Pioneer
BDR-101A: $999
www.pioneerelectronics.com

KVM DO YOU HAVE CUSTOMERS WHO DISTRIBUTE DIGITAL MEDIA? HOW about anyone with a foot in HD content? Now is the time for high-end outfits to start experimenting with the next-generation of optical technology, wrapped up in the Blu-ray and HD-DVD standards.

Pioneer is first onto the market with its BDR-101A, capable of writing single-layer BD-RE (Blu-ray Disc re-recordable) discs at up to 9MB per second. (Each disc holds 25GB of information and media is currently available from TDK.) The drive won’t write to dual-layer Blu-ray discs, nor is it compatible with CDs. However, it does write to single- and dual-layer DVD discs from the +R and –R families.

Blu-ray isn’t yet cost-effective as a general purpose storage medium. First-gen hardware is only now emerging, and discs are still quite expensive. But as businesses get their hands on HD camcorders, they’ll want hardware designed to store high-resolution content. That’s exactly the job Pioneer’s BDR-101A sets out to perform.

Adaptec
Snap Server 1100 400GB: $449
www.adaptec.com

MANY SMALL BUSINESSES FAVOR DAS (direct-attached storage) for its simplicity: Plug a USB 2.0 drive into the server, install some backup software, set the schedule, and go. But when it comes to storing information from connected workstations, DAS isn’t the best option for sustained server performance. Instead, a NAS (network-attached storage) box is preferable.

Unfortunately, many NAS devices are prohibitively expensive since they often leverage dedicated hardware and managed software. Adaptec’s Snap Server lineup is generally regarded as one example of that higher-end NAS hardware. However, the Snap Server 1100 is an entirely different beast, offering up to 400GB of storage in a 3.5-pound enclosure. Configuration is as easy as connecting the Snap Server to an RJ-45 jack and turning it on. File-sharing works across Windows, NetWare, UNIX, and Linux platforms, while configurable security settings help control how users are able to access the appliance.

WiebeTech
ComboDock v4: $169
www.wiebetech.com

WHETHER YOU’RE TRANSFERING drive images or restoring data from damaged disks, WibeTech’s ComboDock is unquestionably easier to use than the typical open-air test beds on which many lab techs rely. The dock consists of four principal pieces. A 40-pin IDE cable connects to a bare 3.5” hard drive, either your source or destination. A standard four-pin power connector feeds the drive juice. Power is supplied to the dock either through an included AC power supply or four-pin power supply connector. Finally, a FireWire 800 interface pumps up to 100 MBps of data to or from the drive. You can also use FireWire 400 or USB 2.0, though neither standard is as fast.

The cool thing about WiebeTech’s Combo Dock is that while it’s designed for 3.5” drives, optional adapters fit 2.5” notebook drives, 1.8” drives, microdrives, and iPod hard drives. If Serial ATA is more your thing, the company also sells a SATADOCK V4.

IOGEAR
Miniview Symphony Multi-Function KVM
Switch: $249
www.iogear.com

ANY LAB TECH WITH A PAIR OF COMPUTER SYSTEMS CAN RELATE TO this one: Nothing is worse than the cable clutter of two keyboards, two mice, and two monitors. Double that when you’re talking about servers stuck in a rack. Without question, the best alternative is a KVM switch that consolidates multiple machines down to one set of I/O.

IOGEAR’s Miniview Symphony Multi-Function KVM Switch does just that, helping control two systems through a single keyboard, mouse, and monitor. Moreover, it comes with a built-in USB 2.0 hub, 10/100 Mbps Ethernet switch, and audio sharing capabilities.

Configuration is a piece of cake. The KVM auto-scans for connected computers. Your customer switches ports either by hitting a hotkey or a button on the KVM. The video output ports support resolutions up to 2048x1536. Keyboard and mouse emulation guarantee worry-free boot-up, as well.

M-Audio
Delta 1010 Recording System: $499
www.m-audio.com

PROFESSIONAL RECORDING NECESSITATES AUDIO HARDWARE UP TO the task, meaning quality and connectivity both need to be top-notch. M-Audio’s Delta 1010 covers both bases by enabling 24-bit/96 kHz fidelity, 109 dB dynamic range, and frequency response between 20Hz-22kHz. You’ll also get eight analog inputs and as many outputs with zero-latency monitoring plus coaxial digital I/O for surround-enabled AC-3 and DTS pass-through.

Obviously, it’d be nearly impossible to cram that many connectors on the backside of a PCI card, so M-Audio bundles a rack-mountable breakout box with its controller card for easier access. The architecture is scalable, too, making it possible to use a maximum of four Deltas in a single audio workstation.

M-Audio bundles the Ableton Live Lite 4 production package. But the Pro Tools M-Powered 7.1 suite is an even more complementary package you might want to use as an upsell opportunity. After all, $499 for professional-level recording hardware is quite affordable.