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| ![](/n.gif) | | PC World - 18 Jun (PC World)At a glanceExpert`s Rating
ProsSmooth and precise movementButtons galoreA solid and supportive bodyWeighty but in a good wayConsIt collects fingerprints, which downgrades its look at timesIt’s expensiveThe maximum polling rate is just 1,000HzOur VerdictThe Razer Basilisk Ultimate dishes out luxury at every turn. Its solid and comfortable feel, precise movement, generous button configuration, and gorgeous RGB lighting all make it an excellent option for MMO gamers.
Best Prices Today: Razer Basilisk Ultimate
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The $179 Razer Basilisk Ultimate isn’t the cheapest wireless gaming mouse you can find, but there’s definitely something to be said for enjoying the kind of decadent luxury it provides. A generous 11 button configuration offers plenty of commands for gamers. It also sports a smooth glide, solid feel and precise sensor. That’s gold for anyone wanting optimal performance and genuine comfort for hours on end.
Further reading: See our roundup of the best wireless gaming mice to learn about competing products.
Razer Basilisk Ultimate design and build
But there’s more to the Razer Basilisk Ultimate than just a solid feel and smooth glide. That sense of luxury you get from this mouse is heighted by its 3.73-ounce (106-gram) weight, which bestows a real presence in your grip. Yes, it’s weighty, but it doesn’t feel at all sluggish, I’m happy to report.
The Basilisk Ultimate gives you very precise control of movement. You can shift direction on a whim. It’s nice and grippy thanks to bumpy areas on both its thumb rest and right-hand side. What’s more, there’s virtually no friction thanks to well-placed PTFE feet.
That sense of luxury you get from this mouse is heighted by its weight, which bestows a real presence in your grip.
Being a Basilisk mouse, the Ultimate’s shape resembles the Razer Basilisk V3, which currently has the distinction of sporting the “best mouse wheel” in our PCWorld’s roundup of the best gaming mice. Some gamers may find the Ultimate’s design a bit angular. But I really liked the elevation my index finger had on the left main button — it always felt poised and ready to fire
At first the Ultimate’s scroll wheel felt a little too precise for me. It grinded when I turned it, registering each millimeter. But that was before I discovered a dial on the underside that allowed me to adjust how easily it turned. In the end I found a friction setting that worked nicely for changing weapons and scrolling through my game menus that wasn’t so tight.
The Razer Basilisk Ultimate has a convenient charging dock.
The Razer Basilisk Ultimate has a convenient charging dock.
Dominic Bayley / IDG
The Razer Basilisk Ultimate has a convenient charging dock.
Dominic Bayley / IDG
Dominic Bayley / IDG
The larger dimensions appeal to me a little more than the V3’s smaller size. The mouse measures 5.11 x 2.75 x 1.65 inches. If the V3 is like a Cadillac, then the Basilisk Ultimate is like a spacious Chevy pickup truck that you can stretch out on and adopt a more relaxed grip.
Among the 11 programmable buttons, four are contained in the mouse’s Tilt wheel. Then there’s three buttons on the left and handy DPI up/down switcher buttons behind the mouse wheel. The rest of the buttons can be found on the mouse’s underside.
Razer Basilisk Ultimate connectivity and battery life
The Basilisk Ultimate uses Razer’s Hyperspeed wireless technology for its Wi-Fi connectivity. To that end you get a very small wireless dongle in the box. There’s no Bluetooth connectivity, which is unusual for a mouse of this weight.
There’s not one, but two ways you can store the mouse’s dongle — either in the discreet storage compartment on the underside, or in a slot at the top of the mouse’s charging dock. That dock is a nice and compact size, being only as big as my thumb. It easily fit in a tight gap on my desk.
Charging the mouse was as simple as resting it on top of its dock. Doing so renders it spaceship-like in appearance, which most gamers are going to get a kick out of.
The mouse’s battery life is very good. You can expect it to last approximately 100 hours if you switch off the RGB lighting — otherwise it’ll run 30 to 40 hours with the lighting switched on.
Razer Basilisk Ultimate gaming performance
What kind of gaming does the Razer Basilisk Ultimate excel at? I’d have to say MMO and MOBA games, where I really appreciated its full-handed feeling and thorough selection of commands.
The mouse’s 20,000 DPI Razer Focus+ Optical Sensor is very quick off the mark. It supports a polling rate of 1,000Hz, which isn’t the fastest Razer has to offer, but for MMOs it was more than sufficient in my playtesting for tracking foes and launching spells.
I’ve always found heavier mice ideal for wielding swords and axes in MMOs. Wafery FPS mice just don’t cut it for me, feeling less tangible than heavier mice for that kind of play. But the Ultimate’s weightiness excelled at delivering a feeling of realism to my play.
You can set the resistance in the Razer Basilisk Ultimate’s scroll wheel via a dial on its underside.
You can set the resistance in the Razer Basilisk Ultimate’s scroll wheel via a dial on its underside.
Dominic Bayley / IDG
You can set the resistance in the Razer Basilisk Ultimate’s scroll wheel via a dial on its underside.
Dominic Bayley / IDG
Dominic Bayley / IDG
That was especially the case in Gloria Victis, which not only has plenty of attacks, but also lots of parrying; with the Ultimate in hand, the clink of metal against metal felt palpable, as if I was actually holding them in my palm.
The Ultimate’s main buttons are very soft and quick. Their centers are concave, so they held my trigger fingers better than most mice I know. A slight gradient gave me leverage to pull off some very speedy clicks. However, that speed did occasionally mean I miss-clicked at times — something to watch out for in this mouse.
One really novel feature is the sensitivity clutch near the mouse’s left thumb. It let me switch DPI levels that were stages apart and then return to my DPI starting point without having to cycle back through each DPI setting.
There was very little I didn’t like about this mouse, but one small peeve was that the chassis got a little foggy with fingerprints from time to time. So, you’ll want to keep a cloth handy to keep it smudge free.
Razer Basilisk Ultimate software
The Razer Basilisk Ultimate has five onboard memory profiles, which you can map out in the Razer Synapse app. As well as a top layer of commands, you can program an extra layer to your buttons using Razer’s Hypershift functionality, so you have options galore.
The Basilisk Ultimate can be as flashy as you want it to be thanks to its 14 zones of RGB lighting. These can be tweaked in Razer Synapse, but for a deeper level of personalization, Razer’s Chroma Studio is where to go. Here you can personalize your choice of colors and add cool effects that really liven up your desk.
Razer Chroma Studio allows you to personalize the Basilisk Ultimate’s many RGB lighting zones.
Razer Chroma Studio allows you to personalize the Basilisk Ultimate’s many RGB lighting zones. Dominic Bayley / IDG
Razer Chroma Studio allows you to personalize the Basilisk Ultimate’s many RGB lighting zones. Dominic Bayley / IDG
Dominic Bayley / IDG
Should you buy the Razer Basilisk Ultimate?
We all deserve a taste of extravagance from time to time and the Ultimate dishes that out in spades, albeit for a premium price. Its advanced glide, precise movement, and comfortable thumb rest add up to provide a feeling of superior control.
Throw in a precise sensor and functionality that’s supported by an excellent software app, and this mouse is really a no-brainer for gamers that like the finer things money can buy. That’s especially true for gamers that need a mouse with lots of commands.
Mice Read...Newslink ©2024 to PC World | ![](/n.gif) |
| ![](/n.gif) | | PC World - 18 Jun (PC World)At a glanceExpert`s Rating
ProsUp to 6TB of capacitySuper-low price per terabyteGood looking and portableConsMicro-B, not Type-C as intimatedHard drive level performanceOur VerdictThe “WD My Passport, Works with USB-C” offers a ton of capacity for a small outlay compared to SSDs. It’s also easily fast enough for streaming and background backup. The only caveat is that it’s not Type-C as its name might suggest — it’s Micro-B with an adapter.
Best Prices Today: WD My Passport, Works with USB C
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Full confession. I still use hard disk drives for archiving data despite having a boatload of SSDs. Why? Because HDDs, such as the one in this review, offer a lot of capacity in a single unit for less than half the price-per-terabyte of SSDs.
Alas, I hate to be the one to break the spell created by WD’s tortuously (for writers) long-winded name, but the My Passport, Works with USB-C isn’t a Type-C drive, as might be surmised by a quick glance of the package.
It actually sports the traditional SuperSpeed Micro-B connector and WD bundles a Type-A to Type-C adapter (hence the “works with”) for the Micro-B to Type-A cable.
What are the WD My Passport’s features?
For simplicity, let’s call it the My Passport going forward. The drive is a 5Gbps, external 2.5-inch USB hard drive that’s available with up to 6TB of capacity. It measures approximately 4.2-inches long, by 2.95-inches wide, by 0.8-inches thick, and weighs 7.7 ounces sans cable.
Works with USB-C actually means you get a Type-A to Type-C connector that fits on the end of the included Micro-B to Type-A cable.
Works with USB-C actually means you get a Type-A to Type-C connector that fits on the end of the included Micro-B to Type-A cable.
Works with USB-C actually means you get a Type-A to Type-C connector that fits on the end of the included Micro-B to Type-A cable.
I’ll now point out that a Type-A to Type-C adapter costs around $4 and will make any drive “Work with USB-C.” If you’re looking for a true Type-C HDD from WD, look for “Ultra” in the name. But really, WD? SEO with product titles?
The drive is a great deal, nevertheless, and a good performer for its ilk, and while I’m giving WD a hard time about the awkward name, it’s not a lie, just possibly misleading.
How much does the My Passport cost?
The My Passport is available in 2TB/$85 ($42.50 per TB), 4TB/$135 ($33.75 per TB), 5TB/$150 ($30 per TB), and 6TB/$185 ($30.83 per TB) flavors. That makes the 5TB model the sweet spot in price per terabyte, but unlike with some of WD’s pricier external HDDs, just barely. Go for the 6TB.
By way of comparison, current pricing for even the cheapest external SSD is around $65 to $70 per terabyte, and performance with those can drop to almost HDD-like speed during long writes. Also, note that the WD My Passport Ultra series with actual Type-C ports is no faster than this drive, and a bit pricier.
If you need a lot of portable space for backup, or storing a multimedia collection, you won’t find a better deal than the My Passport, Works with USB-C.
How fast is the My Passport?
As mentioned, the My Passport hard drive is a 2.5-inch model. While 3.5-inch hard drives can sustain transfers at around 250MBps, 2.5-inch models, especially those in external USB enclosures, generally deliver about half that. You want speed? Get an SSD. You want cheap capacity, get an HDD and live with the performance you see documented below.
All three of the drives in the chart are WD 6TB units, hence the almost identical scores, though 2.5-inch external HDDs in general read and write between 110MBps and 140MBps.
The G-Drive ArmorATD displayed a slight advantage in all the tests, but not enough to concern yourself about. On the other hand, it’s ruggedized and IP65-rated.
The My Passport is about average for an external 2.5-inch SSD with sequential transfer. Longer bars are better.
The My Passport is about average for an external 2.5-inch SSD with sequential transfer. Longer bars are better.
The My Passport is about average for an external 2.5-inch SSD with sequential transfer. Longer bars are better.
The 4K random reads weren’t actually zero, but so slow (0.3MBps to 0.4MBps) that they rounded down to that non-number. CrystalDiskMark 8 is slanted towards modern SSDs, but still valid for HDDs.
The 4K random reads weren’t actually zero, but so slow (0.3MBps to 0.4MBps) that they rounded down to that non-number. As you can see, random performance is not a specialty of hard drives. Longer bars are better.
The 4K random reads weren’t actually zero, but so slow (0.3MBps to 0.4MBps) that they rounded down to that non-number. As you can see, random performance is not a specialty of hard drives. Longer bars are better.
The 4K random reads weren’t actually zero, but so slow (0.3MBps to 0.4MBps) that they rounded down to that non-number. As you can see, random performance is not a specialty of hard drives. Longer bars are better.
The My Passport was faster than the My Passport Ultra for Mac, but fell behind the G-Drive ArmorATD in the 48GB transfers.
There’s little to choose from between the three drives when it comes to 48GB transfers. Shorter bars are better.
There’s little to choose from between the three drives when it comes to 48GB transfers. Shorter bars are better.
There’s little to choose from between the three drives when it comes to 48GB transfers. Shorter bars are better.
The story was much the same with the 450GB write, though the difference is minimal: All three took 75 minutes plus a few seconds. This is why we recommend using HDDs for background tasks.
75-plus minutes for the 450GB write is about average for a 2.5 inch external hard drive. Shorter bars are better.
75-plus minutes for the 450GB write is about average for a 2.5 inch external hard drive. Shorter bars are better.
75-plus minutes for the 450GB write is about average for a 2.5 inch external hard drive. Shorter bars are better.
In the end, the My Passport is nearly as fast as the true Type-C G-Drive ArmorATD and faster than the Type-C My Passport Ultra for Mac by a very slim margin, and noticeably cheaper.
Should you buy the My Passport, Works with USB-C?
I say why not? If you need a lot of portable space for backup, or storing a multimedia collection, where speed of transfer isn’t that important, then you won’t find a better deal than the My Passport, Works with USB-C.
As to my confession up top… The HDDs I use primarily are 16TB 3.5-inchers in my NAS boxes, with 2.5-inch USB types hanging off the back of the NAS for backup. Occasionally, however, I do back up my main computer using 2.5-inchers. I do it overnight — it takes a while.
How we test
Storage tests currently utilize Windows 11, 64-bit running on an X790 (PCIe 4.0/5.0) motherboard/i5-12400 CPU combo with two Kingston Fury 32GB DDR5 4800MHz modules (64GB of memory total). Both 20Gbps USB and Thunderbolt 4 are integrated to the back panel and Intel CPU/GPU graphics are used. The 48GB transfer tests utilize an ImDisk RAM disk taking up 58GB of the 64GB of total memory. The 450GB file is transferred from a 2TB Samsung 990 Pro which also runs the OS.
Each test is performed on a newly NTFS-formatted and TRIM’d drive so the results are optimal. Note that in normal use, as a drive fills up, performance may decrease due to less NAND for secondary caching, as well as other factors. This is less of a factor with the current crop of SSDs with their far faster NAND.
Caveat: The performance numbers shown apply only to the drive we were shipped and to the capacity tested. SSD performance can and will vary by capacity due to more or fewer chips to shotgun reads/writes across and the amount of NAND available for secondary caching. Vendors also occasionally swap components. If you ever notice a large discrepancy between the performance you experience and that which we report, by all means, let us know.
Computer Storage Devices, Storage Read...Newslink ©2024 to PC World | ![](/n.gif) |
| ![](/n.gif) | | Stuff.co.nz - 17 Jun (Stuff.co.nz)![NZ Located](/pimages/nzsmall.gif) Sammy Coventry left the theory for the practical, and now works for sports media company Overtime. Read...Newslink ©2024 to Stuff.co.nz | ![](/n.gif) |
| ![](/n.gif) | | RadioNZ - 16 Jun (RadioNZ)![NZ Located](/pimages/nzsmall.gif) The Micronesian Games kicked off in Majuro with a gala celebration that featured sports delegations from 10 islands within the Micronesian region. Read...Newslink ©2024 to RadioNZ | ![](/n.gif) |
| ![](/n.gif) | | BBCWorld - 14 Jun (BBCWorld)India`s games industry is dominated by mobile sports titles, but a growing movement is pushing creativity. Read...Newslink ©2024 to BBCWorld | ![](/n.gif) |
| ![](/n.gif) | | PC World - 14 Jun (PC World)Making the switch from the office to working from home has become the new normal, but some users might feel like their setup is not as well-appointed or productive as at the office. It’s time to change that. With the proper equipment and gear, you can turn your boring-old home setup into a workstation powerhouse — ensuring you’ll never need to return to the office again.
At PCWorld, we’ve had to adjust to remote work just like the rest of the world. Our staff has spent countless hours testing and reviewing hardware, which means we’ve been lucky enough to find the best gear and accessories available. Below you’ll find our favorite work-from-home essentials.
Look sharp during Zoom meetings: Logitech C920e Business Webcam
Logitech
Logitech
Logitech
Working from home means you’ll have video meetings. Lots of them. And those low-quality webcams that ship with most laptops won’t show your brightest side. So opt for a new webcam with high-quality resolution such as the Logitech C920e Business Webcam. It captures 1080p HD resolutions, a 78-degree field of view, and comes with great perks such as autofocus and light correction.
Get the Logitech C920e Business Webcam for $69.99 at Amazon
Bring stability and comfort with a laptop stand: Lamicall Adjustable Laptop Stand
Lamicall
Lamicall
Lamicall
A good laptop stand will do wonders for your comfort and health. Not only can a stand keep you in a good ergonomic position, but it will keep your laptop safe and secure on your desk. Plus, a stand makes using a mouse and keyboard with your laptop a lot easier.
You don’t need to drop a ton of money on anything expensive, either. A solid lightweight aluminum stand such as the well-liked Lamicall Adjustable Laptop stand will do just fine. It’ll support almost any laptop, from 10 inches up to 17.3 inches. It allows you to adjust both tilt and height and comes with ventilation holes to help dissipate heat from your laptop.
Get the Lamicall Adjustable Laptop Stand for $35.99 at Amazon
Store your important files for easy on-the-go access: Crucial X6 USB SSD
Crucial
Crucial
Crucial
Sure you might work at home, but you might need something to transport your work files for those occasional trips into the office or just a quick and convenient way to take your data on the go. External drives are a great way to store and back up your files, and their ever-decreasing size means you can now conveniently transport mass amounts of storage anywhere you go.
The Crucial X6 USB SSD is small enough to fit in your pocket, but capable enough to be your main external drive. It’s also one of the most affordable SSDs on the market and comes with up to 4TB of storage capacity. It comes with USB-C connectivity and includes both Type-C-to-Type-C and Type-C-to-Type-A adapter cables so you’ll have no issue connecting it to whichever computer you’re connecting to.
Get the Crucial X6 1TB USB SSD for $74.02 on amazon
Block out background noise to help you focus: Wyze Noise-Cancelling Headphones
Wyze Labs
Wyze Labs
Wyze Labs
While products from the likes of Bose and Sony are great, they are also incredibly expensive. Enter Wyze Labs. The company has created a good pair of over-ear noise-cancelling headphones for a surprisingly affordable price. While the audio quality might not be able to compete with the more expensive brands, the noise-cancelling is still top-notch. If you’re looking to block out background noise at your home office or while working in a busy café, these headphones will do the trick just fine.
Get the Wyze Noise-Cancelling Headphones for $62.99 at Amazon
Get every answer with a smart display: Google Nest Hub
Google
Google
Google
Marrying Google’s ever-helpful voice assistant to a 7-inch touchscreen, the Nest Hub smart display is much more than a device to control your music playlist or play ambient white noise (though both use cases can make working from home more pleasant). You can also use the Nest Hub to run fact-checks (“When did Musk become the CEO of Twitter?”); get direct spellings of words that elude spellcheck; verify the dates of important trade shows and other events; set workday alarms and reminders; and pretty much search everything on Google hands-free, receiving both audio and video results on a separate, independent display. Once you start exploring the work-from-home benefits of a smart display, you’ll never stop.
Get the Google Nest Hub Smart Display for $99.99 at BestBuy
Protect your devices with a surge protector: TP-Link Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Power Strip
TP-Link
TP-Link
TP-Link
Many people take for granted the vulnerability of their electronic devices to power spikes. Unfortunately, after your equipment gets fried is the worst time to realize your mistake. By purchasing a surge protector, you’re only paying a little amount of money to help ensure the safety of your much more expensive electronics. The TP-Link Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Power Strip goes above and beyond a normal everyday surge protector by offering six outlets that can all be controlled and scheduled individually with a mobile app or voice commands, and three USB charging ports. The scheduling system is robust and allows for ultimate flexibility in choosing when to power your devices on and off automatically for any kind of routine or travel need.
Get the TP-Link Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Power Strip at Amazon for $44.99
Create a full-on workstation: Kensington SD5500T Thunderbolt 3 Docking Station
Mark Hachman / IDG
Mark Hachman / IDG
Mark Hachman / IDG
Your ultraportable laptop may be perfect for commuting to and from the office, but when you’re working from home you want a dedicated workstation with the ability to connect all of your peripherals. A Thunderbolt dock will help you expand your laptop’s capabilities and allow you to connect to a larger monitor and a full-sized keyboard. You’ll increase your productivity and your body will thank you for the ergonomic upgrade. We’ve tested a ton of Thunderbolt docks and the Kensington SD5500T is our favorite. It gives you the reliable Thunderbolt 3 standard, a pair of DisplayPort ports, and 60W of laptop charging power all for a relatively affordable price.
Get the Kensington SD5500T Docking Station for $227.19 at Walmart
Or opt for a less expensive USB-C hub: Hiearcool USB-C Hub
Hiearcool
Hiearcool
Hiearcool
If you don’t want to drop the cash on a Thunderbolt dock, you should at least consider getting a USB-C hub. Modern laptops tend to lack all of the ports you need to connect peripherals and that’s where a USB-C hub comes in. They are cheap and they allow you to significantly expand your port options. We recommend the Hiearcool USB-C Hub as it gives you a variety of USB-A as well as USB-C ports and microSD and SD card slots, all for around $25.
Get the Hiearcool USB-C Hub for $18.84 at Amazon
Clean up your act: Simplehuman Cleanstation phone sanitizer
Jon Phillips
Jon Phillips
Jon Phillips
Your phone is dirty. That’s because your hands are dirty, your keyboard is dirty, and the poop bag you handled on your 10am dog walk is dirty. All our WFH germs get on our phone case, so that’s why our editor keeps the Simplehuman Cleanstation on his home office desk. Just drop your phone into this gadget and 30 high-intensity UV-C LED lights will kill 99.9 percent of the phone’s surface germs in less than 30 seconds.
Get the Simplehuman Cleanstation Phone Sanitizer for $199.99 at Walmart
Don’t skimp on your screen: Asus ProArt PA348CGV
Matt Smith
Matt Smith
Matt Smith
Working from home is all about productivity, and one of the best pieces of hardware to boost productivity is a great monitor. The Asus ProArt PA348CGV is an ultrawide monitor with plenty of horizontal screen space so you can view all of your apps and documents spread out at the same time. It sports excellent image quality, a wide color gamut, and good connectivity options.
There are a ton of great monitors out there, but the Asus ProArt PA348CGV has an excellent mix of features for anyone who has basic needs but wants a premium experience.
Get the Asus ProArt PA348CGV for $628.99 at Amazon
Upgrade that new screen’s ergonomics: Ergotron LX Premium Monitor Arm
Matt Smith/Foundry
Matt Smith/Foundry
Matt Smith/Foundry
A good monitor arm is one of the best upgrades you can make to your home office setup. It’ll open up way more options to move and position your display around your desk and it frees up precious desktop space as well.
The Ergotron LX Premium Monitor Arm is our favorite monitor arm for a reason. It’s sturdy, practical, and can pair with almost any monitor around. The LX Premium is designated as an “entry-level” model, but it comes with specs that you’d expect from something much more expensive. It can support monitors up to 25 pounds and comes with 75 degrees of tilt, plus 360 degrees of rotation and pan.
Get the Ergotron LX Premium Monitor Arm for $209.00 at amazon
Consider ergonomics: Logitech Lift & Keychron Q8 keyboard
Foundry
Foundry
Foundry
If you’re working from home all day, you need to be comfortable and a standard mouse and keyboard just won’t cut it. Focusing on ergonomics, the Logitech Lift mouse and Keychron Q8 keyboard were built to help keep your hands and wrists in a more comfortable and less injury-prone position.
Michael Crider/IDG
Michael Crider/IDG
Michael Crider/IDG
The Lift mouse can be purchased for either left or right hands and comes in a variety of colors. It’s also wireless, which helps you minimize desktop clutter. The Keychron Q8 keyboard is a bit pricey, but gives you the satisfying feel and dependability of a mechanical keyboard while the curved design allows your wrists to rest in a more natural and comfortable position while typing.
Get the Logitech Lift Mouse for $69.79 at Amazon
Get the Keychron Q8 Keyboard for $199.00 at Keychron
Go wireless: Logitech MK540 Advanced Wireless Keyboard and Mouse Combo
If you don’t want to spend big on a mouse and keyboard, you can find a more affordable alternative in the Logitech MK540 Advanced Wireless Keyboard and Mouse combo. Coming in at an affordable $50, the keyboard is surprisingly snappy and has a pleasant tactile experience without too much noise. The mouse provides smooth and reliable use and has a few programmable gestures you can set for your convenience. Both are wireless, so you can do away with all of those annoying cables cluttering your desktop.
Get the Logitech MK540 Wireless Keyboard and Mouse for $44.99 at Amazon
Backup software is a must: iDrive Online Cloud Backup
Many people neglect to consider backup when working from home, but if your IT department isn’t covering you and your data, it’s something that needs to be addressed. Luckily there are relatively inexpensive services such as iDrive Online Cloud Backup that make it simple to do. iDrive is comprehensive and versatile and allows you to set up and use the backup service without any fuss. It’s a one-stop shop to help keep your valuable data safe and secure.
Get iDrive for $69.65 at iDrive
So is a robust PDF editor: Adobe Acrobat Pro DC
PDFs are a staple of any modern digital workplace, but they aren’t always the easiest to edit. There are a ton of great PDF editors out there, but Adobe Acrobat Pro DC has been, and continues to be, the reigning champ. There is no other software that combines the same features for creating, editing, reviewing, and securing your PDF documents. Plus, the subscription-based format means that you’ll always have access to the latest version and won’t need to continually buy new software every year.
Get Adobe Acrobat Pro DC for $19.99 per month at Adobe
Ease eye-strain: BenQ ScreenBar
BenQ ScreenBar
BenQ ScreenBar
BenQ
BenQ ScreenBar
BenQ
BenQ
To save space on your desk and reduce eye-strain there is no better option than a screenbar — a USB-powered desk lamp that attaches to the top of your monitor. When BenQ debuted its ScreenBar it had us wondering why no one had thought of this extremely practical solution before. It’ll save you desk space and keep you from going cross-eyed from squinting through the reflections on your monitor all day. Admittedly, it’s a bit pricey, but your eyes will thank you in the long run.
Get the BenQ ScreenBar for $109.00 at Amazon
The conventional desk lamp option: IKEA Forså
If you don’t want to shell out the money for a screenbar or it just isn’t your style, then the tried-and-true desk lamp can be a great alternative. At just over $30, the IKEA Forså provides form and function to help keep your desk looking chic and well lit.
It comes with excellent adjustability, a cool old-school chrome design, and a straightforward on/off switch to keep things dead-simple.
Get the Ikea Forså Desk Lamp for $34.99 at IKEA
Keep upright: Jarvis Bamboo Standing desk
When working from home you have a tendency to stay seated for long periods of time even more so than working in an office. And no matter how comfy that fancy ergonomic office chair is, sitting in it all day isn’t ideal. The best way to keep your body happy while working at a desk is to switch to an electric height-adjustable standing desk.
The Jarvis Bamboo Standing desk not only looks nice with its clean bamboo top, but it’s practical too. It comes with an impressive height adjustment range, solid stability (even when maxed out), a great warranty, and decent customization options — it ticks all the boxes for things you want in the perfect standing desk.
Get the Jarvis Bamboo Standing Desk for $744 at HermanMiller
Set the mood: Lutron Diva Smart Dimmer
Michael Brown/Foundry
Michael Brown/Foundry
Michael Brown/Foundry
A smart light switch isn’t an obvious necessity, until you have one. Being able to control the lighting system in your home office via voice controls, motion detection, or your smartphone is a simple luxury that can pay dividends — both in your mood and in your energy bill.
The Lutron Diva Smart Dimmer is built to work with the Lutron Caséta ecosystem, but it also provides broad compatibility with different smart products and systems such as Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and many others. It also has a minimalist design that doesn’t draw attention to itself.
Get the Lutron Diva Smart Dimmer for $69.95 at Home Depot
Stay warm: Vornado VH200 Heater
In those cold months of winter you need a way to keep warm and comfortable while you work at home. A space heater such as the Vornado VH200 Heater is a great way to keep your energy bill down while still warming a specific area. The Vornado is small enough that it won’t take up too much room in your office, but powerful enough that it can heat an entire room by itself. It’s also extremely quiet, meaning you can focus on your work without being distracted by an overly noisy fan.
Get the Vornado VH200 Heater for $74.99 at Walmart
Say no to cables: Anker Magnetic Wireless Charging Stand
Anker
Anker
Anker
A clean desktop can help you stay productive and focused while working at home. One of the best ways to reduce your cord clutter is to switch to a wireless phone charger. It’s also one of the most convenient and hassle-free ways to charge your mobile devices.
Right now there’s no better wireless charger than the Anker Magnetic Wireless Charging stand. It’s the fastest Android charger we’ve ever tested, it has a clean, minimalist look, and the magnetic stand keeps your phone securely upright, making checking notifications a breeze.
Get the Anker Magnetic Wireless Charging Stand for $34.99 at Amazon
Get some computer speakers: Creative Pebble
Creative
Creative
Creative
A full, booming 7.1 surround-sound speaker setup might be great for watching movies and playing games, but for work you don’t need anything nearly as fancy. If you’re working at home you just want something that will produce clear audio during meetings or while listening to some background LoFi beats to help keep you focused. Save yourself some money and go with the Creative Pebble speakers, which for only $40 produce deep and rich audio that you would expect from something two or three times the price. Plus they don’t take up much space and look really good on a desktop.
Get the Creative Pebble Speakers for $34.84 at Amazon
Do-it-all productivity: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 9
You need a laptop while working at home and there are none more suited to the task than the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 9. It sports great performance thanks to its Core i7, integrated Iris Xe graphics, and 16GB of RAM. It will not only handle any word processing and spreadsheet work you throw at it, but it can also handle web-browsing while you’re on your “lunch break.” It has a spacious 16:10 aspect-ratio screen, which is ideal for viewing documents, and a comfortable keyboard for marathon typing or coding sessions.
Get the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 9 for $878.00 at Amazon
Back to basics: Chromebook Spin 713 CP713-3W-5102
IDG / Ashley Biancuzzo
IDG / Ashley Biancuzzo
IDG / Ashley Biancuzzo
If you want something a little more portable (or affordable) than a full-fledged productivity machine like the Lenovo ThinkPad, then look no further than the Chromebook Spin 713. It has fast performance and a versatile 2-in-1 form factor. Meaning you can either use it as a regular laptop or flip the screen around and use it like a tablet. At just under three pounds, it’s also portable enough to take to the coffee shop when you need a change of scenery. So long as you don’t need Windows while working, the Spin 713 is a great everyday option.
Get the Acer Chromebook Spin 713 for $399.95 at Amazon
Keyboards, Laptops, Monitors Read...Newslink ©2024 to PC World | ![](/n.gif) |
| ![](/n.gif) | | PC World - 13 Jun (PC World)Father’s Day 2024 falls on Sunday, June 16 and is a great opportunity to find bargains on the best tech and general “Dad stuff.” Time is running out, so we’ve rounded up the best last-minute deals you can quickly get your hands on.
And these don’t even have to be for your father. Whether you’re a son, daughter, father or mother, you may want to snag some deals for yourself.
Apple AirPods (Gen 2) with Lightning Charging Case
Apple
Apple
Apple
Whether you’re listening to music, podcasts or phone calls, Apple AirPods are always fantastic choices, and they’ll make a great gift for Father’s Day. Usually available for $129, you can snatch the AirPods for a mere $80 right now, the best price we’ve seen thus far. Add in the fact that you get a total of 24 hours of listening time with the charging Case and easy access to Siri, and you have a great gift any iPhone user will love.
Grab the 2nd Gen AirPods for 38% off on Amazon
Hanycony Surge Protector Power Strip
Hanycony
Hanycony
Hanycony
Yes, we are recommending a surge protector—because we all need more, and this one has a super versatile design, and costs only $12.33 on Amazon. It has eight widely spaced AC outlets and four USB ports, including two USB-C. Even though it’s packed with outlets, this isn’t a large power strip because it comes with a three-sided layout. The outlets are also big enough not to block adjacent outlets, which is always good to consider.
Get this awesome surge protector for only $12.33 (38% off) on Amazon
Journey ALTI Wireless Charging Desk Mat
Eugen Wegmann
Eugen Wegmann
Eugen Wegmann
The reversible ALTI desk mat—20% off for father’s day with code “GIFT20?—features a built-in wireless charging panel that fast-charges your smartphone and earbuds at the same time. Pull open the ALTI to stow paper and notes, removing clutter even further. It works with Android phones, iPhones and earbuds that support wireless charging. It’s down to $104 with the code!
Get the charging mat for $104 with code GIFT20
Gerber Gear Utility Pocket Knife with Money Clip
Gerber
Gerber
Gerber
One thing every dad will love is the Gerber Gear Utility Pocket Knife with Money Clip, which is now on sale for Father’s Day at $14, down from $18. This is a super versatile tool that comes with a sharp utility razor blade, perfect for everyday tasks. Obviously, you can replace the blade when it goes dull. The knife is compact and will neatly fit into a pocket (no more losing that utility knife!). It even has a money clip, so Dad doesn’t even have to carry his wallet when he’s out and about.
Get the pocket knife/money clip for only $14 on Amazon
Ember Smart Mug 2
Ember
Ember
Ember
Everyone enjoys a hot coffee in the morning, right? The Ember Smart Mug 2 is now on sale for Father’s Day at $103.95, down from $129.95. This innovative mug will keep drinks warm to the perfect temperature for up to 80 minutes on a full charge, or all day if sat on the charging coaster. You or dad can use the app to choose temperatures between 120°F and 145°F, making for a custom experience.
Grab the Ember Smart Mug 2 for only $104 on Amazon
GoPro HERO10 Black
GoPro
GoPro
GoPro
Snag a top action camera at nearly half price. If you’re going on any fun adventures this summer, you’ll want to make sure you can record them in fantastic quality—5K video capture at 60fps. What better way to capture those adventures than with the GoPro HERO10 Black? It’s down to $229 from $450, making for an impressive 49% discount on Amazon. It’s a fantastic purchase for adventure enthusiasts and extreme sports fans alike.
Get the Hero10 Black on Amazon for $229
Char-Broil Electric Grill
Char-Broil
Char-Broil
Char-Broil
The Char-Broil Electric Grill is now on sale for Father’s Day at $170, down from $250—a 32% discount. This electric grill offers the convenience of grilling without using gas or charcoal. Just pop this in an outlet, and it will reach the necessary high temperatures super fast. The grill has a special cooking technology that seeks to create juicy and evenly cooked food. So, if your father’s tired of using the same old grill every time, this Char-Broil is a good option, especially as the 320 square inches of cooking space can fit about 12 medium-sized burger patties.
Snag this electric grill for only $170 on Amazon
ASUS ProArt Display 23.8-inch Monitor
Asus
Asus
Asus
Fantastic monitors are hard to come by in the sub-$200 price range. And yet, here’s the Asus ProArt Display PA247CV, down by 27% to $145 on Amazon. This is a fantastic price for a 24-inch, 1080p, IPS monitor, and one of the best prices we’ve seen for this model.
Get this 1080p Asus monitor for only $145 on Amazon
Wyze Cam v4 2K HD Wi-Fi Smart Home Security Camera
Wyze
Wyze
Wyze
With an MSRP of $35.98, the Wyze Cam v4 may be just what you need to keep an eye on your home, pets, and kids. The 28% discount on Amazon makes this camera an even more enticing purchase at $26. With the Wyze Cam v4, you won’t need any subscriptions to view your own recordings—just add in a microSD card of up to 512GB and record 24/7 locally. For just $26, this camera is a steal (pun intended).
Steal the Wyze Cam v4 for $26 on Amazon
23andme Ancestry Service (US)
23andme
23andme
23andme
Get $20 off on 23andme’s basic DNA kit. After testing at home, you will receive 50-plus reports including Ancestry Composition, Ancestry Detail Reports, Maternal & Paternal Haplogroups, and Neanderthal Ancestry. It’s only $99, down from $119 on 23andme. Bonus idea: Buy one for yourself and compare dad’s DNA to yours!
Get this basic DNA test for just $99
Gerber Gear Dime 12-in-1 Mini Multi-tool
Gerber
Gerber
Gerber
At just $25 on Amazon, this compact multi-tool offers 12 essential functions, including needle nose pliers, wire cutters, tweezers, a bottle opener, a package opener, a plain edge blade folding knife, scissors, small and medium flat head drivers, fine and coarse files. That’s a long list, but we’re sure you or dad will find use for at least one of them every day.
Snag Gerber`s 12-in-1 multitool for $25
PCWorld’s deals section is also full of the latest and greatest tech deals, and we’ a’re always on top of the best laptop deals and desktop deals picked by the PCWorld team. If you’re an iPhone or Mac user, check out Macworld’s iPhone user gift guide and Mac user gift guide.
Other retailers offering Father’s Day deals
Many retailers are offering discounts for Father’s Day, including Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy. Check out Zagg for power and protection gadgets and accessories, Chipolo for AirTag Bluetooth tracker alternatives, Casely for Phone cases and chargers with code SPF25, 23andme has 35% off its popular DNA kits, and Thermoworks, where you can find the best thermometer deals for helping with barbeques and smart home devices.
Accessories, Laptops, Monitors Read...Newslink ©2024 to PC World | ![](/n.gif) |
| ![](/n.gif) | | RadioNZ - 12 Jun (RadioNZ)![NZ Located](/pimages/nzsmall.gif) In the latest episode of 30 With Guyon Espiner, boxer Mea Motu opens up about her abusive relationship and how her kids saved her life - more than once. Read...Newslink ©2024 to RadioNZ | ![](/n.gif) |
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