AMD
Opteron 285
Dual-Core Processor: $1,050
www.amd.com

Opteron, the first processor family built on amd's highly
highly scalable K8 architecture, has evolved considerably since its debut. It still features the same built-in memory controller and it continues to utilize 1MB of L2 cache per core. However, the additions of power management, multimedia enhancements, and a second core have held Intel's Xeon at bay for years.

AMD recently unveiled a new flagship for the Opteron line operating at 2.6 GHz, and available in single-, dual-, and eight-way configurations. Perhaps the most pertinent part for SMBs is the Opteron 285, which runs in two-socket motherboards but leverages the horsepower of a quad-processor architecture thanks to its dual-core design.

Best of all, Opteron 285 continues to exploit the same Socket 940 platform introduced back in 2003, extending a fabulous upgrade path to your customers with older server boards and a hankering for a fresh injection of performance.

Addlogix
Rackmount 17" KVM Station: $1,699
www.addlogix.com

it's easy enough to sell your customers a cheap 15" lcd, mouse, and keyboard to keep on top of their racks, but a 1U KVM station with a built-in display is so much neater. Addlogix's rackmount solution interfaces with an existing KVM switch, enabling 17" of desktop real estate at up to 1280 x 1024, a laptop-like keyboard, and touch pad.

The station only occupies 1U of rack space. Moreover, the keyboard and LCD display are each on separate rails that move independently of each other. Heavy gauge sheet metal guarantees that Addlogix's KVM station is every bit as durable as your customer's server machines. And an ultra-low 25W power consumption rating makes efficiency another defensible sales point.

At $1,699, the KVM station is a pricey convenience for small businesses with just a handful of systems. Larger organizations short on rack space will see it as a sleek little necessity, though.

Konica Minolta
Magicolor 2430 DL: $499
www.konicaminolta.com

YOU MIGHT THINK THAT THE phrases "low cost" and "color laser printer" wouldn't belong in the same sentence. However, Konica Minolta seems determined to push its laser technology right down to your SOHO customers. One of its best values is the magicolor 2430 DL, good for up to five pages per minute in color and 20 in monochrome.

The printer's spec sheet features some fairly high-end numbers. For example, its monthly duty cycle is up to 35,000 prints. The first monochrome page out takes 12 seconds to finish. You get a 200 MHz ARM9 processor and 32MB of memory, upgradeable to 544MB. Additionally, a built-in 10/100 Mbps Ethernet port adds LAN functionality.

Konica Minolta currently prices the 2430 DL at $499 before you start adding duplexers or memory, but it's also offering a $100 rebate. Considering the printer's maximum 2400 x 600 dpi resolution, bundled consumables, and workgroup-class specs, that's a lot of printer for the money.

APC
NetBotz 420 Rack Appliance: $1,975
www.apc.com

once your customers move from a pedestal server or two to a denser rackmount enclosure, environmental issues become increasingly important to monitor. Keeping temperature, humidity, and air flow in check helps prolong the useful life of expensive equipment. Moreover, a well-regulated chassis can cut back on downtime, or at least alert you to an out-of-bounds condition before it becomes problematic.

APC's NetBotz 420 rackmount appliance monitors rack environments, adding audio sensors that "hear" alarms from other devices, a door switch for logging server cabinet intrusions, and a camera that activates when it detects motion. All of that sensor data can be relayed using HTTP, FTP, or email.

As your customer expands, a USB port on the appliance facilitates a connection to another camera located up to 340 feet away and up to four more sensors. Or add an 802.11b CompactFlash card to network the appliance wirelessly. The system is quite literally a service provider's on-site eyes and ears.