Everything I Use

Computers

Hardware

• ASUS Zenbook S 14 UX5406SA: With the move to Linux, I made this my new main machine. It's good enough for what I do (which, 90% of the time, is writing something, be it prose, code, or whatever). It has 32 GB of memory, 1 TB of internal storage, and the Intel 258V. Also, two USB-C ports, one USB-A port, HDMI, and a headphone jack. I got this from Amazon.de, which means it originally had a German keyboard, but with ANSI-sized keys (small Enter key). I ordered custom-made stickers from Keyshorts to get a QWERTY layout.
• ASUS ROG Swift OLED PG32UCDP: The WOLED one, because I have too many large windows just next to the screen. OLED, 4K, 240 Hz refresh rate. I love it! It's mounted on an Arctic X1-3D monitor arm.
• IKEA Gerton tabletop with FlexiSpot standing-desk legs: I've had this exact combo for so long that I don't think either product is sold anymore. It's technically a standing desk, but I never stand, because I have too much shit on it. I might need an upgrade.
• Autonomous ErgoChair Pro: The model I own doesn't exist anymore, or rather, it was renamed. It's also nearly as old as that desk, and it started making these super annoying creaking noises. But I am too cheap to replace it. Herman Miller should sponsor me!
• Mode Envoy: The endgame of keyboards. I don't think I need anything else for writing anymore (though I use something else for gaming, more below). I recently upgraded to Gateron Oil King Linear switches, kept the Durock stabilizers and the foam kit I originally got, and paired everything with GMK Firefly R2 caps. Pure joy.
• Epomaker RT82: But I still own this keyboard, but for whenever I am in the office. It has Sea Salt Silent Switches, which make this as silent as the shitty membrane keyboards we usually get from our IT. It's a good keyboard, especially considering its price. And everyone mentions that little screen. EVERYONE!
• Logitech MX Master 3S, Pulsar Xlite CrazyLight: One for work, one for games. It's insane how light the Pulsar is.
• Ugreen vertical laptop stand: I only ever use my laptop in clamshell mode.

Software

• CachyOS: My Linux distro of choice is CachyOS, paired with niri and DankMaterialShell (in Catppuccin Mocha Mauve). I customized it with DMS Quick Capture for screenshots, Nautilus as my file explorer, and the trifecta of pacman, paru, and Shelly for package management (I am testing Shelly to potentially move over). Technically, I also have Bazaar installed, but I don't particularly like Flatpaks.
• Ghostty: I love Ghostty. I tried every other terminal in existence, but Ghostty is my bae. I use it with zsh and Oh My Zsh. I tried fish, but went back to zsh.
• Zen Browser: The browser I use on Linux. It's basically Arc browser, but open source and based on Firefox. I like it!
• Zed: I don't use any of the AI integrations; I just use this whenever I need to change code. But to be honest, that barely happens anymore, because:
• OpenCode: I use this quite heavily with my ChatGPT subscription (I'm on a Pro plan). I am not the best coder, but I know enough to read code, and I'd like to think I'm quite a good project manager.
• Claude Code: I use this for work-work. As in, my employer pays. I'd never pay for this myself, because I hate Anthropic. Worst sect of them all.
• Vesktop, Halloy, and Beeper: My communication apps of choice. You can reach me either through them or by email. (Vesktop is a Discord client.)
• 1Password: Password manager that works across systems. It’s good enough, though they’re slowly becoming a business-first company.
• Kagi: Kagi is my search engine of choice. It's paid, but much better than anything on the market. The current Google experience is a joke in comparison.

Mobile

• Google Pixel 10: After 18 years or so of using an iPhone, I left the Apple ecosystem for a Pixel 10.
• All the apps I use on my Pixel 10: Read that blog post to know what I use.
• 11-inch iPad Pro: I don't remember the generation, and at this point, it has turned into a dedicated device for the Paperback app. I charge it once a month to catch up on manga, and then the battery dies again for the rest of the month.

Writing & reading

Digital

• Obsidian: Since writing about my setup, I've simplified it a lot, and now it's basically just a bunch of folders and files. I have one file called Things.md, which is a never-ending file with notes and to-do items for my job-job. Besides that, I also use Obsidian to write drafts for this blog, and a plugin to send these drafts to the Kirby backend.
• Readwise Reader and Readwise: My read-it-later and highlights manager of choice. It’s fantastic. I could write a whole love letter to Readwise, but that’s for another day.
• FreshRSS: I self-host this for my RSS feeds, and use Capy Reader on Android and Newsflash on Linux.
• Bookwise: I can't say too much about this, since it hasn't launched yet, but it’s my reading app of choice. I can't wait to start telling you about this.
• BOOX Go Color 7: Current e-ink reader. I switch between this and the following:
• BOOX Palma 2 Pro: I don't have a SIM card in this anymore, so it's basically just a smaller e-reader. I think I prefer the bigger Color 7.
• Calibre Web Automated: Self-hosted on Hebe (see below) for all the ebooks I acquire.

Pens & paper

• Leuchtturm1917 softcover B6+ notebooks: I love these for everything, notes, journaling, doesn't matter. I use them alongside:
• Field Notes: I have so many that at this point, one could think I collect them more than I use them.
• Officine Canvas Milano pencil case: I journal near-daily by hand. After watching this video by Peter McKinnon, I started looking for my own pencil case, and ended up with this custom one made in Italy.
• Sailor 1911 Large with a 21K extra-fine nib: Filled with Pilot Iroshizuku Shin-kai ink. My handwriting is so minuscule that only a Japanese extra-fine nib works for me.
• The rest of the stationery collection: Uni-ball Signo DX, Staedtler Pigment Liners, Uni Kuru Toga mechanical pencil, Tombow Mono eraser, Pentel Brush Sign Pens, and more. Will write about this soon.

Gaming

Living room

• LG C2 65-inch OLED TV: 4K120 OLED TV. Connected: PS5, Apple TV, first-gen Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, and my home-brewed Steam Machine.
• Home-brewed Steam Machine: I need to add a Bluetooth and Wi-Fi antenna, but otherwise I am done. I control it with the Flirc Skip 1s whenever I want to watch TV instead of gaming. The specs are:

• PlayStation 5: I thought this would start collecting dust, but since Sony backpedaled and won't bring any more single-player games to PC, this might get more use again.
• Nintendo Switch: It's jailbroken, but barely used.
• Nintendo Switch 2: I quite like the Switch 2, but I don't use it enough. But with the upcoming Ocarina of Time remake, I might use nothing else for a long while.
• Steam Controller: I am surprised by how much I actually like it. It's much more comfortable to hold than I expected. It's permanently connected to the living-room PC.
• 8BitDo Ultimate 2: The other controller, connected to my gaming PC. It's good!

Desktop

• Gaming PC: I recently upgraded. The specs are:

• Pulsar Superglide XXL Mouse Pad: I first saw this at Gamescom and immediately fell in love with it. It’s a 980×420 mm glass mouse pad from Pulsar, and it’s a dream for smooth tracking. My different mouses (mice?) just glide over the surface.

Handhelds

• Handhelds: I have a ton of them, but I’ll be honest. Right now, I barely use any except when I am reviewing one. I have no clue when I last turned on my Steam Deck. I did install ROCKNIX on all the supported handhelds. Here is a list of the ones I currently have:

I might sell some of them.

Software

• Steam, Xbox Game Pass, Epic Games Store, GOG Galaxy, Ubisoft Connect, and EA app: I have games on every launcher you can imagine, so I basically install all of them.
• EmuDeck: This is probably the most important software you can run if you are into emulating any kind of platform.
• RomM: For my definitely legally acquired ROM collection.

Audio

Listening

• Qobuz: I use this to stream music and discover new stuff (although I also use Last.fm and ListenBrainz). If I like an album enough, I'll get it and add it to:
• Plexamp: Part of my Plex server. But I don't use Plexamp to listen to music. Instead, I use:
• Symfonium: Probably the single best music app in existence. If you are into local files, this is a reason to switch away from iPhone. It's that good.
• Pocket Casts: Podcast client. It’s nice. It works. And it synchronizes between platforms.
• Audiobookshelf and Absorb: For audiobooks. Absorb is a mobile client that is much better than the official one from Audiobookshelf.

Hardware

• FiiO M21: My audio player of choice. It runs Android, so I can install whatever streaming app I want.
• Moondrop Aria 2: One of two pairs of IEMs that I am using.
• CrinEar Reference: The other pair of IEMs that I am using.
• Topping DX5 II: My DAC/amp combo for my desk.
• HEDDphone D1: I got these instead of my beloved Composer. Much less expensive, nearly as good. I combined them with a Capra strap.
• Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro: I've had these for, what, 15 years at this point? I replaced the ear cushions a few times, but they’re otherwise indestructible.
• AirPods Pro 3: Apple’s best product. But connected to Android, the experience is kinda shit. But I got these before switching to the Pixel, and I will keep using them till they die. I hate how they sound, though. The Pro 2s were tuned much more to my liking. The Pro 3s are way too bass-heavy.
• Two HomePods: I'll keep using them as stereo speakers next to my PC, until they die. (They won't die...)

Photography & video

Cameras & lenses

• Fuji X100VI: Probably the best camera I have ever owned, and I owned a Leica. At this point, it's the camera I use 90% of the time.
• Sony a7 IV: The a7 IV + SEL2470GMII has turned into my very expensive webcam through an Elgato Cam Link 4K, mounted on an Elgato Wave Mic Arm LP with a Falcam quick-release plate. I also own a 70-200 G I, a 100-400 GM, a 14 mm GM, and a 90 mm Macro G. Besides using it as a webcam, I use it when I have a specific project for which the Fuji is not enough. Or for filming.
• Hyperion Camera strap: This uses Peak Design pucks. Looks great and is super cheap.

Video & calls

• Two Elgato Key Lights: Great, but they make my desk ugly. I use them for YouTube, during Teams calls, or whenever I sit in the dark and require light hitting my retinas.
• Elgato Stream Deck+ with USB Hub (planned retirement): I originally used it to mute and hang up Teams calls, control lights, and record YouTube videos. But since my move to Linux, this is only a USB hub. Will sell.
• RØDE Procaster: I refuse to buy an SM7B. This is good enough. It's hooked up to a Focusrite Vocaster One. And I use easyeffects to make my voice sound even nicer!

Home

Web & communication

• Kirby: The CMS I use for this blog.
• Hetzner: Where this blog lives.
• Buttondown: How this blog sends you an email whenever I publish something new.
• Fastmail: My email service.

Hebe

• AYANEO AM02 mini-PC: I run the AM02 as a home server. Since writing that post, I've changed a shit ton of things:

• Docker Compose and Caddy: This is how I install all of the different services and make sure they are available with a proper domain.
• Dockhand: How I update the Docker containers.
• Gotify: Sends me notifications whenever one of my services or the whole server goes down. So far, all notifications were triggered because I did something that required a container restart.
• Immich: Where all my photos and videos live.
• Glance: A little dashboard where I see a bunch of stuff like Hacker News, the weather, what containers are running, some RSS feeds, and more.
• Syncthing: Syncthing runs on all my devices and moves stuff left and right. It's basically home-made Dropbox, but it's also how I back up important files from my laptop.
• Home Assistant: I am playing around with this.
• Pi-hole: Adblocker.
• Tailscale: The glue that makes this all stick. Probably the single most important service I use!
• Zerobyte and Google Drive: Zerobyte makes local copies of some stuff on other drives, and moves even more (encrypted) copies to Google Drive for offsite backups.

Around the house

• ISP router: Some FRITZ!Box something something given to me by my ISP and combined with some FRITZ!Box something something WLAN repeater.
• Roborock Qrevo Edge S5A: A recent purchase and a significant life upgrade.
• Two Philips Hue lights: I got rid of everything else except for a single bulb and a light strip behind the TV.
• Apple TV 4K: Mostly a receiver for the eARC feature now. The living-room PC handles YouTube and Plex.

Health, routines & finance

• MacroFactor: I tracked my food religiously for over two years, then stopped. I am now using it again, as I am cutting/dieting.
• Google Fitbit Air: I only got this recently, so it's too early to tell. I like that it gets out of the way. I don't really know what to do with the data yet, but I've written enough about that issue.
• Withings smart scale: I don't remember the model name, but it's a scale.
• The Way: A meditation app. I’m giving it a spin.
• Running: I got into running. I use Nike Air Zoom Pegasus Shield shoes.
• Football: I also play with work colleagues. I use Nike Phantom indoor shoes.
• bunq: My bank. I wrote more about it here.

Carry & travel

• GORUCK GR1: My go-to daily carry. Built like a tank.
• GORUCK GR2: The bigger version, for longer trips.
• Peak Design Everyday Backpack: I carry this when I bring my cameras and my lenses.
• Bellroy Sling: EDC sling. It holds the FiiO, wallet, phone, and the BOOX.
• Anker 737 battery: It's a battery. It charges.
• Trove wallet: It's a wallet. It holds my cards.
• LEVEL8 Road Runner Carry-On: Enough space for a week if you pack light.

Retired

• MacBook Pro 14-inch with M1 Max: Replaced by the ASUS Zenbook S 14.
• iPhone 16 Pro: Replaced by the Google Pixel 10 Pro.
• reMarkable Paper Pro: Back to paper.
• AirPods Max: Absolute garbage.
• Pula Unicrom: Retired because they hurt my ears.