Hitachi
Deskstar 7K400: $395
www.hitachigst.com

There’s no doubt about it—hard drive capacity is one of the most compelling specifications when it comes to selling storage. Do your customers want the ability to record hours of television content on their media center systems? Will a light-duty server be responsible for backing up multiple clients? Hitachi’s Deskstar combines great flexibility with today’s ultimate in capacity, a staggering 400GB.

The 7K400 spins at 7,200 RPM and packs an industry standard 8MB data buffer for crisp operation. A FDB (fluid dynamic bearing) spindle motor means that the drive is also significantly quieter than many competing storage products that still use traditional ball bearing motors. FDB motors inherently provide better shock resistance and greater speed control, as well.

Available in both Serial ATA and ATA-133 interfaces, the Deskstar is universally interoperable. However, you’ll want to advise your customers that large capacity drives, such as the 400GB Hitachi, often aren’t properly recognized in software. Thus, they’ll need to download the latest BIOS for their motherboard and ensure that they are at least running Windows XP Service Pack 1.

Hitachi guarantees the 7K400, along with all of its other Deskstar products, for up to three years. An online warranty pre-check, available at hitachigst.com, allows your customer to troubleshoot their drive, check warranty duration, and initialize an RMA request. With all of that support, there’s no reason to joke around and call the Hitachi drive a Deathstar, even if you really love Star Wars.

Kensington
WiFi Finder Plus: $29
www.kensington.com

There are far worse inconveniences than waiting two minutes while your laptop boots up in order to check a hotel’s wireless Internet connection. But when you spend your mornings at Starbucks, afternoons on a trade show floor, and evenings in airport terminals, those minutes start piling up. Kensington’s WiFi Finder Plus is a keychain-sized sensor that detects the presence of 802.11b/g and Bluetooth networks, filtering out other 2.4 GHz interference in the process.

More specifically, six LEDs indicate the signal strength of available 2.4 GHz 802.11 hotspots, while a separate light senses Bluetooth devices nearby. It won’t tell you if wireless networks are WEP- or WPA-protected, but it does feature a built-in flashlight, for what that’s worth. The WiFi Finder is backed by a one year warranty.

ASUS
Vento 3600 Chassis: $159
www.asus.com

Most flamboyantly designed cases cry out for attention. ASUS’s Vento 3600 doesn’t need to. Hunkered down on widened haunches, you’ll immediately notice styling cues borrowed from Ferrari’s Enzo race car. If you think that’s stretching too far, consider that the Vento’s gaping front ducts are functional intakes. An 80mm fan sits just inside the chassis and pulls cool air, while white LED lighting accents those vent holes with a classy glow.

The Vento’s aggressive appearance is complemented by remarkable ease-of-use. Its side panel comes off with the twist of a knob, drives all slide in, secured by clips, and the rear-facing PCI slot covers snap on and off. The only time you’ll need a screwdriver is to secure an ATX motherboard.

ASUS bundles one 120mm exhaust fan that pushes heated air out of the case. A special side duct further encourages proper cooling by channeling outside air over the processor. Other amenities include an intrusion sensor, a removable hard drive cage, and a cable management system in the back. The externally accessible drive bays are all covered by a gull wing-style cover, which rises up over the case to reveal four 5.25" spaces and one 3.5" floppy bay.

ASUS’s Vento 3600 isn’t for everyone, but customers who show an interest in gaming hardware will walk away from the case, looking over their shoulders as if it were a new car. At $159 without a power supply, this is definitely high-end hardware intended for a fringe crowd with money to spend on good looks.

Microsoft
Small Business Server 2003: $599/$1,499
www.microsoft.com

Many businesses run simple peer-to-peer networks that allow communication between computers for file and print sharing. Perhaps they’ve put off upgrading to dedicated server hardware because of the cost. Maybe they don’t know what a more structured network environment could provide. Microsoft Small Business Server 2003 is the perfect entry-level solution for that customer to get his feet wet.

The small business component of Microsoft’s Windows Server family is simply loaded with value. To begin, it includes Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition, priced separately at $999. You’ll also get Exchange Server 2003, normally another $699. Windows SharePoint Services, Outlook 2003, and Routing and Remote Access Services come with the Standard Edition of SBS, too. And if those prices aren’t enough to sell the software package, perhaps it’d help to pitch secure, remote access, built-in automatic backup support, and Web site hosting capabilities to your small business client.

The Premium Edition adds Microsoft’s SQL Server 2000 database system, Front Page 2003 for Web development, and the ISA Server 2000 network security tool. Granted, it’s a little bit more expensive, but customers looking to run custom line-of-business software will surely benefit from the beefier SQL Server software.