Latest news with #SarahTew
CNET
12-05-2025
- CNET
Here's How to Supercharge Your Productivity With Dual Monitors
Have you ever sat down at your computer to get work done, only to realize that a single monitor just isn't cutting it? If you constantly find yourself getting lost on the screen, or tabbing between multiple apps, adding a second monitor to your setup might be the perfect solution. Upgrading to a dual monitor setup allows you keep an eye on everything you've got going on, while ensuring you can stay productive during busy days. Productivity isn't the only reason to set up a second monitor, either. Gamers also benefit from the options offered by a second screen. From pulling up tips for defeating that last boss to having a dedicated screen for Discord and OBS, there are plenty of ways a second monitor can help. We've put together this guide on how to set up dual monitors, to help you get the best out of your desk setup. Getting the right hardware for your dual-monitor setup Using monitor arms will let you adjust your dual-monitor setup with ease. Sarah Tew/CNET If you're looking to get dual monitors, it's likely that you already have a computer, whether it's a desktop PC, a mini PC like a Mac mini, or a laptop. Before you make any purchases, make sure your computer supports dual monitors. A quick way to check if your PC supports dual monitors is to check the ports on the I/O. If you can see two or more display output ports such as HDMI or DisplayPort, or one display output port and at least one USB-C/Thunderbolt port, then chances are that your computer supports dual displays but you'll need a supported cable, adapter or hub. To be sure, check your computer's specifications to verify dual-monitor support and the maximum resolutions supported. Although dual-monitor support is common now, there are some outliers. An example is the MacBook Air, which was limited to a single external display until the latest M3 iteration. The MacBook Pro models with base M1, M2 and M3 chips also support only one external display. The M2 Pro version on top has four Thunderbolt 4 ports, vs. the M2 version below it has only two. CNET/Dan Ackerman If the specifications say your computer can support two external displays, you can choose from the best monitors on the market. It's recommended to get two of the same monitors if you want consistency. On the other hand, if you have a smaller budget, you can get a budget monitor under $200. Make sure to get the right adapter, cable or hub that matches the ports on your computer and monitors. If you want more movement and adjustability, you can get monitor arms to attach to your desk instead of the bundled stands, provided your monitors support VESA mounts. Once you have your monitors and all the other necessary hardware set up, you can move on to configuring your dual monitors on your computer's operating system. How to set up dual monitors on Windows Windows is good at detecting dual monitors automatically and applying the best settings. Microsoft still recommends a few steps to apply specific settings to your dual-monitor setup to match your needs. 1. Connect the two monitors to the appropriate display output ports on your computer and make sure they are powered on. 2. Windows should detect your monitors automatically. Press the Windows logo key + P, and click the best display setup option for you. The Extend these displays option is ideal for a dual-monitor setup. You can also click More Display settings to open up the Settings app with display options listed. Screenshot by Palash Volvoikar/CNET 3. To fine-tune resolution, refresh rates and display scaling, head over to Settings > System > Display. Clicking on the displays visualized will let you change the settings for that particular monitor. Screenshot by Palash Volvoikar/CNET 4. Click each display, typically labeled with numbers 1 and 2, to change the settings for each display. Some settings may be listed under Advanced display. You can click the Identify button to display the corresponding number on each display, in case you're not sure which display's settings you're adjusting. How to set up dual monitors on MacOS Apple has a guide to check which Mac models support which types of external monitors via which available ports. Once you have the monitors connected to the right ports, follow the steps below. 1. Choose Apple menu > System Settings, then click Displays in the sidebar to see your displays' settings, including resolution, brightness and color profile. 2. From the list of displays, select the monitor you want, and click the dropdown next to Use as to set the display mode. You can decide whether to extend or mirror your Mac desktop across multiple monitors. You can either set monitors to mirror your desktop, or extend it. Screenshot by Palash Volvoikar/CNET 3. Change the resolution, refresh rate and other settings as per your preferences, for each monitor. 4. Click the Arrange... button adjacent to the display list to adjust your dual-monitor layout. Drag and move your displays to arrange. You can drag and move displays to change the alignment of your dual monitors. Screenshot by Palash Volvoikar/CNET Once done, you should be able to use your dual-monitor setup with your MacBook without any issues. If you want to improve your desk setup while getting your dual monitors ready, take a look at our roundup of the best home office essentials. We also have a roundup of the best desks you can get, as well as the top standing desks on the market.
CNET
05-05-2025
- Business
- CNET
Best CD Rates - Week of May 5 - May 9, 2025
Top CDs offer up to 4.50% APY – more than three times the national average for some terms. Sarah Tew/CNET If the economic headlines have you stressed, a certificate of deposit can provide some much-needed peace of mind. "CDs offer yield and fixed income, which can be a welcome source of stability in such a volatile political and economic environment," said Noah Damsky, CFA, Principal of Marina Wealth Advisors. "If you're looking to earn a stable income, sleep well at night and avoid the gyrations of the stock market, then CDs can be a great option." But if you want to maximize your returns, you may want to act now. Today's top CDs still earn annual percentage yields (APYs) up to 4.50%, but rates have been slipping despite the Federal Reserve's latest rate pauses. With a recession looming, APYs are likely to keep falling even if the Fed pauses rates again this week as expected. So the sooner you lock in your APY, the greater your earnings could be. Best CD rates this week Term Highest APY* Bank Estimated earnings on $1,000 deposit Estimated earnings on $5,000 deposit Estimated earnings on $10,000 deposit 6 months 4.50% CommunityWide Federal Credit Union $22.25 $111.26 $222.52 1 year 4.40% CommunityWide Federal Credit Union $44.00 $220.00 $440.00 3 years 4.15% America First Credit Union $129.74 $648.69 $1,297.38 5 years 4.20% America First Credit Union $228.40 $1,141.98 $2,283.97 Experts recommend comparing rates before opening a CD account to get the best APY possible. Enter your information below to get CNET's partners' best rate for your area. Top reasons to open a CD today CDs offer many benefits, including: 😌 Low risk CDs held by an FDIC-insured bank or NCUA-insured credit union are protected for up to $250,000 per depositor, institution and account category. That means that if your bank fails, your money is safe. Other investments, like stocks, may potentially yield higher returns over the long term, but they're also volatile, which means you could lose money at any time. 📈 Guaranteed returns Your APY is locked in when you open a CD, unlike with savings accounts, where interest rates can vary at any time. A CD's fixed rate makes it easy to calculate how much interest you'll earn over time and protects your funds from rate drops after you open your account. 💰 Competitive rates Traditional savings accounts offer minimal APYs, sometimes as low as 0.01%. Today's top-yielding CDs have APYs of 4.50% or more, which can make a difference in your interest earnings and help your money keep pace with inflation. ✋ Barrier to access Many CDs, however, charge an early withdrawal penalty if you take your money out before the term ends. This can help you resist the urge to dip into your funds before you need them. A high-yield savings account might be a better fit if… CDs have plenty of perks, but they're not always the right fit for your needs. A high-yield savings account might be a better choice if: 🏧 You want ready access to your funds You'll pay a penalty if you take money out of a CD before it matures. You can withdraw cash from a savings account at any time, free of charge (as long as you mind any monthly withdrawal limits). This makes HYSAs a great fit for an emergency fund. 🫰 You don't have a ton of money to deposit Some CDs require a minimum deposit to open an account, typically $500 to $1,000. If you can't find an account with an attractive APY for the amount you want to deposit, try looking into a high-yield savings account with a low or no minimum deposit. 💵 You want to add funds over time Most CDs only allow a one-time deposit. If you'd like to continue adding money to your savings after you've opened the account, consider a high-yield savings account. 💰You can earn up to 5% APY on today's best high-yield savings accounts. Check out top savings rates now. Methodology CNET reviews CD rates based on the latest APY information from issuer websites. We evaluated CD rates from more than 50 banks, credit unions and financial companies. We evaluate CDs based on APYs, product offerings, accessibility and customer service. The current banks included in CNET's weekly CD averages include Alliant Credit Union, Ally Bank, America First Federal Credit Union, American Express National Bank, Barclays, Bask Bank, BMO Alto, Bread Savings, Capital One, CFG Bank, CIT, CommunityWide Federal Credit Union, Discover, EverBank, First Internet Bank of Indiana, First National Bank of America, Forbright, LendingClub, Limelight Bank, Marcus by Goldman Sachs, MYSB Direct, NexBank, Quontic, Rising Bank and Synchrony. *APYs as of May 2, 2025, based on the banks we track at CNET. Earnings are based on APYs and assume interest is compounded annually.
