Like many people, I do most of my genealogy research online, from my desk. I have a laptop computer (a 14″ MacBook Pro). I love my laptop for its portability. I take it with me on research trips (or, really, any trip).
But I don’t love doing genealogy research on a 14″ screen and I don’t love using a trackpad instead of a mouse.
I bought my HP Business Z27 2TB68A8 27″ monitor way back in 2019 and it’s been great. (I should point out that there’s a more modern version of a similar monitor, the HP U28 4K HDR, that is less expensive and has more conveniently placed ports than mine. I’ve done no research on it, though.) What I love about this monitor is that it acts as a hub and a power source. I plug it into my computer with a USB-C cable and then I plug my external hard drive and webcam into the monitor. So I just have one cord going from my monitor to my computer. That makes it very easy to unplug and go. And it cuts down on cord clutter on my desk.
I also use a wireless keyboard and a wireless mouse. I recently developed tennis elbow from overuse of the keyboard and mouse, so I’m now using an ergonomic vertical mouse, which I think is helpful. I also prop the forward edge of my keyboard on a wrist rest so that it tilts downward, which helps my tennis elbow.
The joy of this setup is that I can have multiple documents open on my screen. I can also use my laptop screen, which I keep to the side and stash documents on. (In case you’re curious, my laptop wallpaper is the vision board I created for 2023.) If I were trying to do all my genealogy research and processing of downloaded documents on my laptop I am confident I would find it less enjoyable.
If you struggle with having as many documents visible as you’d like on your screen, you might consider a large monitor that you can use when you’re researching at home. Add a wireless keyboard and mouse and you get the best of both worlds of a desktop computer and laptop.
Thank you for sharing your set-up Janine. Very timely, as I am needing a new Mac and screen. The HP sounds good. I need sharp clear text on screen. I will check it out.
So glad you found it helpful, Nicola!
Hi Janine!
I agree with your comments on using the laptop and trackpad. I ended up with a new iMac 14”, a 32” curved screen gaming monitor, a 24” monitor which I turned vertically, and a wired mouse. Game changer! I have so many things open at one time – and all necessary. And genealogy is so much more fun!
(I tried to post a photo of my setup, but can’t do it.)
That sounds like a great set up, Roberta! I’d love to see it. If you email me a photo, I’ll add it to the post. You can send it to janine@organizeyourfamilyhistory.com.
I would love information on the mouse in your photo.
Hi, Jacqueline. Click on the hyperlink in the post for a link to the mouse. It’s a Logitech Lift for Mac vertical mouse that’s designed for small hands. It holds my hand in a handshake position–quite different from the flat Magic Mouse I’d been using. It was surprisingly easy to get used to and I think it’s helping with the pain. (Physical therapy is helping too.)
I wouldn’t be without my 2nd screen
There’s no going back!
Love this setup… I have a 17″ laptop and use it all the time. Would love to have a desk on our main level and add a monitor like that, though 🙂
I use a 15″ MacBook, so the screen space is limited, but my next-most important genealogy accessories are my recliner and 20″ tray-table–which make a 24″ or larger screen a tough fit, unless it was mounted on the chair itself somehow. I’m retired, and I can genealogize all day in this position. (I used to tease my husband to invent a microfilm reader that would display images on the ceiling and let me control it while lounging in bed. Then a voice-activated note-taking tool….) So I just live with clicking frequently among the windows on screen, and sometimes reshaping them. For example, I shape a death certificate window–or significant part of it–to fit on one side of the screen and the Reunion source definition box on the other side, where I can transcribe the data from it. Not ideal but I can live with it.
I once took my MacBook to an Apple store to be sure that a peripheral I was buying would actually fit what I planned to do with it. I had left my Mac windows all open when I left the house. The saleslady who was working with me eventually sort of complained that I had too many windows open, piled on top of each other, as she tried to find the desktop. I thought, “Hey, Apple, you’re the one who told us all those years ago that we should be able have LOTS of windows and applications open.” She was helping, so I smiled and kept my mouth shut.
I wonder whether gamers and video-editors would buy special recliners that have a large screen and operator controls mounted in a way that would still allow the user to get in and out of the chair? If those big spenders want it, I bet they’ll get it, and I could ride along on their coat tails.
Does anyone with a home theater set-up ever use it for genealogy research on that huge screen? That would be excellent–especially for a couple of genealogy friends who wants to look over your shoulder when they’re learning all the buttons and menus for using Ancestry family trees. I can dream, right?
Marian, get a projector and hook it up to your computer. Then you can use your ceiling as a new screen from bed or recliner!
I was advised by our medical centre in work to get a vertical mouse. It took some time to get used to it but it really helped reduce the strain on my forearm. I did t know there was one for Mac – off to find a stockist now.
My vertical mouse has really helped! I’m so glad my post was helpful to you!
Are you able to do print screens, or perhaps screen prints? I used to be able to do that from my Ancestry account but not anymore. I used to enjoy printing out stuff to refer to off line. I’ve tried to do a print screen using my iPhone but it doesn’t work as well. Thanks in advance.
I print virtually nothing, so I can’t answer your question about print screens, Karen. (Perhaps another commenter can.) But on Ancestry, you could download a document to your computer and then print it. In case it’s helpful, here’s a link to how I handle documents I find online: https://organizeyourfamilyhistory.com/my-process-for-downloaded-documents/
I have been trying to do my Ancestry on my phone and it is not working well at all. I use to have a laptop and a Chromebook and it didn’t work well either. I really want a table top computer and big monitor plus a laptop. Chromebook is to slow and doesn’t work well for doing Ancestry.
I recommend a copier/ printer machine or may be called an all in one. The computer’s I had either got broken or just quit working because of all the newer windows changes. I have had to stop doing my family tree because it is too hard to copy paste everything from a phone. I haven’t heard of a Bible mouse. I will have to look that up. If anyone have any ideas for low cost desktop computers and laptops I would love to hear about them. Thanks for all the tips. I really appreciate them.
Thanks for your comment, Tamera. Everyone’s needs are different but I know for me the combination of a laptop connected to a large monitor has made my genealogy life easier. I definitely couldn’t do it on my phone!
Not a bible mouse. It is supposed to be a vertical mouse.