1. DELL XPS 17
The new Dell XPS 17 business laptop is both thin and powerful. Available with a wide range of specification choices, it’s priced from $1,449 to $ 3,649. The laptop measures 14.7" × 9.8" × 0.77" and the machined aluminum and carbon fiber composite body weighs from 4.65 to 5.53 lbs., depending on your option choices. The entry-level CPU is a 4.5 Ghz quad-core Core i5, with the top alternative a Core i7 octa-core that will run up to 5.1 Ghz. Memory starts at 8GB dual-channel SDRAM and tops out at an impressive 64GB. Storage begins with a basic 256GB SSD, and the top offering is 2TB of SSD on-board memory. There are two displays offered—a 1,920 × 1,200 that’s nontouch and an optional touchscreen with UHD+ 3,840 × 2,400 resolution. Both are InfinityEdge panels with a 93.7% screen-to-body ratio that Dell claims puts a 17" screen in a 15" form factor that makes it smaller than 48% of 15" laptops in the Creator edition of the XPS 17. There are two slots, one for SD cards and a wedge-shaped lock slot, and five ports—four Thunderbolt 3 with power delivery and DisplayPort, and a headset port. www.dell.com
2. WESTERN DIGITAL MY BOOK
Western Digital offers a range of affordable storage options with its line of My Book desktop drives. Models from 3TB to 14TB provide large capacity in a small desktop appliance. The 8TB model will store millions of MP3s or photos, thousands of hours of video, and years of business and personal documents. The drive stands upright on your desk, occupying only 5.5" × 6.7" × 1.9" space. It features password protection, 256-bit AES hardware encryption, and USB 3.0 with transfer speeds up to 5 Gbps. With its polycarbonate case, the drive weighs only 2.12 lbs. An AC power adapter is included, and the drive needs to be plugged in. With its current list price of $149.99, the My Book external drive offers a very economical storage solution. It works with Mac and PC, and the drive also is compatible with Time Machine, so you can back up your entire system. shop.westerndigital.com
3. LAPGEAR DESK
The Home Office Pro Lap Desk lets you work anywhere with a surface that measures 21.1" × 14" × 2.6". It’s able to accommodate laptops up to 15.6". A 5" phone slot holds your cell phone upright for hands-free operation for calls and teleconferencing, and there’s a precision-tracking mouse pad work surface that measures 5" × 9". The surface of the desk is nonslip, and a wrist support runs across the entire width. The dual bolster cushions on the underside channel heat away from your lap. The carrying handle for the desk is reinforced, and the unit weighs under 3 lbs. www.lapdesk.com
4. TWELVE SOUTH LAPTOP CRADLE
The Twelve South Curve stand for MacBooks is made of a single piece of aluminum that offers a balanced, sturdy base that lifts the screen up to a more comfortable viewing and working angle. A side benefit with the improved ergonomics is better cooling for your laptop, improving its efficiency. The stand lifts your MacBook screen a standard 6.5" off the surface of your desk, lifting your sightline and your head and shoulders upward to a less stressful position. The raised position is also at the right height when used alongside another monitor for two-screen work. There are nonslip silicone grips on the bottom and the arms for added stability. www.twelvesouth.com
August 2020
