Notebook Accessories

Antec Notebook Cooler Pearl
$39.95
www.antec.com

Whether or not you think pearl is the new black, we think this unit is pretty sexy...for an accessory that exists to be covered up. The pad measures 0.85" thick and weighs 1.6 pounds. Low power consumption processors or not, modern notebooks still get uncomfortably warm. The Antec Notebook Cooler has two 2,500 RPM fans sandwiched between aluminum ventilation grilles. With less than 26 dB of sound output, the device is whisper quiet. Power is drawn from the notebook's USB port, but Antec makes the connector into a pass-through so you don't lose the use of the port.

Ironically, the Notebook Cooler depends on having ventilation on the top and bottom, which is why Antec recommends that you don't use it on your lap. Moreover, it may take some experimentation to position the fans correctly under the CPU for maximum benefit. However, with this done on a hard surface, the cooler can drop the interior temperature of a notebook by several degrees Celsius, which can help improve the computer's longevity. Of course, if you remember to spread your legs a bit, it still might prove useful on your lap.

APC UPB60 Universal Notebook
Battery
$149.99
www.apc.com

Years ago, we fell in love with the Electrovaya PowerPad, a thin, Li-Ion battery that delivered hours of extra notebook runtime on the road or in the air. The problem with the PowerPad was its price and the fact that ElectroVaya doesn't have the size to do much in the way of a channel program. A better alternative may be the Universal Notebook Battery from APC. While not as attractive as the PowerPad, this 10" x 6.5" x 0.6", 2-pound slab comes with a wide range of notebook power tips. Four LEDs on the bottom indicate battery level.

The UPB60 supplies 60W of power and can deliver anywhere from two to six hours of additional uptime, depending on the notebook, its configuration, and how it's being used. Obviously DVD playback at maximum brightness takes more drastic toll than word processing with effective power saving in place. Also note that the UPB60 can serve to charge your regular notebook battery during operation or even if the laptop is not in use. For those who travel in coach and don't have the luxury of a power outlet in their seat, an add-on like the UPB60 can be an absolute life-saver.

D-Link DWL-G730AP Travel Router
$69
www.dlink.com

Say you and two colleagues land at a hotel for a trade show. The room has one 10/100 jack, but that's not much help for your group's three notebooks, two PDAs, wireless music server (hey, why not?), and other Wi-Fi gear. The DWL-G730AP can turn that single hotel LAN port into a 54 Mbps 802.11g router able to service all of your devices. The G370AP can also do double duty as an access point or client adapter. Simply select the desired mode on the unit's bottom.

Better yet, the travel router is unbelievably compact: 0.25" thick through most of its body and just 0.11 pound. Despite the tiny size, the menu functionality is almost identical to other D-Link SOHO routers, including SSID disabling, port mapping, URL blocking, firewalling, filtering, WPA-PSK security, and so on. While reception range isn't as good as the specs indicate, for once that's a good thing. Users can throttle down the reception range further in order to keep nearby and undesired wireless users off the router. Alas, a 10/100 LAN jack in this unit would have been a nice touch, but the trade-off is that the G730AP is entirely line-powered from a USB port. For the price, you couldn't offer road warriors a hotter deal.

Targus 15.4" Cotton Canvas
Notebook Backpack
$49.99
www.targus.com/us

In a world full of black leather and nylon, sometimes all it takes is a different color to create a wholly new value proposition. In this case, Targus' olive green canvas backpack isn't particularly exceptional in its design. The company's Matrix or Global Executive backpacks are more interesting in terms of features. But the canvas unit covers all the necessaries, costs less, and conveys a much clearer sense of “outdoorsiness" while still looking professional. The interior is entirely done in hunter's orange, which can be a shock to the eyes but definitely stands out in an SUV of camp gear and lets you know for sure when a flap has been left open.

The backback fits most notebooks with up to 15.4" screens, which is the top end of what most highly mobile folk are likely to tote about. The internal notebook sheath is heavily padded, and there are plenty of pockets for everything from pens to a cell phone to an MP3 player, and so on. You might just sell more of this case than any other, not because it's better (although you can't argue with Targus quality and its lifetime warranty) but because it's different.

Xantrex Pocket Powerpack 100
$119
www.xantrex.com

There are external batteries and there are power inverters. This is the first product we've seen that effectively blends the two into one product. The heart of this two-piece unit is the 100W (max; 80W continuous) NiMH battery pack, which delivers enough juice to power an average Centrino notebook for nearly 2.5 hours. So long as you watch the power draw, you should be able to fuel a notebook and up to two additional smaller gadgets from the battery's integrated AC power outlet. Of course, the Powerpack doesn't have to be for keeping devices powered up; it's also a great way to recharge handheld essentials. When the Xantrex battery needs recharging, just snap it into the bundled base unit and plug the base into the wall. Both pieces together measure 6.5" x 3.75" x 2.0" and weigh 2.4 pounds.

The cool thing about the Powerpack 100 is that there are no special notebook tips or DC-to-AC converters needed. Its compact size and fairly light weight make it a shoo-in for long haul air or train travelers.

Peripheral Grab Bag

ALK CoPilot Live | Smartphone 6
Bluetooth
$299
www.alk.com

There comes a point when a display is simply too small for the application running on it, and some might argue that running GPS software on a cell phone is simply asking for frustration. And in some cases, we'd agree. ALK's CoPilot Live | Smartphone is not one of them. Using the bundled Bluetooth GPS receiver, we ran ALK's Windows Mobile-compatible software on our Audiovox STM5600 and were amazed to find it more accurate and user friendly than even some PDA-based GPS apps we've tried. Text input via keypad is a bit harder than handwriting recognition or keyboard, but if you do a good job of planning the trip in the PC client application and downloading it to the phone, there isn't usually much need for text input. There are lots of view options, including RV and walking modes, and the software is smart enough to keep the phone's backlight on while GPS is in use.

Upsell tip: Unless your user's phone is blessed with a rather good speaker, a worthy in-car speakerphone or adapter to the stereo system can be a real asset for hearing directions clearly.

On other fronts, satellite acquisition time with ALK's receiver is respectably fast, and the software's points of interest database is surprisingly good given the compact database. The chief drawback here (Microsoft's fault, not ALK's) is that while ActiveSync will transfer the GPS application to the phone, all map data and route plans must be copied manually. Then again, this is a chance for you to earn your keep as a value-added supplier by teaching the customer techniques no other store would. If the client already has a GPS receiver, ALK's software alone retails for $199.

APC Back-UPS ES 750VA
$99.99
www.apc.com

We've had Back-UPS units running under our desks here for years, and about four or five times each year (that we notice) the lights will suddenly flicker, everything electronic within sight starts clicking, and our PCs do not lose power. About once per year, we'll outright lose power for several minutes, and our UPSes give us enough time, complete with immensely annoying alarm beeps, to shut everything down safely with no data loss. We know there are arguments about the importance of UPSes that offer true sine wave output, etc., etc., but experience has taught us that even APC's consumer-class SKUs have what it takes to keep our gear safe and online. We can't imagine anyone who prizes system uptime running without a UPS of some sort.

The ES series 750VA model accommodates 450W of maximum power output spread across eight AC outlets. Power conditioning circuitry is built in to help guard against surges (rated for 365 joules), spikes, and line noise. This particular unit delivers extra benefits by adding protection ports for RJ45 and coax cabling. Runtime on half-load averages about 19 minutes, at full-load about six minutes. Batteries are replaceable and hot-swappable. There are less expensive competitors in this space, but APC remains one of the best overall values and a strong partner within the channel.

silex StitchLink
$249
www.silexamerica.com

Don't laugh. Put aside your preconceptions about technology being a man's world, blah blah blah, and remember that women purchase a considerable amount of gadgetry. Sewing and similar hobbies are alive and well, and many newer model sewing machines have USB ports on them. These exist so that users can download product updates, new embroidery patterns, and such. The trouble is that many users don't have a PC sitting next to their sewing machine. The StitchLink plugs into any compatible sewing machine and creates an 802.11b wireless connection back to the PC in either ad hoc or infrastructure modes.

If sewing machines aren't your forte, don't worry. Part of silex's price provides the user with a free remote support session wherein a technician can dip into the owner's PC and configure the system as needed. You're completely out of the loop. If this still sounds crazy, consider that all of those home PCs you sell get used by Mom, too, and you don't have many competitors out there fighting you for this niche sale. It only takes a second to see if your prospective customer would be interested in the StitchLink, and the margin will make it worth your while.

silex SX-2000WG
$149
www.silexamerica.com

In our never-ending quest for the abolition of cables, Silex's SX-2000WG immediately caught our attention. In essence, this is an 802.11g bridge, but the twist is that Silex lets users optionally use a USB hub to connect up to 15 USB devices into the unit's single USB port. (Only isochronous devices such as speakers and webcams are excepted.) The SX-2000WG then bridges these devices to the LAN or directly to a client system (in ad hoc mode) via 802.11g or a 10/100 LAN port. So rather than a customer having to buy a storage router, USB print server, and all the rest, this one gadget can take an office full of printers, scanners, external hard drives, and so forth and make them available to any system on the LAN.

The critical ingredients here are Silex's SX Virtual Link software and Microsoft's Connect Now routine, a facet of XP SP2 that simplifies device networking. All configuration is done within the device via a Web browser, and both WEP and WPA-PSK security are integrated to help keep data safe. This is a new product, and Silex's software still chokes a bit on things like Fast User Switching, but patch updates should help remedy this.

Accessorize!

Quality clothing retailers know that it takes the right accessories to make the difference between profit and loss. No one blinks at the idea that watches, earrings, belts, and gloves are a necessary complement to shirts and pants. All it takes is some education and demonstration to show your customers that the kinds of peripherals we've outlined here are equally appropriate with any system sale. In fact, one could argue that peripherals my be your key differentiator in the overcrowded white box space. Use these items as a jumping off point, get involved with their manufacturers' channel programs, and start realizing the higher profits that come with creative peripheral sales.