TechInsight Magazine
Stepping Beyond Integration
Building Solutions. BOXX Technology’s mediaBOXX is a purpose-built PC that starts with a Core i5 or i7 processor and includes Sandy Bridge-optimized software from CyberLink.We're conditioned to believe that every problem has a right answer. In the real world, though, many of the questions your customers ask have multiple solutions. When we talk about professional applications and the hardware you use to address them, the knee-jerk reaction is to step in with a big, beefy workstation. Often, though, the software your customer uses is optimized in a very specific way. Recently, Intel partnered up with a few resellers who target video editing, audio production, and image manipulation to show off what you can achieve with a more solution-oriented focus.
Cracking The Case On Small Form-Factors
Just The Right Size. Standardized motherboards in specialized form-factors make for unique channel offerings. This all-in-one chassis from Gigabyte hosts Intel’s DH61AG platform.These days, it's not enough to simply build fast PCs that run coolly, quietly, and efficiently. Beyond nailing those basics, size matters too. Resellers able to finesse potent parts into svelte cases are much more likely to blend right into an office or earn big props from enthusiasts. Rather than building big boxes that scream for attention, we’re fans of small form-factor configurations able to do their job in the most compact footprint possible. And don’t think this is a craze limited to home theater PCs and mainstream desktops, either. It’s applicable to every segment of computing.
Solid-State Storage: More Choice Means Better Options
Intel Adds SSD Value. The sub-$100 X25-V was a first attempt to make SSDs more mainstream. A 40 GB capacity point easily held an operating system and several performance-sensitive apps. Once upon a time, solid state drives were available in one flavor: fast and expensive. The problem was, early in the development of solid state technology, there was no guarantee that customers spending hundreds of dollars on flash-based storage could count on consistent performance or a long, useful life. Today’s SSDs are significantly more mature. And with that maturity, manufacturers have figured out how to differentiate based on the speed, capacity, and form factor of their respective solid-state drives. Although SSDs remain expensive, greater diversity means you’re more likely to find a solution that works for your customer.
Smart Tips For SMBs
A Familiar Infrastructure. Intel’s refreshed Xeon 5600-series CPUs employ the same LGA 1366-based motherboards you’re already stocking. A simple firmware update is all it takes to enable support.Technology waits on no one. We talk to well-connected resellers on a regular basis who’ve buried their heads in a major project, come back, and missed a significant hardware launch. And given the number of high-profile products that have emerged in the last 12 months, missing the introduction of a new platform or processor architecture could translate into lost opportunities. But don’t worry if you’ve fallen behind the eight ball. We have 10 tips that’ll help get you current with the latest trends, enabling your customers with products that’ll help them do their jobs better.
