Equipment Recommendations

A hardware bundle suitable for telecommuting may vary from unit to unit depending on business needs and the specific work you do. The following recommendation is for equipment that can work for most telecommuting scenarios and was built specifically to assist you during the COVID-19 crisis.

Before Purchasing Equipment

If you have some of this equipment at your normal Stanford work location, you should talk to your manager to see if it is reasonable to pick it up.  See the Temporary Movement of Office Equipment guidelines for more information. Also, keep in mind the Provost’s request to minimize any discretionary spending in her April 2 email to the Stanford community.

You should check with your local IT staff to determine if local equipment recommendations are different.

The specific sections below provide additional purchasing information for all the equipment mentioned here. Check with your manager regarding local purchasing policies and procedures, and for purchasing approval. 

Equipment Recommendations

1. Laptop
   If you already have a laptop, purchasing a new one is unnecessary. Most laptops purchased within the last three years will meet today’s standards for telecommuting. Today’s recommendation for laptop purchases are:
   • Apple MacBook Pro 13", 256 GB SSD, 16 GB
   • Dell Latitude 7400, 256 GB SSD, 16 GB


2. Monitors
   A separate monitor can enhance the ergonomics of your telecommuting setup and give you more space to view large format content. Today’s recommendation is:
   • Dell U2415 (DisplayPort and HDMI)
     • Note: Includes monitor stand
     • Note for Macs: Adapter cable required (USB-C to DisplayPort)


3. Keyboard and Mouse
   Having a separate keyboard and mouse you can use with your laptop enhances the ergonomics of your telecommuting setup. Today’s recommendations are:
   • Apple
     • Magic Keyboard (Bluetooth Wireless)
     • Magic Mouse 2 (Bluetooth Wireless)
   • Dell
     • Dell KB216 Wired Keyboard
       • Dell MS116 Wired Mouse
       • Dell KM636 Wireless Keyboard and Mouse


4. Headset
   While many headsets with microphones work well for conducting meetings or placing calls when telecommuting — including the one you may already use with your other mobile devices — a quality headset can improve the audio experience for you and other meeting participants. Today’s recommendations are:
   • Jabra Evolve2 85 UC - USB
   • Jabra Evolve 75 UC - Wireless


5. Webcam
   Video meetings held while telecommuting (e.g., Zoom video conference meetings) are significantly enhanced when you include video. Most laptops include a quality camera and do not require the addition of an external webcam. If your laptop does not include a camera, you should consider adding a webcam. Today’s recommendation is:
   • Logitech HD Pro Webcam C920S

If you work with High Risk Data, PHI, or other private/secure information, or if you simply desire more privacy at your workstation, consider a privacy screen. Privacy screens are polarized sheets of plastic that are placed over a computer screen to prevent screen visibility from any angle other than straight on.

In an open work environment, it is important to have wired headsets with active and passive noise cancellation. With wired headsets, you avoid having to charge the headset and you won’t run into potential interference in heavily Bluetooth-saturated areas.

If you use speakers in your private office currently, you will need to switch to a headset to avoid noise disturbances to your colleagues in an open office space.

Almost all laptops provisioned within the past five years already have built-in webcams. If you are unsure whether your laptop has a webcam, consult your local IT support. If you require an add-on webcam for your desktop or laptop to allow better quality and more flexibility, view the options below:

In an open flexible work environment or with any telecommuting arrangement, you will likely find yourself moving to and from various rooms and spaces quite frequently. To ensure your laptop stays charged when not at its docking station, consider an extra power adaptor to carry with you as you move about. Please contact your local IT support to determine available options.

For extra comfort when using a standing desk, a standing mat is a good option. Review the recommendations below.

Staff moving from Stanford’s historic campus to Stanford Redwood City will take their existing computer systems, monitors, monitor arms, and laptops with them. If special circumstances require you to get new equipment, review the recommendations below.

Staff moving from Stanford’s historic campus to Stanford Redwood City will take their existing keyboards and mice with them. If special circumstances require you to get new equipment, review the recommendations below. For any ergonomic-related questions or concerns, contact Stanford Environmental Health & Safety.

Protect your laptop and the information that's on it with a laptop lock for your Mac or PC.