Many of the UK\’s office workers don smart attire in an effort to impress their bosses, according to new research.

Recruitment consultant Reed carried out a poll of 3,200 employees around the country, finding that over half believe looking sharp will get them ahead.

Furthermore, around 37 per cent of those questioned said they are proud to wear a uniform as it represents their firm\’s brand.

Lewis Woodward, Reed\’s head of network marketing, remarked that the results suggest the old adage \’dress for success\’ continues to ring true.

"It is, however, surprising that so many people feel that wearing smart office attire is still highly relevant in today\’s business climate - and that it is key to advancing their careers," he continued.

Mr Woodward went on to reveal that sartorial staples such as \’comedy ties\’, jeans and trainers are still banned from the majority of the country\’s workplaces.

In another recent office survey, Reed concluded that longer working hours, increased collaboration and more socialising out of hours have led to a growing number of workplace romances.

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A large proportion of the UK\’s offices are waking up to the importance of anti-virus software for computers and laptops, it has emerged.

Tony Neate, the managing director of security specialist Get Safe Online, cited recent statistics revealing that over 90 per cent of individuals are now investing in such computer software - with an even higher proportion of small businesses doing so.

"People are becoming more and more aware of the need to be secure when they are online," he confirmed.

Mr Neate went on to emphasise the importance of assuming a "two-pronged attack" when it comes to computer and laptop protection.

"You need to make sure that your security software is a combined anti-virus and anti-spyware package - a lot of people don\’t know there is a difference," he explained.

The BBC reported earlier this month that the number of malicious programs found online has reached "an unprecedented high".

Get Safe Online previously highlighted that office and home workers who use social networking sites must be careful about the information they give out, as there is currently an increased chance of criminal activity.

Office and home workers across the nation are being urged to make an extra green effort in honour of Energy Saving Day (E-Day), which began yesterday evening.

Set up by a collection of organisations including the National Grid and the country\’s power companies, the experiment is intended to encourage homes and offices to take on climate change in a fun and "evidence-based" manner.

"E-Day is a great opportunity for us all to stop and think before we plug in and power up our gadgets and gizmos," remarked Ann Robinson, director of consumer policy at price comparison service uSwitch.com.

She noted that the UK\’s homes and offices are increasingly dependent on technology and this comes at a high cost "to ourselves and the planet".

As a result, people are being encouraged to turn off computers, laptops and other gadgets which are not in use, while simply turning off the office lights can also make a huge environmental difference.

Recent research by printer manufacturer Lexmark indicated that individuals who work from home have higher standards than their office-based counterparts when it comes to going green.

Kodak will launch its Colorflow computer software at a major print fair this year, it has emerged.

Germany\’s drupa conference will be the setting for the printer product\’s introduction to the wider office world.

According to Kodak, the firm\’s latest solution provides "integrated colour control" across all printer models, including inkjet proofers, scanner devices, monitors and both conventional and digital presses.

"With Colorflow software, users can meet the print buyer\’s expectations while eliminating the hidden costs that can reduce profitability," remarked Arjen Van Der Meulen, director of colour at Kodak\’s graphic communications group.

The Kodak representative went on to explain that the computer software reduces the number of approvals, remakes and press runs required by office professionals and home workers to establish accurate colour.

He also noted that the software enhances the firm\’s Spotless Printing Solution by improving spot colour recipes and n-colour profiles for image separation.

In a recent effort to encourage the re-purposing of old printer models, Kodak launched a contest for people to "express their frustration creatively" with expensive ink cartridges.

One of Lexmark\’s popular laser printer models has received glowing praise from a leading computing publication.

PC World placed the E352dn printer in its top five black-and-white selection as a result of its speed, "expandability" and quality.

"The Lexmark E352dn delivers high-quality output rapidly, giving customers the ability to execute with speed, move information faster and increase their productivity," confirmed Marty Canning, Lexmark vice-president.

He added his firm\’s pleasure at being recognised for the "impressive performance and broad range of features" of the printer.

Printing at speeds of up to 35 pages per minute, the printer features \’instant warm-up fuser\’ technology, which reduces printing time to as little as 6.5 seconds.

Also network-ready, the printer includes a \’quiet mode\’ function to help minimise unwanted noise.

Lexmark representatives have previously highlighted the model\’s energy-saving qualities, as it is equipped with standard two-sided printing to help office professionals and home workers reduce paper usage.

The firm also recently scooped the Better Buys for Business Innovative Product of the Year prize for 2007 for its C935 series of colour laser printer products.

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Employees in one office across the pond have set up a \’green team\’ as part of their efforts to become more eco-friendly.

According to representatives for the American Society of Travel Agents (Asta), the internal task force is part of a drive to conserve energy, reduce workers\’ carbon footprint and cut waste and operating costs.

Cheryl Hudak, chief executive of the organisation, explained that her team is "dedicated" to boosting the green credentials of the office.

"Preserving this beautiful planet and her amazing destinations for future generations is one of the biggest responsibilities travel professionals have," she remarked.

"But before we can ask others to take action, we must first practise what we preach in our own offices."

Some of the green team\’s duties include providing information on recycling, using green printer products, energy conservation, using biodegradable packaging material and home-based working.

In a recent poll carried out by office supplies giant Staples, it was revealed that only 23 per cent of people in the US recycle e-waste such as old electronics, laptop and computer devices.

A new blow was struck in the battle between laptop manufacturers to create the smallest, thinnest and lightest notepad PC this week.

Lenovo\’s new ThinkPad X300 – unveiled on Monday – is just 0.92 inches (23 millimetres) thick at its widest point, and weighs 2.93 pounds (1.33 kilos).

That means that it is still some way behind the ultrathin MacBook Air, which is a mere 0.72 inches (18.3 millimetres) thick at its widest point, but Lenovo argues that the wider range of features make the new ThinkPad a more practical tool than the super-high concept Apple product.

The new ThinkPad comes with three USB drives and a DVD burner, while the MacBook has only one USB drive and no optical unit, which Lenovo believes will make it more popular with business users.

Lenovo\’s new super-compact laptop also has power consumption 25 per cent lower than any of its ThinkPad predecessors.

This is due in large part to Intel\’s Core 2 Duo SL7100 LV low voltage chipset, which processes at a power supply of only 12 watts, giving longer battery life.

Japanese electronics giant Sony has this week unveiled a new model in its Cyber Shot W series range of digital cameras.

The Cyber Shot W300 is being marketed as the toughest camera in its field, with a scratch-resistant titanium coating that will keep it looking pristine no matter what punishment it is subjected to.

The camera will go on sale across Europe in April, and will feature a host of other new features.

In particular, EX High-Speed Burst Mode permits high speed photography of up to five shots per second, making it ideal for photographing sports and other fast-paced activities.

The W300 also has an HD output, allowing pictures to be viewed on any high-definition output device, and Intelligent Scene Recognition will help even the newest photographer to pick the best settings for the lighting conditions and type of shot being taken.

The camera even feature\’s Sony\’s "smile shutter" – a device that waits until the subject is definitely smiling before taking a snap.

Canon\’s new Pixma MP470 multifunction printer has been given the thumbs-up by PC Advisor magazine.

The latest addition to Canon\’s large and ever-growing Pixma range of printers is a multifunctional, inexpensive and practical unit, which comes with a basic price tag of around £74.

An all-in-one inkjet photo printer, the MP470 has a sleek black and silver body, complete with a flip-up 1.8 inch LCD screen on top.

PC Advisor concludes that the MP470 is good value for money, although not without design flaws, declaring "the Canon Pixma MP470\’s design shortcomings should be easy for many people to forgive, considering everything the MFP offers for the price."

Just last month, Canon launched the Pixma MX7600, debuting its PgR ink technology, permitting very high quality printing on ordinary paper.

Speaking at the time of the new device, Mogens Jensen, head of Canon Consumer Imaging, Europe, said: "With the announcement of PIXMA MX7600, Canon brings a revolutionary and highly competitive product to the marketplace."

Toshiba is to introduce a range of TVs capable of 1080p resolution and 100hz picture processing capacity - which it claims will offer a smoother televisual experience.

The TZ range will also offer a variety of screen sizes, which include 40-inch, 46-inch and 52-inch sets. However, prices have not yet been confirmed.

According to the manufacturer, TZ TVs will produce 24 frames a second and be sold under the firm\’s Regza brand. The model will also boast a contrast ratio of 30,000:1.

The high definition sets will also include S Video, digital audio outputs and three HDMI imports.

In related news, Toshiba\’s vice president of marketing - Scott Ramirez - said recently that the Regza range had enjoyed commercial success over the course of the last six months.

"The acceptance of Regza in the marketplace has been stunning," he said, adding that "the combination of high quality you can trust, leading technology to take you into the future, and true consumer value, is making Regza the smart choice".