'ZDNET Recommends': What exactly does it mean?
ZDNET's recommendations are based on many hours of testing, research, and comparison shopping. We gather data from the best available sources, including vendor and retailer listings as well as other relevant and independent reviews sites. And we pore over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the products and services we’re assessing.
When you click through from our site to a retailer and buy a product or service, we may earn affiliate commissions. This helps support our work, but does not affect what we cover or how, and it does not affect the price you pay. Neither ZDNET nor the author are compensated for these independent reviews. Indeed, we follow strict guidelines that ensure our editorial content is never influenced by advertisers.
ZDNET's editorial team writes on behalf of you, our reader. Our goal is to deliver the most accurate information and the most knowledgeable advice possible in order to help you make smarter buying decisions on tech gear and a wide array of products and services. Our editors thoroughly review and fact-check every article to ensure that our content meets the highest standards. If we have made an error or published misleading information, we will correct or clarify the article. If you see inaccuracies in our content, please report the mistake via this form.
Get NordVPN and Microsoft 365 for just $40 right now
Newegg is having their College Techsentials sale, which features discounts on desktops, laptops, and everything else you need for class (plus some dorm entertainment gear). And right now, if you bundle a Microsoft 365 Personal license and a 12-month subscription of NordVPN, you can save $100.
NordVPN is a security software that hides your internet activity, including browsing history, password entries, and personal or payment information. This makes it harder for hackers to get ahold of your information as well as for brands to bombard you with advertisements. You can also use NordVPN to access region-locked sites and entertainment (like that unavailable Netflix show) by setting your "home" server to whitelisted countries.
Review: NordVPN delivers consistent speed and performance
Microsoft 365 Personal is a bundle license for Microsoft Office suite of software: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, OneDrive, and Outlook. You can download the software on up to 5 devices, making it easy to switch between projects or transfer files, and it's compatible with Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android devices. The only downside is that this license requires a yearly renewal, but Microsoft offers discounts for college students; all you need is your university email to verify your enrollment status to save 50 percent on renewals or new licenses. But if you want a one-time payment, you can check out this deal on the lifetime license for Microsoft 365 (though it's only for use on a single device).