Balcony computing.

It’s that time of year again: The weather is so nice, you just kinda have to work out on the balcony. Except, the sun can be an issue. Sometimes the heat. Solutions (or at least mitigations) have been found.

The balcony “workstation” and my ever vigilant rescue mutt

The computer is the “not-an-iMac,” with the matte screen. I added an inexpensive headset hanger to the back to hold the “used - like new” SHP-9600MB, and picked up a carrying case (meant for an actual 27" iMac, but works perfectly) to make it easy to move the whole setup (including keyboard and mouse) inside.

The umbrella works quite well at holding back the worst of the direct sunlight, and was cheap. (I had to make a small wood wedge for under the table, for the clamp to hold well - there’s a bit of a “lip” around the bottom edge.) The little rechargeable^‡ Holmes fan (Target) works better than I expected. (Same is true of the USB-powered fan I have indoors – though I doubt it’s actually made of beskar.) The Brother DSmobile 920dw portable scanner I’m less a fan of, but it’s fine, especially for the low price I paid (used, eBay). The jade growing in the background? Still alive after more than a year, somehow. My dogs still love hanging out on the beds I put out there for them, and an ample supply of Charlee Bear treats keep their attention when training opportunities arise.

(The leaves of the jade plant were turning red, so I started watering it more. There’s a bunch of conflicting information out there on how much / often to water. I’ve been watering - spring and summer - whenever the soil is dried out, and dumping water until it comes out the bottom of the cup, mimicking desert rainfall. The outdoors jade seems to be dried out every few days; the soil for the haworthia at the office stays moist for a week or more. It doesn’t get any direct sunlight, and I don’t think the grow light is doing much to evaporate moisture in the soil? But it seems healthy as well, at least so far.)

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^‡ So, I actually read the manual in the box, and was kinda shocked to see the exact battery specifications for the easily-user-replaceable rechargeable battery: It’s an 18650 3.7V 2200mAh cell. Of course, replacing the battery might cost more than replacing the entire ($12.99) fan, but if you’re opposed to waste, or have something else in your rotation that can also use the 18650, like the awesome TC15 flashlight, and can buy in bulk ...