M-AUDIO
MicroTrack 24/96: $499
www.m-audio.com

There are a million little reasons to own a Digital recorder, from documenting meetings to conducting interviews and beyond. But buying the right product can be difficult. Quality on lesser units is often dodgy, and transferring the audio can be a royal pain. M-Audio’s MicroTrack 24/96 changes all of that by recording professional-sounding clips in either WAV or MP3 format.

Simplicity is one of the MicroTrack’s most prominent selling points. Saved MP3s can be dragged straight from the recorder to a PC through USB 2.0. M-Audio sees that as an ideal route to instant Web accessibility. We’d add that it circumvents some of the bulkier software-assisted transfer mechanisms used by competing products.

Of course, quality is a given. The MicroTrack records MP3s at up to 320 kbps and WAV files at up to 24-bit/96 kHz. Those settings won’t give your customers much room to record on the included 64MB CompactFlash card; however, upselling a larger CF card or Microdrive (M-Audio has tested with up to 6GB models) should help expand the device’s utility.

The ruggedized MicroTrack case is lined with inputs and outputs for connecting mics and headphones. Digital coax allows recording directly from a mixer while balanced ¼” inputs enable the same functionality over an analog connection.

Despite all of that advanced functionality, navigation remains straightforward thanks to a large backlit LCD display. Further, it features a long-life lithium-ion battery capable of recording four hours on a single charge. And when you’re docked, USB delivers juice, conserving battery life.

PLEXTOR
PX-755SA DVD±R/RW Drive: $129
www.plextor.com

Plextor is highly regarded amongst those who value quality CD and DVD burning hardware. However, the company’s products have historically commanded premium prices, keeping them out of mainstream reach.

That’s changing, though. Plextor’s fastest drive is called the PX-755SA, and it’s actually more affordable than previous flagships. It’ll burn DVD+ and DVD-R discs at 16x. CDs fly at 48x. Best of all, dual-layer +R media is written at 10x.

This is also one of the first burners to utilize SATA, truly relegating the bulky PATA interface. Plextor complements its hardware with Roxio’s Easy Media Creator 7 package and the PlexTools control software.

ASUS
WL-566gM 240 MIMO Wireless Router: $129.99
usa.asus.com

MIMO (multiple-in, multiple-out) is a wireless technology that leverages the way in which radio signals naturally break up as they bounce off of objects and so arrive at the receiver at different times. Before, such signal stuttering caused havoc with radio transmission integrity. Now, MIMO puts this problem to use by sending different data streams along the slightly separated signal paths. This requires the use of multiple antennas at each end, which is why you see MIMO routers and some NICs with two or three antennas attached.

Manufacturers can apply MIMO to any standard they like, such as 802.11g or 802.11a. ASUS, like most other networking gear vendors, has opted to enhance 802.11g with MIMO, and the results are stunning. With straight 802.11g, I was able to get reception in the next-door house. With ASUS’ 240 MIMO gear, fueled by the latest Airgo chipset, I can get a decent signal inside the house one block away. A little head-to-head Xbox, anyone?

ASUS advertises up to 8X better coverage, and while I didn’t get out the tape measure to be certain, I can say that there are no more dead zones in my house, and getting strong reception through major obstacles a block away is outrageously cool. And as for the 8X advertised reception boost? Well, I was seeing 20+ Mbps with 802.11g, and I’m averaging about 80 Mbps with the ASUS WL-566gM and its PC Card counterpart, the WL-106gM, in close proximity. Still, that’s Fast Ethernet over the air, and you just can’t complain about that.

The WL-566gM installs quickly and boasts all the usual consumer necessities: SPI firewall, WEP, WPA, WPA2, and more. Best of all, it’s $50 less than other major brand 240 MIMO routers.