As fellow minions beholden to remote IT overlords, we sympathize. In fairness to your IT department, their primary concern is keeping the network safe. The most effective way to achieve that goal is to minimize random web browsing and prevent the use of unauthorized software while keeping you connected to HQ on a virtual private network. As you’ve discovered, though, that makes even the simplest non-work-related computing tasks a pain to accomplish. The solution, ironically, is to use a small piece of hardware that your IT staff probably know well: a KVM switch. These devices were originally designed for network administrators who had to deal with multiple PCs in a data center or a server room, but it turns out they’re ideal for working from home, too. Also: The best laptops: Does Apple take that crown? If you already have a USB 3.0 hub, you can probably get by with something as simple as the $15 Sabrent USB 3.0 Sharing Switch. A good KVM switch allows you to also connect your external speakers and additional USB devices, such as an external hard drive that you can use to swap files between devices. If both laptops support the Thunderbolt standard, a slightly more complicated (but equally effective) option is to use a USB Type-C docking station. As with a KVM switch, you’ll use an external monitor, keyboard, and mouse, along with any other peripherals that you need. To switch between PCs, you only need to unplug the USB-C adapter from one device and plug it into the other. For a roundup of options in this category, check out ZDNet’s guide to the the 5 best laptop docking stations.
