Even for someone like me who enjoys working from home, the epidemic has made things difficult – particularly in my little 1,000-square-foot two-bedroom apartment. My wife and I had our first kid last year, and as a result, dedicated working areas were rare. So I dealt with the problem in the only manner I knew how: with technology. In this scenario, a portable ASUS ROG Strix XG17AHP display.
READ MORE: Bereal Is the New Preferred Social Networking App for Generation Z. This Is How It Works
We had a very solid setup before my son arrived. I utilized our second bedroom as a workplace and as a guest room on rare occasions. And, when all of the industrial buildings shut in early 2019 due to Covid-19, we found space in our bedroom for another desk.
It wasn’t ideal since, even though I’m a technology nerd, we strive to keep the bedroom free of devices and distractions. But we each got our dedicated working place with twin monitors and enough space between our workstations to have video conversations without bothering one other. It was weird, but it was tolerable.
But then our drool-covered bundle of joy put a drool-covered wrench in the works. To be clear, I don’t blame him in the least. Parents frequently have to make sacrifices for their children, and most of the time, we are delighted to do so. But I think it’s safe to argue that an office/nursery combination isn’t a good one. So, when my son surpassed his bassinet and stopped sleeping in our room, I had to relocate my belongings (at least the majority of them) so he could have his bedroom.
My main computer at home is a desktop, which made this a little more difficult. I’ve always been a huge PC fan, and I enjoy the speed and versatility that a custom-built setup provides. (Side note: As working from home becomes more common, I believe that many individuals would benefit from upgrading to a desktop computer. Of course, this assumes you have the necessary room).
The disadvantage of this is that I am limited in where I may place my computer. I know it’s a surprise, but having a desk with a desktop computer is sort of a requirement. Fortunately, my wife sweetly volunteered to let me use the one in our bedroom (which I truly appreciate) while she relocated her workplace to our dining table in the living room.
You’re probably picturing a slew of problems at this time. Setting up twin monitors isn’t an option because we eat there. This meant that my wife was fully dependent on her 13-inch MacBook Pro, which doesn’t have much screen area and interferes with her posture. Looking down at a laptop screen for eight (or more) hours a day is a definite way to develop chronic neck and back discomfort.
That’s where the ROG Strix XG17AHP portable display from ASUS comes in. It appears to be overkill for general productivity at first sight, and it is. It offers a 240Hz refresh rate and AMD FreeSync compatibility, which are wonderful for gaming but don’t help much while looking at spreadsheets.
There’s even a 7,800 mAh battery packed in, allowing you to use it entirely untethered for four to five hours. And, at $600, the ROG Strix XG17AHP is two to three times the price of many competitors, particularly conventional business-oriented ones. But, to be honest, I believe that money was wisely spent.
My attitude is that it’s better to spend a bit more on something you’re going to use a lot than to save money and wind up with an unsatisfying product. Unlike most of its competitors, the ROG Strix XG17AHP has a stand, and I don’t mean a basic kickstand. It’s a full-fledged detachable tripod, which means you can put the screen over your laptop’s display rather than off to the side.
There’s no need to strain your neck. Important apps are displayed at the top of the portable monitor, while less important programs, such as Slack, are displayed at the bottom.
The ROG Strix XG17AHP is also 17.3-inches broad, making it one of the biggest portable displays available. Most enterprise-focused options peak out at 14 or 15 inches, and while we would have gone even larger if we could, there aren’t many 19-inch or larger portable displays with comparable performance and capabilities. Sure, the monitor’s brightness of 300 nits should be improved, but its matte finish makes it comfortable to stare at all day – even in bright surroundings with a lot of reflections.
Meanwhile, owing to USB-C compatibility for video and power transmission, the display can be set up with just one wire. When friends or family come around, it’s extremely simple to disassemble and pack away. And if we’re too lazy to do it throughout the week, the entire kit is slim enough that we can just push it to the side and have plenty of room for meals.
I also want to commend ASUS for having a plethora of handy accessories. The monitor comes with a travel bag, a folding screen protector that doubles as a kickstand, a USB-C cable, a USB-C to USB-A converter, a power brick, and even an HDMI to mini HDMI cable — just in case your PC doesn’t handle video through USB. My only complaint is that the locking mechanism for the height adjustment isn’t particularly secure. So, even when it’s locked, the monitor goes up and down if I press hard enough.
However, this one flaw does not outweigh the rest of the advantages. Because, while the ROG Strix XG17AHP isn’t as nice as a standard monitor, it’s far more than acceptable. It’s adaptable, and it fits into my life (and on my table) in ways that a traditional desktop monitor cannot.
It also has a lot of potential as a travel buddy for my Switch. However, because of the epidemic, I haven’t had the opportunity to put it to the test. And, while my wife and I are considering purchasing a larger home, with the current state of the housing market, we don’t see ourselves relocating anytime soon. So, until we can afford a larger house, ASUS’ portable gaming monitor will play a vital part in making a confined work from home scenario bearable.
For more latest updates visit here geeksultd.com
