M-Audio
Delta 1010LT: $299
www.m-audio.com

PRofessional audio hardware can get very expensive, so it's refreshing that some companies still take value into consideration. M-Audio's Delta 1010LT is designed to offer much of the same functionality as the Delta 1010 at half of its cost. Rather than incorporate a rackmount component like the 1010, M-Audio packs a single PCI card with myriad inputs and outputs.

This isn't your everyday sound card, and it isn't meant to go head to head against Creative Labs' X-Fi, price similarities aside. Not only does it offer eight analog outputs, but it also packs as many inputs. Dual microphone pre-amps are another hint at high-end breeding, as are the MIDI input and output ports. Digital I/O connections support encoded AC3 for true surround sound mixes and an incredibly beefy, software-controlled 36-bit DSP handles mixing.

M-Audio bundles Ableton Live Lite, a digital audio workstation app used to mix, add effects, loop, record, import, and arrange. The combination is quite potent for anyone involved on the professional audio scene.

D-Link
DVX-1000: $1,599
www.dlink.com

although ip telephony and voip sound like they might be the same thing, the two are actually fairly separate concepts. IP telephony broadly refers to any telephone-type service traversing an IP network—messaging, conferencing, fax data, and so on. VoIP refers to voice only. Many existing telephony solutions aim to shore up communications within an organization and its branch offices. However, D-Link's DVX-1000 is designed to marry the ideas and put your customers' voice traffic online.

The unit connects to a network switch, along with up to 25 IP phones. D-Link's DVG-3004S trunk gateway can deliver PSTN compatibility if your customer is unwilling to let go of its POTS line. Users on the VoIP side get to enjoy gobs of functionality, though. There's a conference server, configurable mailboxes, an auto-attendant, your basic business calling features (think caller ID, hold, history, forwarding, etc.), and an easy administration interface. While the initial cost of an IP telephony system is somewhat steep, many customers will find that it pays for itself after just a few months of use.

Microsoft
Windows Server 2003 R2: $999
www.microsoft.com

There's a new version of Microsoft Windows Server in town, and it isn't based on Longhorn. Rather, Windows Server 2003 R2, or Release 2, incorporates a number of feature packs to create a truly revised and worthwhile upgrade.

Among the updated functionality, branch office server management is one of the most exciting extras for remote administrators. Improved storage management is also an integral part of the package, as is identity and access management. Server virtualization is supported on the Enterprise Edition. And 64-bit memory addressability is available, as well, providing you buy the x64 Edition of the operating system.

Pricing on the Server 2003 R2 remains the same. You can pick up the standard edition for $999. There is no Small Business Server 2003 R2 quite yet, though Microsoft has a release scheduled for the second quarter of this year. That product will give VARs access to automated patch management, larger mailboxes, and expanded CAL rights. Keep an eye out if SBS is your poison of choice.

BenQ
FP231W 23" LCD: $1,995
www.benq.us

STUDIES SHOW THAT EMPLOYEES ARE MORE PRODUCTIVE WITH TWO displays than one. And as a Microsoft Research story on the topic points out, you simply can't take one display away from someone accustomed to a pair. BenQ's FP231W gives you a cost-effective way to offer a lot of extra desktop real estate, enabling customers with the opportunity to ratchet up their productivity levels.

The 23" FP231W is an "A" grade panel, meaning it is of the best quality. It supports a maximum resolution of 1920 x 1200 with a solid 16ms response time that works particularly well in a corporate environment. The resolution simplifies down to a 16:10 ratio, which is suitable for two A4-sized pages side by side. So as a platform for editing and reviewing, the FP231W is ideal. A 176-degree vertical and horizontal viewing angle ensures a clear picture from almost any orientation, too.

Functional extras add to BenQ's appeal here. Tilt, swivel, and telescoping controls provide true customization for any user. Moreover, D-Sub, DVI, S-Video, and composite inputs accommodate a wide array of connections.