Plextor
PX-716AL Dual-Layer DVD Writer: $169
www.plextor.com

When discerning power users shop for optical drives, Plextor's products almost always score the highest marks. Conservative in its release schedule, Plextor pays careful attention to technology maturity and thoroughly tests for compatibility with available optical media. Any time there's an issue, device firmware emerges in short order to rectify the problem.

The latest drive from Plextor should be worry-free because it's based on a previous flagship, the PX-716. Rather than place discs on a tray, this 716AL employs a simple slot-loading mechanism. A black face plate covers the drive to match what seems like the most popular chassis color. Moreover, an especially short length makes for an ideal match to small form factor cases and media center PCs. It's all par for the course considering Plextor's quality reputation. And while all of Plextor's value-added extras sound spicy, technology is what invariably propels the sale. The 716AL leads its class with 6x DVD±R DL burning, 16x ±R capabilities, some of the fastest re-writing specifications, and 48x CD-R speeds. Buffer underrun technology helps protect against failed writes, while AutoStrategy, IntelligentTilt, and PowerRec optimize burning parameters for each piece of media, even those that aren't recognized by the drive's internal catalog.

Plextor bundles Roxio Easy Media Creator 7 with the drive. Though not as powerful as Ahead's Nero 6, Roxio is a very popular mainstream suite with plenty of beginner appeal. A one-year parts and labor warranty covers any manufacturer issues should they arise.

Chief Manufacturing
FSB-105 Multiple Horizontal Table Stand: $340
www.chiefmfg.com

One of the best reasons to buy LCD displays is the instant space savings they offer over CRTs. Customers that use multiple flat panels can conserve even more desktop real estate by consolidating table stands, too. Chief's FSB-105 accommodates two monitors side-by-side at widths up to 28" using a 25" crossbar. Pitch control, 360 degree landscape rotation, and a cable management system give Chief's stand a polished appearance. The finished product, built up with twin LCDs, is very similar to what many other companies sell as a complete package for financial and productivity customers. The setup can even be expanded with an optional bracket for up to four monitors.

BenQ
PB6110 DLP Projector: $799
www.benq.us

It's nearly impossible to beat a projector for mobility and presentation size. Just plug it into a laptop and point it at any white wall, and there's a good chance your audience will get the general gist of what's going on. The same can't be said for a CRT, which has to be dragged from room to room, or a notebook, which is too small for a meeting room full of people.

But BenQ's PB6110 is more than just a projector you'd point at any white wall. It's a DLP unit based on Texas Instruments' latest .55" micro-display, and capable of resolutions up to 1024 x 768 (native resolution is 800 x 600). Most business applications will see the projector interfacing with either a VGA connector from a laptop or a composite cable, although it also accepts component input through the 15-pin port. When used at home, the PB6110 supports both 4:3 and 16:9 aspect ratios. It supports 480p, 720p, and 1080i content. A brightness rating of 1500 lumens and a contrast ratio of 2000:1 are also uncharacteristically high for a value projector.

BenQ's three year warranty is top notch in the industry, even if it's voided out by more than 2920 hours of use in a year. Each lamp is covered for 90 days or 500 hours, whichever comes first. And keep in mind the lamp is rated for 3,000 hours in economy mode, and new bulbs cost $400 from BenQ's online store. Consider upselling spares with projector sales.

Microsoft
Wireless Optical Desktop Comfort Edition: $69
www.microsoft.com

Although we often focus intently on introducing your customers to new technology, ergonomics is an often overlooked consideration when it comes to productivity. And while it isn't very exciting, healthy computing habits are critical for those who work in front of a monitor all day.

Microsoft's Wireless Optical Desktop Comfort Edition is intended to address improper hand positioning. It isn't the drastic split design you'd expect from the original Natural Keyboard. Rather, the keys curve outwards a bit, encouraging wrists to turn and lay on the cushioned palm rest. Artists will appreciate the keyboard's zoom slider, a lever used to magnify images or Web pages without help from the mouse. Several other programmable Favorites keys complement a bevy of predefined functions to further minimize unnecessary mouse movement.

Aesthetically, the mouse closely resembles Logitech's MX1000 laser mouse, one of the best mousing products currently available. Microsoft does a fine job with its offering as well, though. The scroll wheel rolls vertically, as expected, but it also tilts side to side for horizontal scrolling in documents too wide to view in a single screen.

One of the biggest differences between the two setups is that Microsoft still uses alkaline batteries and Logitech's MX1000 is rechargeable. Nevertheless, Microsoft claims that improvements to its wireless technology extend battery life up to six months. The trusted name and heavily discounted price tag should be enough to upsell this combo to anyone with an appreciation for ergonomics.