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Tech tips, picks, and tools for your business on your budget
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Hotel tech: standard room
You don't have the money for a deluxe room, and you don't have a lot to spend on tech gear, either. No worries: even a modest budget can cover everything you need to operate out of any hotel room. First and foremost, the traveling businessperson needs a basic laptop. After that, we recommend Internet phone service (a.k.a. VoIP) as a good way to cut costs and keep contact info simple, along with a suite of road-warrior software and a few laptop accessories to make your hotel room a more productive HQ.
CNET editors say:
These products are ESSENTIAL for your hotel room.
These notebooks deliver all the performance and features you'll need to work out of a hotel room. They're not the lightest available, but you're on a budget--and you can always upgrade later.
Nothing will bust your budget as quickly as the exorbitant connection and long-distance fees that hotels charge to use the in-room phone. VoIP offers low rates on all types of calls.
When you're just starting out, you're looking to cut costs. Fortunately, you don't have to compromise when it comes to software. We tell you exactly what you need to get up and running.
This product is NICE TO HAVE for your hotel room
Working on your laptop's small keyboard and mousepad for hours on end isn't always so comfortable, but what else can you do? Check out these accessories for greater productivity.
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Enter your area codeAdditional resources
Stay in a hotel with free Wi-Fi
For business travelers today, a hotel without networking is like a bed without a blanket. Find out how to book a room with a connection.
Wi-Fi the right way
You know there are wireless networks in your area. How do you find and connect to them? We break it down.
Show us your mobile gear
Think you're hauling around some hot gear? CNET wants to know about it. Show us how you use the latest technology when you're on the road.
Additional resources
Stay in a hotel with free Wi-Fi
For business travelers today, a hotel without networking is like a bed without a blanket. Find out how to book a room with a connection.
Wi-Fi the right way
You know there are wireless networks in your area. How do you find and connect to them? We break it down.
Show us your mobile gear
Think you're hauling around some hot gear? CNET wants to know about it. Show us how you use the latest technology when you're on the road.
Building the ultimate office: from start-up to skyscraper
Conference room
Products
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
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
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
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
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
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
- Start-up: Company cars on a budget, Best basic phones, PDAs for newbie road warriors, Budget laptops for mobile businesses
- Growing: Cars with growth potential, Laptops for growing mobile businesses, Smart phones, GPS navigation
- Mature: Executive cars, Bluetooth cell phones, Stylish laptops for mobile executives
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, CarGrowing:
Best tech per dollar
Conference room, Home office, Hotel room, Airplane, Boss's office, Utility closet, Cubicle, CarMature:
Tech to impress
Conference room, Home office, Hotel room, Airplane, Boss's office, Utility closet, Cubicle, Car
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