My Top 5 Computer Accessories and Parts That Won’t Break The Bank

You Don’t Need a Thousand Dollar Programing Setup…

You don’t need a thousand dollar programming setup… but computer accessories and parts would certainly help your workflow! There is a reason why companies invest thousands in programming upgrades. In fact, many developers take it upon themselves to upgrade their own home setups to get the job done faster. For the past 5 years, I’ve been experimenting with various accessories to help boost my productivity in a variety of tasks. Some programming upgrades look great on paper, others look better on code. In this post, we’ll go over some of my favorite accessories purchases that have made my programming life more enjoyable.

Keep in mind, you may need specific equipment depending on your project. If you are working on mobile hacking, you may want to invest in a Samsung Galaxy as well. Likewise, web development and AI projects will have different needs. This guide will be aimed towards general programming with a hint of security because you can never have enough security protocols!

1.) JBL Tune 510BT Headphones

I love using headphones for programming. Specifically, I’ve been a huge fan of the Beats headphone series, however, I was introduced to this set of JBL headphones a few months back when my second pair of Beats broke. Rather than spend another couple hundred dollars for headphones, why not go for the $40 pair at Sam’s Club. It’s been a few months and they have yet to disappoint! You can pick them up for $30 (at time of writing) online and they are a great way to tune out distractions while you are doing any programming.

The JBL Tune 510BT Wireless On-Ear Headphones are the perfect accessory for your favorite music. With PureBass sound and a super soft headband, these headphones will provide you with an incomparable audio experience for hours on end. Powered by the JBL PureBass Engine, these headphones deliver deep, rich bass without distorting or skimping where it matters most: in the lows. You’ll notice the difference whether you’re using them to listen to EDM or hip-hop. Listen for up to 18 hours on a single charge so you never have to worry about running out of juice when the party’s really getting started.

Nothing compares to the pure, powerful audio these soft earbuds deliver. Of course, they are engineered by JBL, and will be perfect for listening to those audiobooks or that new album from that band you like so much. JBL engineered the most advanced headphones in the world with breakthrough noise cancelling technology that removes ambient noise and lets you enjoy your music without distraction. You can even control your music and calls with simple hand gestures via the built-in sensors. So far, I’m impressed with these headphones for programming.

2.) Samsung Curved Monitor

Having a second monitor significantly boosts your productivity, however, finding the right monitor for a decent price can be tricky. For general utility like programming and basic operations, refresh rates are not that much of a concern. However, having a monitor capable of keeping up with fast-paced games can make the later part of your day more enjoyable. With that being said, the Samsung Curved Monitor is a great option for both work and gaming for a fair price.

Make a stylish statement with its ultra-slim and sleek profile; Monitor measures less than 0.5 inch thick and the simple circular stand adds a modern look to your space This curved, ultra-slim monitor with AMD FreeSync technology lets you see the fastest on-screen motion clearly and smoothly. With a 4ms response time and Eye Saver Mode, you can game for longer periods without worrying about eye strain or fatigue.

Enjoy a truly immersive gaming experience. This 23.5″ monitor features a curved screen that immerses you in gameplay and delivers cinematic viewing for movies and videos. AMD FreeSync dynamically syncs the screen refresh rate with the frame rate of your content to minimize input latency and dramatically reduce image tearing and stutter during gaming. A fast 4ms response time ensures that moving visuals look sharper, richer, and more natural. The Game Mode instantly optimizes your monitor settings for an enhanced gaming experience through the on-screen display menu and lets you see enemies lurking in the dark, hidden in fog or smoke, or looking away from a bright light source as pure red without any additional adjustments at all.

3.) USB Hub

If you are a Mac/iOS developer or have a lot of stuff going on with your computer, you know the struggles of not having enough USB ports. For years, I’ve min/max’d which device I needed, but this is no longer the case with a USB hub!

If you have more than one USB device, you need the VENTION 4-Port USB hub. This hub turns one port into four and is compatible with your PC and Mac. It’s also easy to use, as it doesn’t require software installation or any other drivers. Just plug it into your computer and experience blazing fast speeds of 5Gbps data transfer speed that is 10 times faster than USB 2.0.

The VENTION 4-Port USB Hub will transform your single port into four. It’s easy to use, works with all types of devices and is compatible with any laptop or desktop computer. All you have to do is plug one end into your computer or USB port and the other into the device you wish to connect. The super slim USB hub fits in a pocket or bag making it perfect for travelling and offices alike.

Never worry about running out of USB ports again. VENTION 4-Port USB 3.0 Hub provides four super-speed USB 3.0 ports, which is more than ten times faster than USB 2.0. This hub can be powered by your computer or power supply for mobile devices, and includes a high-performance chip to protect your data when it is transferring.

4.) Faraday Bag For Your Gadgets

Keeping your information secure is paramount as a developer, especially as you get into more specialized cybersecurity roles. With this in mind, investing in a large enough Faraday bag to fit your laptop into will eliminate all skimming attacks while you are moving your laptop to and from the office. Not to mention, it’s also a good idea to store your phone, wallet and keys in a faraday bag to avoid skimming attacks.

A faraday bag for your computer and phone is the ultimate solution to protect your private information from hackers and thieves. You can place your cellphone or other electronic devices inside this pouch. Hodufy’s Faraday bags are made from premium silicone coated fiberglass and super shielding metallic fiber, making them 100% fireproof, water resistant and heat proof up to 2000°F.

5.) Seagate Portable Data Storage

One of the scariest feelings is running out of storage on your computer. If you’ve worked with Windows long enough, you’ll find out they put the OS on the smallest SSD drive and this storage space will quickly fill up from all the stuff you have on your desktop.

Additionally, you may find that certain projects require you to push to a local hard drive instead of a cloud based repository. Regardless of what your project manager expects, your company or agency may not have enough money to give you the much needed upgrade for your machine.

Store and access content on the go with the Seagate Portable External Hard Drive. Easily store, backup and stream videos, music and photos with this 2TB external hard drive for an average of up to 150 hours of video or 125,000 high resolution photos for applications outside of programming. Connect it to your computer via the USB cable to access content easily and quickly.

Easily store and access content on the go with the Seagate Portable 2TB Hard Drive. This USB external hard drive is compatible with Windows or Mac computers and includes a 1-year Rescue Service. To get set up, simply connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition.

Do You Need These Upgrades To Be Successful?

It depends on your machine and skill level. If you are just getting started out and have a decent workstation, investing more time and money into learning how to program will give you better results. If you are spending more and more time programming, these quality of life upgrades can help you be more efficient at what you do.

I left out accessories like a good mouse, keyboard, etc. because I have yet to find a really good one to recommend at a decent price. There are several really expensive peripherals that are worth the money, however, it is more of a long-term investment than anything. Hopefully by then, you can expense those with your company!

Comment down below your favorite gadget that makes programming easier!