ZDNet Recommends: The best products for every office
Whether you're setting up your first dedicated home office, upgrading your remote work environment, or making your assigned cubicle or corner office more efficient, more productive or just plain safer, ZDNet's team of work-from-home veterans have some solid recommendations on the best products and services.
The best laptops 2021: Our recommended models for every use case and platform
New year, new laptop? These are the devices that should be at or near the top of your shortlist.
The best budget laptops for under $350: Top expert picks
Sometimes a simple, affordable laptop is all you need. Check out these top picks of the best budget laptops and convertibles for $350 or less.
Ethernet: Why your home office could use more of it
Nearly 50 years old, this networking technology remains one of the best ways to connect home and office equipment to the internet. We review the many options.
Best password managers for business or personal use
Everyone needs a password manager. It's the only way to maintain unique, hard-to-guess credentials for every secure site you and your team access daily. If you're willing to pay a monthly or annual fee, these six options are worth it.
The best large monitors for multitasking
A large monitor, up to 49 inches in size, can reduce desktop clutter and boost productivity for knowledge workers and creative users.
Which desktop PC alternative is right for you?
Instead of replacing a big old tower PC with an equally massive new one, why not choose one of these four alternatives?
Most ZDNet writers prefer this laptop above all others
The daily productivity drivers of ZDNet's editors and writers come in every platform -- Windows, Mac, Linux, and Chrome. If you spend hours daily banging away at a keyboard, you'll want to consider these favorite models.
Best Wi-Fi routers for your business or home office
These are ZDNet's top picks for Wi-Fi routers suitable for home offices and remote working.
The best monitors in 2021
Here are 10 monitors covering a range of sizes, price points and specifications that will make remote working more productive and more ergonomic.
Best network-attached storage devices for your home office
If cloud-based servers don't meet all of your storage needs, consider a NAS solution. We selected a handful of devices that passed our reliability torture tests and offer superior usability and feature sets.
Best office chairs in 2021
The very best office chairs for under $200, as well as the top office chairs for back pain, posture, gaming, and so on. Most of them are available to buy right now from Amazon.
The best web hosting providers
Whether you're working from home, operating a side gig, or starting up a small business, a web presence is a must. We take a look at some of the best web hosting providers and help you understand how to choose the right one for your particular needs.
Build a budget home office for $312
How can you switch from office cubicle to working from home at little or no cost? If you've already got a laptop and smartphone, it's possible to equip a basic home office for about $300. We've found all the essential items to get you started.
Build a super-functional home office for $1,200
Have you been sent home to work? Have your kids been sent home as well? In a pandemic situation, it's not practical to commandeer the kitchen table. Here, we outline a series of purchases that will help you set up a working office for about $1,200.
Best home office furniture
If you're setting up a home office or you've decided to upgrade your current home office for full-time work, we have great suggestions for you. We're not holding back on price in this list, but we're not going crazy either. All our suggestions are meant for a more functional, more productive work experience.
Best mesh Wi-Fi systems
With remote working and video calls becoming the 'new normal', now is a good time to upgrade your wi-fi with the latest mesh networking systems for improved coverage.
Best VoIP providers
Are you transitioning your on-premises workforce to a work-at-home powerhouse? Do you need to put a business phone on every desk, even if those desks are in the corner of a spare bedroom? If you're trying to replicate a traditional office phone PBX remotely, we have 12 recommendations that should get you talking.
Laptops with the best battery life
Laptops have become more essential than ever for remote access to work, school, and web-based apps. Maximizing battery life becomes an even greater priority to make sure we remain connected to the rest of the world without interruption. These dozen laptops can keep you online and working longer when you need to be unplugged.
Best VPN services for your home office
VPNs aren't essential only for securing your unencrypted Wi-Fi connections in coffee shops and airports. Every remote worker should consider a VPN to stay safe online. Here are your top choices and how to get set up.
5G data plans from Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile
Figuring out whether or not you have 5G service in your area is only part of the equation.
Best webcams for remote-working video calls
The pandemic lockdown will leave a legacy of increased remote working, so it's a good time to upgrade your webcam. Here are ten leading contenders.
Best desktops for design, graphics, video and photography
As Apple's desktop Macs enter a period of uncertainty, PC manufacturers offer attractive alternatives for creative users.
Best Peloton alternatives: Top smart exercise bikes
It's hard to justify paying $2,300 for a smart exercise bike. Luckily, there are a few alternatives to Peloton available. And with so many of us self distancing and unable to visit the gym due to the pandemic, now is the time to try one.
Best robot vacuums for the office
Have a look at 2020's best robot vacuums -- all tried and tested in the office and home.
The best cheap web hosting services
You can buy a month's worth of quality web hosting from a well-established service provider for less than the price of a Grande cappuccino. What's the catch? You'll have to dig a bit to make accurate long-term comparisons of the various offerings. That's where our Buyer's Guide can help.
Which high-end Chromebook is right for your business?
With the coronavirus pandemic making working from home more popular than ever, business-class Chromebooks are coming to the forefront.
Best laptops for design, graphics, video, and photography
Apple has traditionally dominated the creative markets, but there are now dozens of Windows PCs designed for content creation too. Here's a selection of portable devices.
Free and cheap: Best cloud storage services
Free and cheap personal and small business cloud storage services are everywhere. But, which one is best for you? Let's look at the top cloud storage options.
Best lighting products and solutions for your home office
Whether you need to revamp your office to make working from home easier or want to look better on those conference calls, we have you covered.
Best home office cooling solutions
ZDNet lists the best accessories for your office to stay cool while working from home.
Best coffee and tea makers
If you like the best coffee but want to make it at home, have a look at these coffee and tea makers.
Best laser printers for business
If you have a ton of pages to print in a hurry, you want a laser printer. We look at a variety of printers ranging from enterprise-level monsters to the sleek, high-performance, inexpensive models our editors rely on personally.
Best inkjet printers for business
ZDNET Home Office Tours
Inkjet printers are still in demand in the business and home office environment. Here, we look at a wide variety of printers that will meet a wide range of needs.
Face masks for businesses and professionals
Here are some non-medical face masks you can wear back to work.
Best home gym fitness equipment
We hand-picked a bunch of exercise equipment for your quarantine home.
Best video conferencing software for business
Which video conferencing platform is right for your business? We've gathered details about 10 leading services, all capable of providing high-quality video with collaboration tools.
Best encryption software for business
From on-premise to hybrid environments and the cloud, we have you covered.
Best email hosting services
Are you a small business or home office worker ready to graduate from free email offerings, present a professional address, and exert some control over your business communications? Then you'll want to sign up with an email hosting provider.
Hardware dilemma: Desktop or laptop with docking station?
When you're working from home, the best way to increase your productivity is to go big with the components you interact with the most: Display, keyboard, and mouse. Here are four options for making that workspace more productive.
Best smart speakers in 2021
Want a speaker for your office that pumps out premium sound and offers Bluetooth streaming or voice control? Here are your best options from all the big players, including Sonos, Bose, Google, Apple, and Amazon.
Best smart displays
We've hand-picked 11 smart displays that will satisfy a range of wants and needs.
Best standing desks
We've hand-picked 12 well-rated standing desks that satisfy a range of wants and needs.