The downsides of working from home will of course depend on your personal preferences.
For me a major hitch I run into is if I encounter a technical problem - I am completely on my own.
Whether the problem is with my PC software or hardware, Internet connection, wireless network, phone, I am a non-techy so even a small problem has the potential to really hold me up. And of course these technical glitches inevitably happen on the run up to some major meeting or deliverable.
My only solution to this is to have no fear of asking the stupid questions of any work or personal contacts that can help you resolve the problem.
My boss and I joke that having an engineer as a partner or spouse should be a requirement for all non-techies thinking of working from home 
You should get a SunRay at home. They're pretty foolproof, even if you just use it as a way of being connected to other Sun folks to sort out your other technical problems.
Posted by 78.16.232.50 on July 26, 2008 at 05:57 AM PDT #
Having a SunRay at home is not an option yet for my geography as far as I know. But when it is, I might consider it if I could have it as a backup - rather that a primary connection method.
Posted by Antoinette O'Sullivan on July 26, 2008 at 06:45 AM PDT #
Good engineer/techie is probably already working hard to solve other people's problems @ work, so at home he likely wants to relax and forget all about technology. And in the end it will most likely have a bad influence on your relationship.
Please, do not abuse techies :-)
Posted by Alex on July 27, 2008 at 06:24 AM PDT #
I hear you Alex.
In reality I rarely have technical problems. It is gives me a great sense of security knowing that if I have a problem there are people in my professional and personal life available to help me out.
Posted by Antoinette O'Sullivan on July 27, 2008 at 12:14 PM PDT #