Tried and tested: the best home office solutions

Upgrading your home office setup doesn’t need to be difficult. We asked our tech editor to try out the best options on offer, and here are her top picks.

Epson EcoTank ET-4850

Multi-function with wallet-friendly ink tank

$649, epson.com.au

PROS

Will connect wirelessly

Easy and cheaper to refill

Prints 14,000 pages out of the box

CONS

Pricier up front

Larger body than some

Fax is an odd feature

Printers are among the trickier additions to a home office but they do make some tasks easier (like signing documents). Plus, some models are kinder on your wallet than others. Epson’s newest release comes with an EcoTank for this purpose and it’s easy to refill and capable of printing 14,000 pages on the ink shipped with it. This unit will also copy and scan files and users can send documents or photos to it using Apple AirPrint or a smartphone app.

4.5 stars

Bonelk 14-in-1 Multiport Desktop Hub

The missing link in a solid home office set-up

$199, jbhifi.com.au

PROS

Will connect two 4K monitors

A lot of USB connections

Slim, stand-up design

CONS

Can become a cable nest

Only powered by laptop

Only available in black

If you’re planning to upgrade your home office set-up, this gadget is a good place to start. The Bonelk 14-in-1 hub plugs into the USB-C port of any modern laptop and lets users connect two 4K monitors to triple their virtual workspace, as well as up to three memory cards, two USB-C devices, and six items that demand a standard USB-A port. Ports are on both sides of this gadget.

3.5 stars

Twelve South ParcSlope

A must-have stand for committed laptop users

$90, twelvesouth.com.au

PROS

Huge comfort boost

Minimalist look

Will hold most laptops

CONS

Doesn’t fold for portability

Only available in black

A pricier option

The ParcSlope shows what a simple idea, well executed, can help you achieve. This creation is a precisely designed metal stand with rubber feet to grip the desk, and a non-slip seat and lip on its top surface to keep a tablet or laptop computer secure. When in position, the ParcSlope is capable of holding computers of most sizes – from an iPad mini to a 16-inch laptop – at a comfortable 18-degree angle that makes typing significantly easier and lets you view a screen more comfortably. Your neck should thank you with continued pain-free service.

4 stars

Satechi Monitor Stand Hub

This stand not only raises the iMac but raises its game

$139, jbhifi.com.au

PROS

Easier access to ports

Quality metal finish

Raises an iMac to a comfortable height

CONS

Limited power output

Silver or grey only

Fixed height

Apple’s iconic desktop computer is famously minimalist, with its computing elements built into the back of its big screen and connections hidden behind it. This smart hub not only increases the number of those connections but brings them to the front again, offering easy ways to access SD and Micro SD memory cards, three full-sized USB plugs, headphones and a USB-C device.

4 stars 

Amazon eero Pro 6

These three white boxes could connect all your gadgets

$799, amazon.com.au

PROS

Spreads Wi-Fi to more rooms

Covers up to 560sq m

Supports more than 75 connections

CONS

Premium price

For users on higher-speed plans

Some features require subscription

These unassuming devices could make the difference between a productive workday and cursing your connection. Amazon’s new high-end eero Pro 6 trio connects to your modem and creates a powerful Wi-Fi 6 network supporting speeds of up to a gigabit per second. When placed in strategic locations throughout your home, it can spread Wi-Fi over up to 560sq m, will hook up more than 75 devices at once, and can be a smart home hub for Zigbee-compatible gadgets.

4.5 stars

Originally published as Tried and tested: the best home office solutions