Canon
MultiPass MP760: $249
www.canonusa.com

Color laser printing has really come down in price as of late, but it still isn't as affordable as inkjet. And even though you evangelize the TCO advantages of higher-end technologies, there is still heavy demand for the established incumbent. Inexpensive multifunction devices, which generally perform the tasks of printers, copies, scanners, and fax machines, further perpetuate enthusiasm over inkjet printing.

Photo capabilities are also increasingly important both at home and work. Most multifunction products aim squarely at office tasks, though. Canon's MultiPass MP760 bridges the gap between the two environments by combining photo printing, copying, and scanning along with other useful features, such as two-sided printing, in an affordable inkjet package.

The plethora of features enables some pretty interesting functionality. For example, a built-in film adapter holds 35mm slides and negatives for scanning and printing. The MP760 will automatically enhance faded negatives and produce borderless 4"x6" prints. Picture quality rivals that of Canon's dedicated photo printers, which is to say it looks great. A five-tank ink system simultaneously yields vibrant colors and keeps your customer from discarding partially used cartridges, reducing cost.

Extra features include a 2.5" LCD for arranging pictures before they're printed and a memory card reader. Or instead of removing your memory card, plug in a PictBridge-compatible camera to the onboard USB port for direct printing. Priced under $250, the MP760 costs less than many standalone photo printers, yet it wields incredible flexibility. For the customer with eclectic demands, this one sells itself.

Belkin
NE-07 Notebook Carrying Case: $59
www.belkin.com

Attention to detail is what sets one whitebook VAR apart from the competition. Almost anyone can buy notebook components, build them up, and brand their own system. But it's the configuration, support, and accessories that customers invariably remember. A quality notebook carrying case is just one of those extras that come in useful every time someone travels.

Belkin's NE-07 belongs to the company's Studio series, designed for comfort and versatility on the road. The microfiber exterior construction resists scuffing and scratching, which often plagues pricier leather bags. Extra pockets simplify storage and organization of other mobile necessities (pens, business cards, MP3 players, etc.). A non-slip shoulder strap and handle provide two options for toting the bag, which weighs in at a slim 4.2 pounds without road warrior implements.

In addition to mobility, protection is the principal purpose of a case, and Belkin's NE-07 delivers in that regard, too. High-density foam surrounds the notebook cell, providing minor shock protection. You'll want a heavier duty shell if your customer is looking to safeguard against more disastrous accidents. Belkin guarantees the NE-07's workmanship with a lifetime guarantee, although normal wear and tear doesn't count. That's alright—$60 is inexpensive insurance against an abused laptop.

Diamond
XtremeTV PVR 550: $129
www.diamondmm.com

In the world of TV Tuners, compatibility with Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 is almost as important as image quality and connectivity. Diamond (yes, it's back) just released a new tuner product that isn't yet on Microsoft's approved list, but it does come with arguably the best third-party tuning software out there and a functional remote. Better still, it costs about $30 less than competing cards built around ATI's Theater 550 chip.

Instead of ATI's processor, Diamond employs Conexant's CX23416 audio/video encoder. Not quite as advanced from a specification perspective, the CX23416 is still able to PVR TV content with respectable visual quality. The XtremeTV PVR 550 also accepts S-video and composite inputs as well as audio and antenna/cable connections.

Perhaps more interesting than the card itself is SnapStream's Beyond TV 3 software package. Blessed with the ability to intelligently skip over commercials, constantly record in the background, schedule recordings using a WAP-enabled device, such as a cell phone, and stream video across a network, the application suite is mature and stable—important qualities in a PVR package.

Representatives at Diamond confirm that the XtremeTV ships with an MCE 2005-compatible driver and can peacefully switch between Media Center Edition 2005 and Beyond TV 3 on one system. Beyond TV 3 requires a paid subscription after 60 days, but MCE's programming guide remains free indefinitely.

Brother
MW140BT Portable Micro Printer: $399
www.brother.com

Last month we talked fairly extensively about selling printer technology into the SMB space, particularly those products with color laser capabilities. Of course, there's a lot more to printing than those workgroup powerhouses, and Brother's MW140B represents a unique niche for customers who need the capacity to print on the road without having to lug heavy equipment. It's fairly specialized, of course. You won't see the MW140B churning out standard 8.5"x11" pages. But it does wonders with adhesive 4.1"x2.9" name tags, carbon copy paper, and smaller labels. At .7 inches thick and less than 11 ounces with the battery attached, there's no room to load the pages individually. However, paper cassettes feed the print mechanism and include either 50 sheets of thermal paper or 30 sheets for the labels. Because the print head doesn't move, printing is pretty much silent.

Performance is a particularly sensitive issue when it comes to issuing name tags in realtime at a convention or processing receipts on carbon copy paper. Fortunately, the MW140B outputs up to four pages per minute at an impressive 300 dpi, assuming roughly seven percent coverage. According to Brother, the rechargeable lithium ion battery is good for about 100 continuous pages. Suggest an extra for those customers expecting heavier use.

Brother actually manufactures two similar models of this little handheld printer. Both are wireless, but one communicates through infrared and the other employs Bluetooth. The latter option bears a $100 premium that's well worth suggesting. Bluetooth doesn't require line of sight and it's good up to 30 feet away. Infrared isn't so forgiving. Device support for the pair is robust. Moreover, Brother claims compatibility with Windows 98, 2000, ME, and XP, Pocket PC, and Palm operating systems.