Melanie Pinola

Melanie Pinola is a Wirecutter senior staff writer covering all things home office. She has contributed to print and online publications such as The New York Times, Lifehacker, and PCWorld, specializing in tech, productivity, and lifestyle/family topics. She’s thrilled when those topics intersect—and when she gets to write about them in her PJs.

May 15, 2011 ... The Poppy Cannon of our time, then, may be Melanie Pinola, a coder and freelance writer for About.com and Lifehacker, who describes herself ......

For the 2020 tax year, we recommend filing electronically and early with either IRS Free File by TurboTax, TurboTax Free Edition, or H&R Block Free Online, depending on your situation.
Doing your taxes might never be fun, but the right tool can turn the worst annual chore into a manageable—and dare we say, rewarding—afternoon. The best tax software makes sure you get all the credits and deductions you deserve without dragging you through forms hell. After testing six online tax apps updated f...

On March 7, 2019, Myrna M. DeLeon passed away, days before her 65th birthday. “Her death was completely unexpected,” said her daughter and my brother-in-law’s wife, Casey. In the emotional aftermath for the family, one thing made the grieving process less stressful: Myrna’s “in case of death” preparations. She had filed important documents in a safe and kept a categorized “little black book of information.”
“She was a nurse who was organized in the operating room, and she took that skillset o...

Many cheap office chairs make you feel like you’ve been crammed into a torturous economy seat on a cross-country flight, but quality office chairs upgrade you to first class—they’re designed to support your body comfortably for the long haul. We’ve researched dozens of office chairs, interviewed four ergonomics experts, and asked test panelists with a variety of body types to sit in deliberation for over 175 collective hours. And since 2015, we’ve found that the Steelcase Gesture is the best ...

There’s no conclusive evidence that ergonomic keyboards can prevent injury, and if you experience serious pain or have been diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome or any repetitive-stress injury (RSI), see your doctor before purchasing a new keyboard as a form of treatment. For everyone else, however, ergonomic keyboards can be more comfortable than traditional keyboards if you’re typing all day long.
The Microsoft Sculpt Ergonomic Keyboard keeps your wrists and arms in a relaxed, neutral posi...

Office headsets meet a very specific need: You want to take or make calls from your computer, and you want to hear and be heard over the distracting noise that surrounds you (whether that noise comes from a busy office full of coworkers or a home office full of kids and pets). Wireless headsets can connect to your phone and allow you to talk even when you’re dozens of feet away from your desk. Less expensive wired headsets eliminate battery-life concerns and stress over potential Bluetooth is...

Does more bars really mean better mobile service? Are ones really gone forever once you empty the trash? PopMech tackles some of the most frustrating falsehoods of the digital age...

Online tools make it easy, efficient, and surprisingly fun to work with others over the web....

Articles authored by Melanie Pinola

My posts on Lifehacker

Dear Lifehacker,
My wireless contract just expired. Now that I'm free to use any mobile carrier, I'm wondering: Which is really the best for me? I need reliable service, of course, but I also want to get the best value and features. Please help me decide.
Signed,
Cell Service Shopper
Dear Cell,
Picking a wireless provider can definitely be tough. Every service claims to be the best in some regard—fastest, largest, cheapest, highest in customer satisfaction, and so on—and cellphone plans typic...