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The Emerging Enterprise - Don't Let The Moniker Fool You
Donıt Let The Moniker Fool You
Knowing the alternatives for replacing old equipment gets the most bang for your budget buck.
By Dayna Haberle-Delmonico
Just because some marketing department says a product is for ıhomeı use, donıt be fooled. SMBs have always bought what works no matter what the marketing intent was. This year will be no different.
The consumer market, especially home entertainment and home networking, could be the Shania Twain of the technology industry ı ıcrossing-overı into business too. It appears that convergence (the melding of voice, data, video, music) and wireless technology will make their big impact through the consumer/home market, thanks to the popularity of digital cameras, MP3 and broadband Internet connections.
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This summer has seen a slew of announced products promised for the fall fall from phone and PDA manufacturers as well as Dell, Gateway, Hewlett-Packard and others. HP announced a whopping 100 products. Everything from digital cameras to home networking all-in-one peripherals. Gateway is expected to release 50 new products by the end of the year, but just slipped the deadline for their new PDA release. Notebook vendors are touting ıwide-screenı notebooks stellar entertainment performance on shopping networks like QVC and inexpensive routers, destined to network the home, are supporting wireless everything everywhere.
Whether youıre replacing equipment, want employees to be able to work from home (in event of a power outage for instance) or want to add more capabilities to the business, here are some of the new products that SMBs may want to take a look at.
Office Equipment
Single office companies may find a fit with Hewlett Packardıs PSC2510 Photosmart All-in-one (printer, fax, scanner, copier). Thought HP has targeted this for home networking and are really hyping photo quality printing, the built-in wireless capability for up to 5 systems and a cost of $399, this is a cost conscience small workgroup no brainer. Then again it could be the perfect Christmas gift for the bossıs home office.
The PSC2510, part of HPıs broader family of All-in-one multi-function printers, is expected in October. (See What Every Office Needs http://www.techweb.com/smallbiz/weon1.html for more on multi-function peripheral products)
New Equipment, New Capabilities
If the bossesı office or conference room has a television, wireless media receivers may be worth the price for in-house presentations.
To make an even a bigger dent in the home market vendors are positioning the PC as the brain of home entertainment and therefore everything else home related down the line. Media receivers, both wired and wireless versions from companies like Prismiq, Linksys (of router fame) and others will allow PC based video, music and data to be transmitted over a television set or other entertainment components. Gateway has a connected DVD Player that also plays PC-based video, music and photos.
With prices from $199 to around $250, running presentations on a laptop seem suddenly mundane.
Desktops and Notebooks
Everybody knows that desktops are cheap and according to industry statistics thousands of business systems are well past replacement time. The dilemma for most businesses, however, is replacing them with what?
$399 for a powerful robust traditional desktop is just too good to pass up for most people. Or you can replace desktops with a notebook for as little as $700. That extra $300 meant a lot more until the Great Blackout of 2003. Right now, even more expensive notebooks with their portability, not to mention battery capabilities, are more attractive than ever to scores of business managers in 2 countries, 7 states and thousands of businesses. With new options, even the long-term business return on a pricier notebook is looking pretty good.
Before you jump on the low cost models there are new options to consider at the higher end in notebooks whether you look at consumer or business models. Consider the combination of multi-media and business performance ( 17ı wide screens pitched for entertainment value are great for business presentations), wireless capabilities and expansion bases. Here are just a few of the newest offerings.
SMB Desktop with the right price.
If you want the traditional desktop, take a look at Dellıs new entry level OptiPlex 160L. The system is specifically made for businesses wanting low acquisition costs and the 160Lıs $399 price tag certainly offers that. The system is network ready with Intel Celeron and Pentium 4 processors, industry-standard components, Dell OpenManage systems-management software for remote management, choice of Microsoft Windows XP and 2000 operating systems and MicroTower chassis for expandability.
Covering The Bases Notebooks
HPıs Pavilion Notebook zd 7000 series starts at $1,499 and offers an expansion base for $249. The HP Pavilion Notebook zd7000 series, features a widescreen notebook design with a 17ı screen but weights 9 pounds a little hefty by todayıs notebook standards but under 2ı in height. The Notebook Expansion base, provides a cord-free desktop work area with a wireless desktop-size keyboard, optical mouse and smaller footprint and you donıt need another monitor. zd 7000ıs will be available by September 1.
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