TechWatch

None of these offerings is a market leader in its hardware or software category, but don't let that fool you. These items can take on the big boys any day. At one thumb up each, they're worth examining.

Wi-Fi To Die For
When it comes to Wi-Fi, signal strength and consistency are the names of the game. A start-up company called Bountiful WiFi says it has addressed both with its debut product, the Bountiful Router. On the surface, the Bountiful Router is a typical 802.11b/g router. But not so typical, the company says, is that its coverage ranges are from two to four times greater than other routers and doesn't require extenders, repeaters or amplifiers. Company officials also say the router improves range and reduces packet loss by operating at 30 decibel milliwatts (dBm), the maximum power level permitted by the FCC; typical Wi-Fi routers operate at approximately 17 dBm. As a result, the Bountiful Router can reach up to 1,200 feet and maintain a data rate of 48 Mbps up to 600 feet away.
Bountiful Router, www.bountifulwifi.com Price: $625

GroupWise Tweaks
Despite the FACT THAT THE vast universe of midsize and large enterprises use Microsoft Exchange or Lotus Notes/Domino, those e-mail and collaboration platforms are not the only games in town. Novell's GroupWise has always been the solid alternative for many corporate and public-sector customers, even if its market share significantly lags that of larger rivals'. Now, with its first major upgrade in two-and-a-half years, GroupWise 7 offers native Outlook support, PDA integration and improved APIs, allowing partners to more easily integrate applications and security features. The latest iteration of its WebAccess tool also supports wireless and near-feature parity with the Windows client version. Finally, GroupWise 7 supports NetWare, Windows and Linux servers (both Red Hat and SuSE).
Novell GroupWise 7.0, www.novell.com Price: $130 per user

FASTER AND BRIGHTER LCD
Planar has added faster response times, brightness and improved resolution to its newest LCD monitor, the PX1710M. Available with both analog and digital inputs, the 17-inch LCD supports 8-ms response time, brightness of 300 cd/m, a contrast ratio of 500-to-1 and a pixel pitch rating of .264 mm. Planar, whose LCDs are strong in the health-care-provider segment, also offers a Kensington Security Slot, antiglare coating and built-in speakers with the PX1010M. A thin bezel allows customers to place multiple LCD monitors side by side in either portrait or landscape modes. Of note, the monitor is bolstered by Planar's RapidVideo accelerator, which is designed to improve pixel-response times for better rendering of video. A three-year warranty is standard with replacement models offered for the full duration of that period.
Planar PX1710M, www.planar.com Price: $385

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