Axis
241Q Video Server: $1,279
www.axis.com

VIDEO SERVERS DIGITIZE ANALOG VIDEO SIGNALS AND SEND THEM OVER an IP network, enabling authorized users to view live streams on Web browsers or video management software. A four-port video server such as Axis' 241Q accepts a quartet of CCTV cameras, helping transition small analog surveillance systems to digital IP-based monitoring.

Image quality is naturally a concern in the security field. The 241Q enables crystal clear Motion JPEG and MPEG-4 streams at resolutions up to 768x576. The server sports built-in support for motion detection and alarm notification as well. Add Axis' 295 joystick controller to the mix, along with serial communication from the server, to give the same remote users pan, tilt, and zoom control.

Several security measures help keep the video server protected, including different user access levels, HTTPS encryption, and address filtering. Moreover, build a network with QoS technologies built-in and the 241Q will take advantage.

Samsung
CLP-600N Color Laser Printer: $499
www.samsung.com

EVERY BUSINESS OWNER LIKES to feel that he's getting the best technology at a great price, and that's exactly the assurance Samsung's CLP-600N provides. For starters, this sub-$500 laser printer is incredibly affordable. Along with its reasonable cost, the CLP-600N features a 250 MHz MIPS processor, 32MB of memory, the traditional USB interface, and a built-in 10/100 Ethernet controller.

All of those extras help propel performance to 20 pages per minute in either monochrome or color, with the first print emerging in 20 seconds either way. And when your customer needs the best quality, support for resolutions as high as 2400x600 guarantees that it'll be available.

Samsung's claim to fame on the CLP-600N is its NO NOIS engine, employing fixed toner cartridges that run quieter than competing printers with rotating toners. Thanks to a 250-page paper tray, 100-page multi-purpose tray, and 4,000-page toner capacity, SMBs won't have to pay much attention to maintaining the printer.

Colorvision
Spyder2PRO Calibration Software: $279
www.colorvision.com

COLOR CONSISTENCY IS CRITICAL to every graphics professional who counts on what they see on screen being exactly the same as what shows up in print. Therefore, display calibration software should be a standard component of every graphics or video workstation build. Colorvision's Spyder2PRO is one of the more high-end calibration packages, yet it's driven by easy-to-understand wizards.

You can use the bundled colorimeter to calibrate CRTs, LCDs, projectors, and laptop displays. It helps perform a number of functions: measuring and balancing ambient light, adjusting tonal response, and tweaking luminance. Use Spyder2PRO to calibrate and profile multiple monitors for uniformity across an entire studio. Then use the Before and After viewing feature to demonstrate your results.

The whole solution includes the Spyder2 colorimeter, a site license for Colorvision's software—great for design studios and photographers—and the PrintFIX PLUS suite. Also featured is a two-year warranty, free tech support, and free software updates.

Intel
SR1530AHLXNA
Barebones Server: $549
www.intel.com

A LOT OF SMALL BUSINESS CUSTOMERS THRIVE ON THE IT SERVICES
provided by VARs and consultants, yet they're hesitant to invest in a server or workstation that doesn't come from a tier-one vendor. Intel's SR1530HAHLX gives you the closest thing possible to a name-brand box while still providing for a bit of configuration flexibility.

The 1U chassis supports a single Xeon 3000-series processor, Pentium Extreme Edition, Pentium D, or even Pentium 4. According to Intel, the SR1530HAHLX is an entry-level platform. However, it still boasts some higher-end functionality, such as hot-swap SATA hard drive carriers and an adaptive expansion slot that'll recognize a PCI Express x8 or PCI-X 133 card. Intel even integrates its own 300W certified power supply.

Standard barebones server components—integrated graphics, dual Gigabit Ethernet ports, and so on—complete the package. Add your own processor, memory, and hard drives to get the Intel server up and running.

Seagate
Savvio 146GB 10K.2 2.5” SAS Hard Drive: $499
www.seagate.com

THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH ROOM WITHIN THE CRAMPED CONFINES OF a rack-mounted storage server or JBOD. Resellers able to maximize that space give their customers the best value available. In using a mix of SAS and SATA drives, those same VARs smartly empower SMBs with the 24x7 duty cycle of SAS and the massive capacities enabled by SATA.

When you want to push SAS at the rackmount server level, a 2.5" drive such as Seagate's Savvio 10K.2 packs the most performance into the smallest space possible. The second-gen SAS drive spins at 10,000 RPM and sustains 89 MBps transfers. Quick adoption of perpendicular recording technology allows Seagate to cram 146GB of capacity into the 2.5" form factor. Because it's smaller than comparably-sized 3.5" drives and uses less power, the Savvio 10K.2 also plays a role in reducing ambient temperatures in server chassis. Given its part in housing enterprise data, Seagate steps up the Savvio's warranty to five years for added peace of mind.