Telecommuting - Where to?

Question

A telecommuting developer needs

1. An Internet connection (the faster, the better)
2. A computer (so you need stable electricity, compatible power, etc.)
3. Communication with clients/other human beings (sometimes)
4. Little crime (so your laptop doesn't get stolen)
5. Food, water, shelter, etc. (I guess)

Assuming these criteria, if you had the opportunity and the means, where would you telecommute from?
Is there a good reason to stay close to the company you work for? (especially if you're not the only remote worker)

Answer 1

In my experience, it doesn't matter where you telecommute from. What is essential is good communication with your client / employer. If you can work with them over the phone, you can telecommute. If you can't, you can't. It's often down to personal chemistry in my opinion.

Additional bonus items for your list:

• Good audio hardware - you will spend a lot of time talking to your client/boss/whoever through the net, so make sure the connection quality is as good as possible. I prefer a free-standing microphone for voice input, and a hi-fi unit for voice output, over a headset: With good hardware, you can walk across the room while talking.

• In the same vein, I believe in a cable-based connection to your router - I've had too many crappy connections through WLAN

Answer 2

Stay away from big cities like San Francisco where the internet connection can be very unreliable do to congestion.

Answer 3

• Reasonable exchange rates
• Stable local government (although that probably exists if you have low crime and fast internet).
• Reasonable work-time-zone overlap between you and the main office

Where? Anywhere in the world, including Antarctica. Anywhere else if possible (right now the only option is the ISS).

Answer 4

I currently have both the opportunity and the means for telecommuting and i prefer not to - except on some days when i may have some personal work

Reason for not telecommuting :-

1. I find communicating over emails / chat or even phone is not a good enough substitute for being able to whiteboard / brainstorm with team members.
2. I completely miss the opportunity of getting the benefit of team members who might not be directly involved with my work - but if i am in office, i may discuss my work / ideas with them over my coffee / lunch breaks
3. I end up working much more than i want to at times when working from home.

If i were to telecommute, which i do on certain days, :-

1. I would suggest a good software which makes it possible to remotely log onto other developers machines -over the internet - is an all time must for me. It makes life so much easier especially when discussing / troubleshooting issues.

Answer 5

Where you telecommute from depends entirely upon who you are and what you like to do. If you're crazy about skiing/snowboarding, telecommute in from Park City during the ski season and from good skiing in the southern hemisphere the rest of the year. If you're telecommuting, you can avoid the high rent that the rest of us suffer, so take advantage of it. Go where you're going to find something you want to do.