Building the Ultimate Office: Tech tips, picks, and tools for a boss's office

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See more CNET small business advice:
At Work | Best Practices | Business Buying Guide | Ultimate Office

Tech tips, picks, and tools for your business on your budget

Select an office

Select a budget

Start-up

Tech for a tight budget

Growing

Best tech per dollar

Mature

Tech to impress

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What do you think?

Here's your chance to make your own recommendations for tech for the boss's office.

Additional resources

Insider Secrets

Streamline your Web browsing with RSS

The flow of information far outpaces any one pipe, but RSS gives you the means to make all of that input a little more manageable.

Weekend Project

Double your display power: add a second monitor

Not just for traders and flight-sim aficionados, dual displays can enhance anyone's productivity.

Internet phones

Cut costs with Internet calling

VoIP manages to cost less than traditional phone service while serving up more features. We explain how to make it work for you.

Works for Me

Too much of a good thing

After trying several different options, Editor Rafe Needleman outlines the best way to synchronize data between two computers.

Additional resources

Web conferencing the smart way

Online meetings are more cost-effective than face-to-face sessions. But not all Web conferencing features are ready for prime time. Which tools are best for you?

See Web conferencing tips

CNET's how-to

Record a meeting

Get the scoop on the right gear and free software, whether you're recording a sales pitch or a friend's band at a dive bar.

Learn how to record a meeting

Tech you can expense

Get Uncle Sam to work for you

It's true: if you're a small-business owner, the IRS can help you buy a computer, a TV, and even an MP3 player.

Find tech gear you can expense

Building the ultimate office: from start-up to skyscraper

Conference room

Products

Start-up: Budget laptop, cell phone with speakerphone, Web conference software, Webcam
Growing: Budget desktop PC, Web conference software, multifunction inkjet printer, digital camera
Mature: Tablet PC, conference phone, projector, whiteboard recording device

Additional resources

Best practices: Web conferencing the smart way
CNET's how-to: Record a meeting
Tech you can expense: Get Uncle Sam to work for you

Home office

Products

Start-up: Budget desktop PC, LCD monitor, Inkjet printer, DVD burner
Growing: Desktop-replacement laptop, multifunction inkjet printer, Wi-Fi router, handheld/PDA
Mature: Ultraportable laptop, docking station, multifunction laser printer, external hard drive

Additional resources

Show Us Yours: Home office
Insider Secrets: Three things to do with your old PC
Digital Home DIY: Set up a wireless network

Hotel room

Products

Start-up: Budget laptop, Internet phone (VoIP), software, low-cost laptop accessories
Growing: Thin-and-light laptop, laptop accessories, software, projector
Mature: Ultraportable laptop, cell phone and headset, software, high-end rental car

Additional resources

Best practices: Stay in a hotel with free Wi-Fi
Insider Secrets: Wi-Fi the right way
Show Us Yours: What's inside your home office?

Airplane

Products

Start-up: Budget laptop, cell phone, flash MP3 player, budget headphones
Growing: Thin-and-light laptop, smart phone, MP3 player, earbuds
Mature: Ultraportable laptop, world phone, MP3 player, noise-canceling headphones

Additional resources

Best practices: Book your trip online
Get the Picture: Packing your bags preflight: power and portability
Best practices: Get work done at the airport

Boss's office

Products

Start-up: Budget laptop, PDA, phone, VoIP service
Growing: PDA/phone, RSS reader, desktop, LCD
Mature: High-end laptop, PDA/phone, mouse/keyboard, HDTV

Additional resources

Insider Secrets: Streamline your Web browsing with RSS
Weekend Project: Double your display power: add a second monitor
Internet phones: Cut costs with Internet calling
Works for Me: Too much of a good thing

Utility closet

Products

Start-up: Basic network setup, Budget desktops (as servers), Antivirus and firewall software
Growing: High-end networking setup, Basic NAS drives, Small-office server alternatives
Mature: Server, High-end NAS drive, Networkable printers

Additional resources

Weekend Project: Share files and printers across your network
CNET business buying guide: Networking and wireless
Show Us Yours: What networking gear do you have?
Security Center: Protect the integrity of your network

Cubicle

Products

Start-up: Budget business desktop, Low-cost LCD monitor, Thumbdrive,

Webcam

Growing: Networked printer, PDA, DVD burner, Headphones
Mature: Laptop, Wireless desktop sets, Cell phone headsets, Smart phone

Additional resources

Insider Secrets: The best software is free software
Weekend Project: Add a second monitor to your PC
Works for Me: A change from default settings will do you good
Insider Secrets: Make the most of your keyboard

Car

Products

Additional resources

Insider Secrets: Geek your car
Show us yours: High-tech payload
Best practices: Literate listening with Audible.com

Where do you work?

Start-up:

Tech for a tight budget

Conference room, Home office, Hotel room, Airplane, Boss's office, Utility closet, Cubicle, Car

Growing:

Best tech per dollar

Conference room, Home office, Hotel room, Airplane, Boss's office, Utility closet, Cubicle, Car

Mature:

Tech to impress

Conference room, Home office, Hotel room, Airplane, Boss's office, Utility closet, Cubicle, Car

Popular topics: Apple iPhone; Apple iPod; Cell phones; Dell; GPS; LCD TV

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