Tech Watch: Document-Management Software; Gateway's Latest Subnotebook; WorkCentre MFP For SMBs

Query Once, Search Many

The latest release of Scansoft PaperPort, desktop document-management software from Nuance Communications, boasts more than 50 new features, but the most noteworthy is the PaperPort Watson Intelligent Search Agent,

which can query multiple systems and Web sites with one search, and display results from various sources in a common interface. The new release, PaperPort 11 Professional, also features one-button scanning, allows users to create PDFs from any application and offers substantial compression of those files.

Nuance Communications Scansoft PaperPort 11, Price: $99 to $199

A Gateway To Portability

Gateway's latest subnotebook is a solid, yet lightweight, system. Based on Intel's Centrino Core platform, the E-100M starts at $1,399 and is also available with lots of bells and whistles, including a 6-in-1 media-card reader, Bluetooth and an external multiformat DVD-R/RW drive. The system, which weighs less than 3 pounds, is a viable alternative to offerings from Sony and Lenovo.

Gateway E-100M, Price: $1,399

Savvio: A Power-Savvy Drive

Microprocessor vendors aren't the only ones paying attention to the power-consumption needs of users. Disk-drive vendors are too. Seagate's second-generation 2.5-inch disk drive, the Savvio 10k.2, requires 15 percent less power than its predecessor. Available in capacities of up to 147 GB, the Savvio is suited for blade and 1U servers, and for other systems that require improved cooling and airflow. With full RAID 5 capability, the servers are available with support for 3-Gbps SA-SCSI and 4-Gbps Fibre Channel connectivity.

Seagate Savvio 10k.2, Price: Not disclosed

Shedding Some Light On LANs and WANs

Neon Software has added some new features to its LANsurveyor network-mapping and systems-administration software. The latest release, 9.6, supports Linux clients (based on the 2.6 kernel) and offers automated mapping algorithms, which result in more accurate network diagrams. Also, the software can now discover more WAN nodes, such as switches, routers and VMware, and generates diagrams faster than the previous release.

Neon Software LANsurveyor 9.6, Price: $795

Have It Both Ways With the WorkCentre 4118

Xerox is the latest printer vendor to offer an entry-level MFP for small and midsize businesses. The WorkCentre 4118 prints 18 pages per minute and is available in two configurations--one that prints and copies, another that adds faxing and 4,800-dpi color scanning to the mix. They both support two-sided copying and a 550-sheet paper tray. (A second tray is optional.) The toner cartridges print up to 8,000 pages.

Xerox WorkCentre 4118, Price: $799

Symbol Plays Dirty With New Handheld

With the VC5090, Symbol Technologies extends its line of rugged mobile computers to the warehouse environment, where forklifts and other materials-management vehicles can benefit from the addition of onboard intelligence. The RFID-ready, fixed-mount system is built to withstand vibration, extreme temperatures and dust. It also features 802.11a/b/g connectivity, Bluetooth and a push-to-talk handset that supports voice-picking and VoIP. Symbol offers Service from the Start, a three-year service agreement that provides Internet access to technical documentation, phone access to support engineers and three-day turnaround for products sent to the vendor's repair centers.

Symbol Technologies VC5090, Price: half-screen version is $4,195; full-screen version is $4,495