20 awesome office gadgets and must-haves for right this minute

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  • FluidStance decks

    FluidStance decks

    The best boards come from California -- for surfers, and for desk jockeys, too. A range of these back-pain-killing, ergonomic motion boards, including the aluminum-and-bamboo original (pictured), are available directly from FluidStance. (Note: All prices listed were current as of publication.)

    Photo by: FluidStance

    Caption by: Joal Ryan

  • Your own personal climate

    Your own personal climate

    The EV-3000 promises to help you create your [own] microclimate, and if you've ever sweated in your cubicle in January, then it's got your attention. It comes complete with Wi-Fi capability and an app... natch. Available from Evapolar for $269.

    Photo by: Evapolar via ResponseSource

    Caption by: Joal Ryan

  • A stand-er-cise desk

    A stand-er-cise desk

    It's an exercise bike! It's a standing desk! It is, per its manufacturer, "the world's first sit-stand-cycle desk bike." And, for what it's worth, it's also a Consumer Electronics Show 2018 Innovation Awards honoree. Get the Deskcise Pro from FlexiSpot for $499.99.

    Photo by: Loctek/PRNewsfoto

    Caption by: Joal Ryan

  • A next-level fidget toy

    A next-level fidget toy

    The Orbiter bills itself as the "newest and greatest fiddle/desktop device." It backs up the talk with titanium (the hand spinner), steel (the trackball), and "fluid inertia" (the soothing thing the Orbiter does when you give it a whirl). Prices start at $64.95 at TEC Accessories.

    Photo by: TEC Accessories

    Caption by: Joal Ryan

  • A Star Trek Bluetooth combadge

    A Star Trek Bluetooth combadge

    CNET called this Bluetooth-enabled, hands-free calling device a wearable, "supercool speakerphone." And, it noted, "you won't look nearly as weird as those people with Bluetooth earsets." Plus, it chirps just like a proper Enterprise combadge should. Available from ThinkGeek for $79.99.

    Photo by: ThinkGeek

    Caption by: Joal Ryan

  • This incredibly cool clock-fan

    This incredibly cool clock-fan

    Enjoy the breeze and stay current with this, ahem, cool clock-fan combo that plugs into your device via a USB port. Get it at Amazon for $13.79.

    Photo by: OneTwo via Amazon

    Caption by: Joal Ryan

  • A 'Batman'-inspired bust bank

    A 'Batman'-inspired bust bank

    You totally need this on your desk. For one thing, it'll safeguard your spare change. For another, it'll help you access the Batcave in case Commissioner Gordon calls. (That last part was a Bat-joke -- pow!) Get the TV Batman vibe -- in the form of this heavy-vinyl bust bank -- from ThinkGeek for $59.99.

    Photo by: ThinkGeek

    Caption by: Joal Ryan

  • A smart coffee mug

    A smart coffee mug

    Hailed by Time as one of the best inventions of 2017, the Ember is an app-controlled, 10-ounce ceramic mug that'll keep your morning coffee the perfect, preferred temperature even if, owing to deadlines, you don't finish it 'til the evening. The list price is $79.95; get it directly from Ember, or look for one, as they say, at a Starbucks near you.

    Photo by: Ember via Facebook

    Caption by: Joal Ryan

  • A holder for your spinner

    A holder for your spinner

    First came the fidget spinner. Then came the hands-free, fidget-spinner holder. Of the latter, The Verge declared, it's "the Newton's cradle of 2017." Get the all-acrylic Spinner PAD for $6.95 from newPCgadgets.

    Photo by: newPCgadgets via PR Newswire

    Caption by: Joal Ryan

  • A more serious Alexa

    A more serious Alexa

    Amazon's new, "pay-as-you-go" service is aimed at making your office as smart as your home. Tell your Alexa for Business-enabled Echo to handle a conference call, reserve a meeting room, or, as CNET pointed out, order office supplies from you-know-where. A starter kit, featuring a combined seven Echo, Echo Dot and Echo Show devices, is available for about $700.

    Photo by: Amazon

    Caption by: Joal Ryan

  • A recyclable iPad stand

    A recyclable iPad stand

    Add retro style to your desk -- and iPad and iPad Air -- with this $30 recycled-cardboard stand from Uncommon Goods. Rabbit ears not included.

    Photo by: Uncommon Goods

    Caption by: Joal Ryan

  • One of our favorite tablets

    One of our favorite tablets

    With the potential for 16GB RAM, the latest Surface Pro "is a powerful device which could be an appreciated gift for those in business," we said in declaring it one of our top tech gadgets of 2017. Prices start at $799 at Microsoft.

    Photo by: Microsoft

    Caption by: Joal Ryan

  • A fast wireless charging base

    A fast wireless charging base

    In our look at wireless charger pads, we highlighted this fast-charging, 7.5-watt device as a pick to click for the new iPhone 8 and iPhone X. Get it from Mophie for $59.95.

    Photo by: Mophie via Facebook

    Caption by: Joal Ryan

  • A truly mighty mug

    A truly mighty mug

    The next time a stray baseball flies onto your desk, it is not knocking over your mug, and spilling coffee on your keyboard -- if, that is, you've poured your cuppa joe into the mechanically engineered, desk-gripping Mighty Mug. A variety of styles and colors are available.

    Photo by: Mighty Mug

    Caption by: Joal Ryan

  • A favorite mechanical keyboard

    A favorite mechanical keyboard

    One of TechRepublic's "favorite mechanical keyboards," the $169, aluminum-panel-topped, nearly 3-pound Das Keyboard 4 is a serious piece of home-office equipment. Buy it direct from Das Keyboard. Available with Cherry MX Blue or Cherry MX Brown switches, for clicky or soft keystrokes, respectively.

    Photo by: Das Keyboard

    Caption by: Joal Ryan

  • A super-sizer for your phone

    A super-sizer for your phone

    If you have an extra monitor and the desk space, CNET said, then the DeX Station is the relatively inexpensive way to turn your Galaxy Note 8 or Galaxy S8/S8+ into a makeshift desktop computer. It also works as a multi-port charging dock. The DeX retails retails for $149.99.

    Photo by: Samsung

    Caption by: Joal Ryan

  • Very, very good noise-cancelling headphones

    Very, very good noise-cancelling headphones

    Tune out the office with the WH-1000XM2, the updated version of one of CNET's "favorite noise-cancelling wireless headphones." The site found that the gear's "already excellent noise cancelling" is even better this time around. The list price is $349.99.

    Photo by: David Carnoy/CNET

    Caption by: Joal Ryan

  • A desktop that loves you back

    A desktop that loves you back

    Introduced in 2013, this wrist-and-finger-friendly, wireless combo set, featuring a keyboard, mouse and number pad, has been updated for Windows 10, allowing you, per TechRepublic, "to customize the heck out of the keyboard." Get it for a substantial markdown from its $129.95 list price at Amazon.

    Photo by: Microsoft via Amazon

    Caption by: Joal Ryan

  • Pro-level tracking devices

    Pro-level tracking devices

    The Tile Sport (pictured) and appropriately stylish Tile Style comprise Tile's recently launched Pro Series line. "They feel sturdy and look more premium than the previous, almost pure white Tiles," CNET said. They beep louder, too, when you need them to pipe up, and help you find your keys. Priced at $35 each from Tile.

    Photo by: CNET

    Caption by: Joal Ryan

  • A super-fresh Raspberry Pi

    A super-fresh Raspberry Pi

    This is the latest version of the bare-bones, credit-card-sized computer. It only costs about $35 on Amazon, and, yes, you can use it as your work PC, TechRepublic's Nick Heath wrote, if "you're willing to make minor adjustments to how you work and trivial tweaks to the official Raspbian OS."

    Photo by: Raspberry Pi Foundation via Facebook

    Caption by: Joal Ryan

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Keyboards, devices, chargers and just cool new stuff that you need to get you through the workday.

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FluidStance decks

The best boards come from California -- for surfers, and for desk jockeys, too. A range of these back-pain-killing, ergonomic motion boards, including the aluminum-and-bamboo original (pictured), are available directly from FluidStance. (Note: All prices listed were current as of publication.)

Caption by: Joal Ryan

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