Melanie Pinola

New York

Senior Staff Writer at Wirecutter

Senior staff writer at NYT Wirecutter. Previously at Consumer Reports, Zapier, Lifehacker, etc. In a former life I played with code/design and napped well.

Articles

The 2 Best Paper Shredders of 2025 | Reviews by Wirecutter

2 months ago | nytimes.com | Melanie Pinola |Arriana Vasquez

We tested top shredders for use at home and in small offices and found easy-to-use workhorses that can help protect your identity.
The 3 Best Digital Notebooks of 2024

Nov 4, 2024 | nytimes.com | Melanie Pinola

Like many people, I consider the pen to be mightier than the keyboard. Writing by hand on paper is a more satisfying, tactile experience. I tend to focus better with just my pen and the page, and I recall what I write more readily. A digital notebook takes that familiarity and comfort and adds modern conveniences. Imagine hundreds of notes and scribbles and ideas all in one portable device—searchable, convertible to text, and easily shareable.
The 3 Best Standing Desks in 2024

Nov 4, 2024 | nytimes.com | Kaitlyn Wells |Melanie Pinola

No matter how great your office chair is, you’re not doing your body any favors by sitting in it for the whole day. But being on your feet constantly isn’t good for your comfort or health, either. An electric, height-adjustable standing desk provides the best of both worlds. Want a productivity and energy boost? Push a button to raise the desk so you can move a little while working. Feel like leaning back in your chair for some deep focus time? Push another button to lower the desk.
The 7 Best Desk Lamps of 2024

Nov 4, 2024 | nytimes.com | Gregory Han |Melanie Pinola

A great desk lamp can transform your workspace—both functionally and aesthetically. It can reduce eye fatigue and help you better see what you’re working on, and it can set the right mood for getting work done. A great lamp can also be a design statement. After researching over 55 desk lamps and testing 20, we’ve chosen our favorite desk lamps in a variety of styles and prices. LED vs.
The 3 Best Ergonomic Keyboard of 2024

Nov 3, 2024 | nytimes.com | Dave Gershgorn |Melanie Pinola

If you feel like you’re forcing your hands, wrists, elbows, or shoulders into an uncomfortable or unnatural position while typing, an ergonomic keyboard might help. These keyboards trade the traditional straight rows of keys for sweeping curves and obtuse angles, which allow your hands to rest more naturally on the keyboard and support better posture. Every person is different and finds different things comfortable, so there’s no one-size-fits-all ergonomic keyboard.
Our 6 Favorite Paper Planners of 2024

Nov 3, 2024 | nytimes.com | Jackie Reeve |Kaitlyn Wells |Melanie Pinola

You can find plenty of phone apps to help you keep track of your life, but stationery lovers know the power of writing it all down on paper. It’s hard to beat the satisfaction of crossing something off your to-do list with a sharp pencil or a smooth pen. And unlike calendar and to-do list apps, paper planners let you color outside the lines, literally and metaphorically.
The 7 Best Pens of 2024

Nov 1, 2024 | nytimes.com | Melanie Pinola

If you’ve ever had a pen mysteriously wander away from your desk, and then you had to write with a poor substitute (the kind you might find at a bank or with some company’s phone number on it), you know how important it is to have a quality pen. Everything we recommendTop pickUni-ball Jetstream RTThe best everyday ballpoint penWith its fast-drying ink, this pen is our go-to for everyday writing on any kind of paper.
The 3 Best Standing Desk Mats of 2024

Oct 31, 2024 | nytimes.com | Kaitlyn Wells |Melanie Pinola

Just as supportive insoles can make all the difference when you go for a walk, a standing desk mat can be a game changer if you stand at work, even for brief periods. A comfortable mat like the Ergodriven Topo supports your legs and back better than the floor will. And its varied terrain will keep you moving, which experts agree is crucial. This mat is easy to slide in and out of position, and six years of testing have shown it’s built to last.
The 4 Best Mechanical Pencils of 2023

Oct 27, 2024 | nytimes.com | Melanie Pinola

Confession time: I’ve never liked mechanical pencils. The lead breaks as soon as it touches paper, or it never leaves the pencil body in the first place. The thin plastic barrel makes your fingers cramp within a few minutes. And the whole thing rattles like a baby toy. At least, that’s what I remember from my school days of filling in ovals for multiple-choice tests. But if you’ve also had a poor experience with mechanical pencils, it may be time to reconsider.
The 4 Best Mobile Scanning Apps of 2024

Oct 11, 2024 | nytimes.com | Ben Keough |Melanie Pinola

If you’ve been “scanning” by taking smartphone photos of receipts, business cards, book pages, and other items that you want to digitize, we have a better solution. A mobile scanning app can produce clearer and cleaner results—with searchable, editable text, so you can do more with the information you’re capturing. After more than five years of repeated testing, our favorite is the lean, efficient, and free-to-use Adobe Scan (for Android and iOS).