The LG Libero Monitor is one of the most unique full-fledged monitors I have seen in a long time. LG has worked completely outside the box with this one, keeping in mind those who work in a cubicle or office space, as well as those using a monitor for home working. 

Most monitors come with a stand that attaches to a bracket at the back. This stand can be used as is or removed to allow Vesa mounting, available on newer monitors. As popular as that style is, LG chose to drop that standard entirely with the Libero.

With the Libero monitor, there is no stand with an arm that attaches to the back of the monitor. Instead, the whole monitor sits on your desk or desk shelf, with an arm that folds down and perpendicular to the monitor to hold it upright. LG recognized then that the back of this monitor would be entirely exposed, so they moved ports to the right side and gave the back of the display a unique fabric-like patterned back.

The arm can also pivot and extend away from the screen to enhance its functionality, forming a handle, as shown in the photos. Once put in this mode, I was able to flip the entire display upside down and use included hooks to mount the display on a partition wall, removing any needed desk-space for the monitor, allowing all of the available space to be used for whatever may be required, while keeping a fully functional display.

Unboxing and First Impressions

The moment LG announced this display, I was incredibly interested. I have not seen one like this in production. It's a new business monitor style, and I was excited to get on one.

Now that I've had some time to play around with it, I can see what all the hype was about. This display breaks the mold of what I think of when I think of desk setups and monitors in the business world. Usually, I think about utilizing desk shelves or monitor arms to get monitors up and off the small cubicle desks, or I ask myself how I can draw the slightest attention to the display's back as I try to ignore it altogether.

With the LG Libero monitor, I find myself fascinated with the fabric-like patterned design on the back, and I want to show it off. Or, at minimum, I see myself coming up with new setups for this kind of monitor.

The detachable camera can be attached to either orientation of the monitor, which is brilliant since depending on which mode I use this monitor, the entire device flips upside down.

The Libero also has built-in speakers, which are pretty good. No, I wouldn't want to listen to music all day through them, but these speakers did fine for a virtual meeting, a quick video, or some background lo-fi in the office for a writing session.

Design and Build Quality

As I have mentioned above, this monitor's design is unlike any other I have seen. The ability to sit on a desk as a focus point rather than something to display a focus point is unique. 

With a desk facing an open area, I no longer feel the need to try and hide the back of the monitor because the rear design here is beautiful. In an office setting, I could easily pop this monitor off the desk completely, no longer fighting for desk space when trying to add a monitor, especially one at an ergonomic height.

Every piece feels well-built. Even the rotating arm that functions as a hang point and kickstand feels premium. There is no wobble, creaking, or concern from me as I trust it to hold my beloved display.

The detachable webcam is another area that surprised us. It's so easy (essentially using a reinforced USB-C port) to plug in and unplug that I occasionally pop it off when not using it to experience the cleaner design. The Full HD webcam is good quality, nothing extraordinary, but good enough to work well for virtual meetings, especially with how easy it is to set up and use.

While I understand why LG went with such a minimal port offering for this display, part of me wishes it could also have a USB-A for quick access to a drive or to charge a device. But, again, I get why LG chose not to include this.

There is also a part of me that wishes there was some way to Vesa mount this if desired, but every option I come up with, short of pulling off the entire back fabric panel, makes the display less aesthetically pleasing. 

In Use

I have loved having this display out and visible in my home. I have moved it around quite a bit, and I like it regardless of where I have it. It's clean and simple enough that it feels like it belongs wherever it goes. I usually use this as a "hot desk," meaning I don't leave my desk set up with this display. I bring my MacBook Air, iPad Pro, or whatever laptop I am testing to this display, plug it in, get to work, then unplug it and walk away. I have yet to build a massive setup around this display. Part of that is because it doesn't need it. 

I have recently loved utilizing this display because I have hooked up an Apple TV to the HDMI and tucked the Apple TV under a desk shelf or hidden away. Then, I let the Apple TV display some beautiful nature screensavers and family photos, or I can watch whatever I want with AirPlay or the remote. If this monitor could gain AirPlay or GoogleOS, or something like that in the future, it could become a seamless art piece and aesthetic addition to any space that could convert into a multitasking dream on the fly.

One final impressive feature I will talk about is the companion software through the LG Switch App. You can install this app on your computer to help the monitor gain even more functionality. It helps with multitasking and can even help set shortcuts for video calls. Just one more way that the Libero can become a productivity powerhouse.

Final Verdict

The LG Libero has lived up to my hopes and wishes since the announcement. It's such a unique monitor that helps solve the problem of desk space in a cubicle while also making what is usually a dull monitor back fun and exciting. 

Yes, I am dreaming of what a Gen 2 or upgraded model could look like, but that is only because the unique design has altered how I think of monitors now, and maybe that's a good thing.

The Ergo Electric Standing Desk from Vari is a slight variation from the previously-reviewed Electric Standing Desk, and is from the same company that released the highly-rated Essential Electric Standing Desk, Task Chair, the Pro Plus 36, as can be seen in our guide to the best standing desk converter, and more.

The Ergo Electric Standing Desk is another step in that direction towards the best standing desk, as unlike other products on the market today, this has a beveled front which my forearms greatly appreciate. Having this softer and lowered edge means that while working away all day, my forearms rest on a flat surface, not a 90-degree corner.

Outside of this change, the only notable difference we have seen is the inclusion of some cable grommets in the desk towards the back corners, one on each side.

Unboxing and First Impressions

Much like the Electric Standing Desk, I could set up the Ergo Electric Standing Desk in minutes. Within 10 minutes of unboxing this desk, I was set up and picking height presets. Not only was this build fast, but it was also straightforward. The instructions were incredibly helpful, and all the pieces fit together without hard work or struggle.

Design and Build Quality

As we have come to expect with all Vari products, the Electric Standing Desk is built very well and from high-quality materials. The joints fit perfectly for the desk's connection to the legs, the wood top is beautiful and perfectly cut, and the pre-drilled holes for assembly and accessories are in all the right places.

The smooth, rounded, waterfall-esque edge only took my wrists about five seconds to get used to. I immediately noticed a difference in my overall wrist and forearm fatigue, and I miss the softened edge when switching back to my other desks.

While testing, I have tried out my fair share of desk setups on this desk, including multi-monitor setups, single ultrawide monitors, with all the desk fixings you could ever hope for, and found no issue with weight distribution or crowdedness.

Finally, the last thing I will say about the Vari Electric Standing Desk is that the actual desktop itself is also beautiful - I chose the Darkwood color, and it is gorgeous.

In Use

The Electric Standing Desk has been great to use so far. The main thing I appreciate about this desk more than anything else is the flagship waterfall front edge. Giving my forearms a break has been much more significant than expected. I still use my other desks too. I have eight desk setups in my basement office (Yes, I know that's excessive), all set up to test different desks, monitors, chairs, accessories, and laptops. I return to the waterfall front desk for long writing sessions or long times of extended work, either sitting or standing, simply so I can feel some relief on my forearms.

In selecting my desk build, I decided to explore the accessory options available from Vari fully. While I had already chosen an ergonomic desk, I was curious to see how other gear would work with it to help extend my working experience. 

First, I chose to pick up the ergonomic ActiveMat, which is designed to keep you moving while standing on it, almost like a fidget toy for your feet, while also giving great points to stretch on.

For desk storage, I picked up the Hanging Desk Cubby, the standard File Cabinet, and I am using the bag hooks that came with the desk. Beyond this, I was also curious about what kind of desktop accessories I could get with this desk. I picked up the LED Task Lamp + Wireless Charger to add light and a wireless charging option to my desk. Lastly, I wanted to add more ports, so I grabbed the Vari Power Hub. Altogether, this creates quite a powerful desk with both legitimate power options and storage options.

While Vari may not have these kinds of accessories built into the desk, they come as recommended when you buy the desk, making them a close enough extension of the desk to consider while considering what desk to buy.

Final Verdict

Vari has knocked it out of the park again with the Electric Standing Desk. The build quality with Vari gear is always top-notch, the accessories make the desk as functional as it is aesthetically beautiful, and the desk itself is gorgeous. If you are looking for a desk and find your forearms always have marks or are sore from leaning against the desk corner while typing, check out Vari's Ergo Electric Standing Desk as your next desk.

I remember the first moment I saw the LG DualUp announced. I was fascinated with the aspect ratio and what it could do for productivity. Beyond productivity, I was fascinated by what this monitor could do professionally. After using this monitor for a month now, I consider this one of the best business monitors ever made. 

I've been a big fan of vertical monitors for years and have had a vertical display in at least one of my desk setups for just as long. I have been toying with stacked monitors recently, and I love the smaller footprint while getting more screen real estate.

The LG DualUp is the best of both of those worlds. I get the vertical screen real estate I love from a classic 16:9 monitor turned vertically while also getting the width I am used to from a standard 16:9 monitor. Better yet, I get all of this while only needing one input, one power supply, and I get it all with a fantastic ergonomic monitor arm. 

Unboxing and First Impressions

When I unboxed this monitor, my first thought was that I was almost giddy. This display is exactly what I wanted for all these years. It felt huge yet completely manageable at the same time. It looked practically square with its 16:18 aspect ratio, something I was not surprised by. But it was wild to see it in person. Unlike old-school 3:2 aspect ratios, this one was off-square by being taller, increasing vertical productivity.

The second thing that stood out right away was the port options. There are two HDMI ports, a DisplayPort, a USB-C Upstream, two USB-A ports, a USB-B port (for KVM Switching the USB-A ports to one of the HDMI ports or the DisplayPort), a headphone jack, and a power port.

The impressive Ergo Arm was the third element I was thrilled to see. Yes, I could use any number of Vesa arms with this monitor as well, but the fact that this doesn't come with a basic stand but comes with a fantastic Ergonomic stand with two arms, a main upright that can adjust height and swivel, and then a connector to the monitor that can swivel too means that this monitor can be dialed into the perfect position without any problems.

Design and Build Quality

The build quality overall is excellent for this monitor for home working or the office. The product is made from high-end materials. The ports are sturdy and well-placed, and the ergo arm is highly adjustable but still sturdy and secure.

The best part about this monitor, even better than the outstanding ergonomic arm, is the screen's usability. LG has made it so that the screen can be used as a single display, displaying content from one input, or it can run picture in picture, which is super helpful if you need to reference a screen but nothing more, or you can run picture by picture. Both are familiar features, but picture by picture on a monitor like this gives two 16:9 monitors on top of each other. 

So, you can run your referencing screen on the top and your work laptop on the bottom. Or, your camera preview is direct to the top half, and your laptop screen is on the bottom. The combinations are endless. I've even used this to test computers by having a desktop PC run to the top half of the screen while running my typical setup on the bottom half. When used this way, as picture by picture, the LG DualUp takes two 22" monitors and stacks them on top of one another without any bezel.

In Use

Using this monitor for the last two months has been truly fantastic. Every other monitor I use now feels short after using this screen for so long. I can throw reference materials up top while writing on the bottom portion, split the screen up to 6ths, thirds, or just floating windows, and because of the orientation, I can fit so much more content than even a standard ultrawide.

I also have loved using this at my home office setup because I can easily route my work laptop and personal laptop to this display and switch between them quickly or have them both on the screen simultaneously.

This monitor's other absolutely knockout feature must be the ergo arm. I am used to relying on monitor arms to get the display to where I want it, but with the built-in ergo arm on the DualUp, I can position this monitor exactly where I want it every time and easily adjust for a closer look or a change of setup.

Final Verdict

This monitor is unique. If you are a simple computer user, you may not enjoy the change in aspect ratio. However, if you are a power user and want to get the best out of your computer by giving access to more usable screen real estate, this monitor might just become your new favorite accessory.

Most popular email platforms are free to use. But, nothing is really free. In exchange for using these tools, you agree to let the owner harvest your data for advertising purposes to earn money. There’s a popular saying that “If you’re not paying, then you’re the product”.

A lot of people aren’t comfortable with giving their data to third parties that can use it to improve advertising algorithms or sell the data directly to other people. Hence, they seek the best secure email providers as alternatives, and Kolab Now is a suitable one.

Kolab Now was founded in 2013 by Apheleia IT AG, the same company behind the Kolab open-source software suite. The company is based in Switzerland and its secure email platform became popular in the aftermath of global surveillance leaks in 2013. It has built a solid reputation as one of the most secure email alternatives in operation.

Kolab Now: Plans and pricing

Kolab Now doesn’t have a free plan, which is a disadvantage. But it offers a 30-day free trial for new subscribers to its premium plans. You can choose from two plans; Just Email and Full Kolab.

The Just Email plan costs 5 Swiss Francs ($5.5) per month. It gives you access to 5 GB of storage, end-to-end encryption, and a responsive web client. The Full Kolab plan costs 9.9 Swiss Francs ($11) monthly. It gives you access to all the features of the Just Email plan plus extra features such as a voice and video conferencing tool and third-party integrations.

Kolab Now’s pricing is similar to that of its main competitors like Proton Mail and Tutanota. 

Kolab Now: Features

Kolab Now offers many beneficial features, including:

End-to-end email encryption

End-to-end encryption is a security protocol that prevents third parties from accessing information while it’s in transit from one server to another. Your email’s contents are encrypted on Kolab Now’s mail servers and can only be decrypted on the recipient’s mail server. If someone were to intercept the contents in transit, they’ll be useless because that person doesn’t have the encryption keys.

Thanks to end-to-end encryption, not even Kolab Now can access your emails. They won’t be able to provide it if any legal body requests for it.

Two-factor authentication

Two-factor authentication is a security feature that requires two modes of identification before granting access to your account. The first mode is your password and the second is a one-time code sent to your smartphone. You can download a companion two-factor authentication app for Kolab Now on your smartphone, and you'll receive a code each time you want to access your account. 

The essence of this feature is preventing an unauthorized party from accessing your account even if they somehow get the password.

Calendar

Kolab Now gives users access to a calendar app. Users can create calendars to plan their schedules rigorously. They can create multiple calendars for different activities, e.g., one for workdays and another for weekends. You can share your calendar with other Kolab Now users, e.g., colleagues and family members.

Contacts

You can store and manage contacts on Kolab Now. You can easily create contacts and organize them. Whenever you need information about a certain contact, just open the tool and check for where you saved them. Kolab Now lets you import contacts from other contact management apps.

Voice and video conferencing

Kolab Now offers voice and video conferencing tools, although they’re still in the beta stage. The company is testing these features to identify any bugs and perfect them for users. 

You can launch voice or video calls with other Kolab Now users at the click of a button; you just need to grant the web app access to your camera and microphone for it to work. When you press the Voice & Video button, you'll see a screen that'll assist you in configuring your camera and mic; you can test them at this point. Afterward, you can start calling.

Kolab Now has a simple voice/video calling interface similar to what you’ll find on the likes of Zoom and Google Meet. Just like its competitors, Kolab Now allows you to share your screen for other people on the calls to see. As an administrator, you can control who is allowed to tune into your meeting.

Because this feature is still in the beta stage, you might experience occasional bugs. Feel free to report any to Kolab Now’s team so that they can fix it.

Alias addresses

An alias is an alternate email address that forwards to your main address. It uses the same prefix as your main email but with a “+” button followed by a word, e.g., John+Facebook@kolabnow.com or John+Amazon@KolabNow.com. It’s a creative way to interact with other people or apps while hiding your main email address. 

Kolab Now: Interface and use

Kolab Now has an intuitive and simple interface that you’ll likely find easy to navigate. It’s primarily a web-based tool. There’s no native mobile or desktop app, which puts it at a disadvantage compared to the competition. 

Kolab Now: Support

Kolab Now offers direct support to all subscribers. You can open tickets by filling out the support form or by messaging the company's support address directly. There’s also a Knowledge Base with details about all the platform’s features; you can consult this page for a potential solution before seeking direct support.

Kolab Now doesn’t offer direct telephone support.

Kolab Now: Competition

Proton Mail is the main competitor to Kolab Now that we’ll like to highlight. This app gives you access to a wider range of features; a Proton Mail subscription also includes access to a virtual private network (VPN) service, cloud storage, and a calendar. It also has a mobile app, unlike Kolab Now. The drawback is that Proton Mail is a more expensive tool.

Kolab Now: Final verdict

Kolab Now is an ideal choice if you want a simple and secure email platform. It protects your email contents vigorously and prevents any third party from accessing your data. The main drawbacks are that the platform has no mobile app and there’s no free plan.  

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