Targus
Laser Wireless Desktop Mouse: $59
www.targus.com

Do you want a great little upsell to go with your custom whitebooks and a good alternative to those wired desktop mice? Check out Targus’s Laser Wireless Desktop Mouse, a compact, clean, easy to use solution that works as advertised and doesn’t cost much. Because it’s based on laser technology with 800 dpi of resolution, Targus claims its mouse offers much higher sensitivity than competing optical mice. The result is more accurate tracking and effective use on a greater number of surfaces, especially the shiny ones. Pre-programming buttons help improve usability even more. Communication between the mouse and its receiver is handled through RF. The technology performs very well, even without line of sight.

There aren’t any unique power management features to speak of. However, the mouse’s batteries are rechargeable through a bundled USB cable, so you don’t have to revert back to a touchpad even if the mouse runs out of juice. Better still, Targus throws in an extension port that serves as a desktop docking bay. Sync up with a quick plug and use the Laser Wireless Desktop Mouse over USB until it’s fully charged once again.

Logitech
Cordless Rumblepad 2: $39
www.logitech.com

If you sell an MCE system with respectable graphics, there’s a good chance your customer is going to do some gaming. Make sure they’re set up with the proper input devices for the task. A Cordless Rumblepad from Logitech very nearly mimics Sony’s Playstation 2, complete with dual analog sticks, vibration feedback, and an eight-way D-pad.

The 2.4 GHz controller transmits up to 30 feet away and lasts up to 100 hours on a pair of AA batteries. It’s compatible with both PCs and Macs. Logitech’s construction is solid—so much so that the company guarantees against defects for one year.

ATI
All-in-Wonder X1800 XL: $499
www.ati.com

There's no question that ATI's All-In-Wonder product family adds value in the form of functionality. TV tuning, remote control, DVD decoding, and certified MCE compatibility are all solid pluses for resellers looking to differentiate. But you might also be surprised to learn that the multimedia lineup also represents an attractive price play.

Based on the Radeon X1800 XL processor, clocked at the same 500 MHz core frequency as ATI’s equivalent desktop board, this All-in-Wonder is a real speed demon in today’s games. It’s paired to 256MB of GDDR3 memory running at the same 500 MHz. What does that mean to resellers? In essence, you can offer a fully-featured Radeon X1800 XL with a boatload of extra features for just $50 more. Anyone prepared to shell out $450 for a graphics card should at least consider the easy upgrade. So what exactly is added? On the hardware side, ATI integrates an analog TV tuner with FM capabilities, its Theater 200 audio and video processor, the back-end of the Avivo display platform, plenty of I/O, and a Remote Wonder Plus controller. Look for Adobe Photoshop Elements 4 and Premiere Elements 2 as the software bundle, along with ATI’s own Multimedia Center suite and Gemstar Guide Plus+ program guide.

There’s another opportunity here for the real videophiles. Because ATI’s All-in-Wonder X1800 XL doesn’t come with the Theater 550 companion chip, it can’t claim full Avivo platform support. However, and this is especially pertinent to your Windows XP MCE 2005 installations, you can add a TV Wonder Elite tuner card, boast dual tuners, and deliver a very compelling media machine. Toss an HDTV Wonder into the mix, enabling reception of over-the-air high-def broadcasts, too.

CRU DataPort
DataPortable 525 Enclosure: $82
www.cru-dataport.com

The external storage game is crowded with hardware vendors bundling compelling backup software with their high-capacity drives. It’d be tough for a reseller to hang in such a market. But CRU-DataPort’s DataPortable 525 is capable of housing more than just your everyday 3.5” hard drive. It’ll also fit a 5.25” CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive using a standard ATA-100 interface.

The enclosure sells in either USB 2.0 or FireWire 400 trim and is fully hot-swappable, according to CRU-DataPort. It comes with a universal AC adapter for convenient power delivery. Plus a built-in fan ensures that if you install a half-terabyte giant, the enclosure won’t overheat. You can even listen to music on a CD-ROM drive through integrated audio jacks. CRU-DataPort also makes a 3.5” version of this enclosure exclusively for home-grown external hard drives. But the idea here isn’t to out-value the OneTouches of the world. That’s a losing proposition given their well-planned application bundles. Rather, integrate top-notch optical drives and offer a unique external burner that your customer can take on the road. The DataPortable is durable and CRU-DataPort guarantees it for up to a year. If anything, it’s at least a unique concept.