes are paying a price for your cheapness /images/graemlins/smile.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

yah ive heard this but my refresh rate on my monitors is really good. i made sure of it when i purchased them because i didnt want eye problems. do crts really create eye problems if they have good refresh rates?

[jba]

[ QUOTE ]

I get neck problems by watching your setup! how can you play like this for more than a year??

[/ QUOTE ]

seriously I know you're young and everything but turning your head like that is going to kill you. I've worked with computers long enough that even having the monitor three inches too low for extended periods can result in chronic pain.

[sublime]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I'm still on the ancient CRTs because they do me just fine

your eyes are paying a price for your cheapness /images/graemlins/smile.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

yah ive heard this but my refresh rate on my monitors is really good. i made sure of it when i purchased them because i didnt want eye problems. do crts really create eye problems if they have good refresh rates?

[/ QUOTE ]

im not sure. i would compare the refresh rates on your DRT againts the 2001's and then ask some of the techies here. also your neck may not hurt, but looking right like that is gonna hurt like fcuk some day.

invest in some dells man, they rule.

[jetsg4]

screw that... get 2 of these (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16824217012) and 2 of these (http://www.pcconnection.com/ProductDetail?Sku=5652690)

my next setup will definately be touchscreen capable

[HRFats]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
how does the joystick work? looks like a cool idea

[/ QUOTE ]

it has four shoulder buttons like a ps2 controller; these are mapped to my four tables, so I hit L1 and the mouse and focus go to the top-left table, L2=bottom left, etc. square = fold, triangle = check/call, circle = raise. two of the little select buttons are mapped to auto-post blind and sit out checkboxes. I use a slightly modified version of this autohotkey script I found on the web (http://www.onlinepokerfaq.com/guide/mouseless-poker.html). I hate using a mouse now.

[/ QUOTE ]

I followed that link and read the scripts. How do you edit the script so that is uses the gamepad buttons and not the keyboard buttons. I'm going to set this up tonight if i can figure out the script. THANKS!

[jba]

[ QUOTE ]

I followed that link and read the scripts. How do you edit the script so that is uses the gamepad buttons and not the keyboard buttons. I'm going to set this up tonight if i can figure out the script. THANKS!

[/ QUOTE ]

for example their code for fold looks like:

; Fold
1::
;MouseClick, left, 240, 474
;Sleep, 100
MouseClick, left, 240, 474
Sleep, 100
return

mine looks like:
; Fold
joy1::
;MouseClick, left, 240, 474
;Sleep, 100
MouseClick, left, 240, 474
Sleep, 100
return


"1" and "joy1" are some kind of key code sent by your keyboard or gamepad. I found this ahk script that tells you the keycode of buttons you push on a gamepad/joystick controller -- so run this, hit your buttons that you want to map, and you'll see the keycode for the button you hit on your screen. "joy1" is specific to my logitech controller (I think), and is what is sent when the square button is pushed.


; Joystick Test Script
; http://www.autohotkey.com
; This script helps determine the button numbers and other attributes
; of your joystick. It might also reveal if your joystick is in need
; of calibration; that is, whether the range of motion of each of its
; axes is from 0 to 100 percent as it should be. If calibration is
; needed, use the operating system's control panel or the software
; that came with your joystick.

; Fixed on May 8, 2005: JoyAxes is no longer queried as a means of
; detecting whether the joystick is connected. Some joysticks are
; gamepads and don't have even a single axis.

#SingleInstance
SetFormat, float, 03 ; Omit decimal point from axis position percentages.
JoystickNumber = 1 ; Increase this to test a joystick other than the first.
GetKeyState, joy_buttons, %JoystickNumber%JoyButtons
GetKeyState, joy_name, %JoystickNumber%JoyName
GetKeyState, joy_info, %JoystickNumber%JoyInfo
Loop
{
buttons_down =
Loop, %joy_buttons%
{
GetKeyState, joy%a_index%, %JoystickNumber%joy%a_index%
if joy%a_index% = D
buttons_down = %buttons_down%%a_space%%a_index%
}
GetKeyState, joyx, %JoystickNumber%JoyX
axis_info = X%joyx%
GetKeyState, joyy, %JoystickNumber%JoyY
axis_info = %axis_info%%a_space%%a_space%Y%joyy%
IfInString, joy_info, Z
{
GetKeyState, joyz, %JoystickNumber%JoyZ
axis_info = %axis_info%%a_space%%a_space%Z%joyz%
}
IfInString, joy_info, R
{
GetKeyState, joyr, %JoystickNumber%JoyR
axis_info = %axis_info%%a_space%%a_space%R%joyr%
}
IfInString, joy_info, U
{
GetKeyState, joyu, %JoystickNumber%JoyU
axis_info = %axis_info%%a_space%%a_space%U%joyu%
}
IfInString, joy_info, V
{
GetKeyState, joyv, %JoystickNumber%JoyV
axis_info = %axis_info%%a_space%%a_space%V%joyv%
}
IfInString, joy_info, P
{
GetKeyState, joyp, %JoystickNumber%JoyPOV
axis_info = %axis_info%%a_space%%a_space%POV%joyp%
}
ToolTip, %joy_name%:`n%axis_info%`nButtons Down: %buttons_down%`n`n(right-click the tray icon to exit)
Sleep, 100
}
return

[HRFats]

Wow. THANK YOU!

[krazyace5]

Where can I get that laptop desk?

[Alobar]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I'm still on the ancient CRTs because they do me just fine

your eyes are paying a price for your cheapness /images/graemlins/smile.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

yah ive heard this but my refresh rate on my monitors is really good. i made sure of it when i purchased them because i didnt want eye problems. do crts really create eye problems if they have good refresh rates?

[/ QUOTE ]

I had a pimp CRT with a really high refresh rate, and it was night and day compared to my older crappy 60hz CRT in terms of how my eyes felt. A flat panel is night and day compared to that pimp CRT. There really is a world of difference, I cant imagine having to look at a CRT (even a really good one) anymore.

[ QUOTE ]
screw that... get 2 of these (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16824217012) and 2 of these (http://www.pcconnection.com/ProductDetail?Sku=5652690)

my next setup will definately be touchscreen capable

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks for the tip. I ordered one of the LCD holders. This should help my neck/shoulders/eyes.

[dhtp]

Not saying that the gamepad wouldn't work, but have you considered a trackball? moving from a mouse to a trackball put a stop to my wrist problems. I have a Microsoft model where you control the ball with your thumb (can't remember the exact modelname). Highly recommended.

[dhtp]

Agreed, I can't imagine using a setup like that because of the neck strain it would cause me. I have a 19" crt and 20" lcd on my desk, and it sometimes feels awkward just turning my head the 10 to 20 degrees it takes to shift my focus from screen one to screen two. (The lcd is sitting straight in front of me and the crt right next to it, tilted towards me.)

[buffett]

jba and/or OP,
Is there a particular brand or style of cart that you recommend for the monitor?
-web

(I'm a recliner player also, but I've just used my laptop's small monitor so far. My 2001fp should arrive in the next few days, and I don't want to have to leave my comfy chair to play poker.)

[jba]

this is pretty close to what I'm using. It's very very small, much smaller than a regular computer cart, and I like that it has wheels.

link (http://www.staples.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/StaplesProductDisplay?storeId=10001&catalogId=1005 1&langId=-1&productId=126791&cmArea=SC1:CG30:DP1525:CL140604 :SS809574)



http://www.staples.com/sbd/img/cat/std/s0080865_std.jpg