Crave

The 24-inch LA2405wg...they could have chosen a more exciting screenshot. Just saying.

(Credit: HP)

HP is known for both consumer and business monitors. With its latest batch of business-focused displays, the company is seemingly attempting to meld the two categories.

On Tuesday HP announced three new business monitors that have a couple of unexpected features. The 19-inch HP LA1905wg, 22-inch LA2205wg, and 24-inch LA2405wg all feature a 16:10, wide-screen panel. Also, each monitor includes screen pivoting, height adjustment, and 30 degree backward tilt and swivel.

Now, for a business monitor, one does not expect lots in the way of connection options, however HP has outfitted each of these not only with VGA and DVI, but what are usually entertainment-focused ports: HDMI and DisplayPort.

Other specs include 5ms response times on each, a 1,000:1 contrast ratio, and 250 cd/m2 brightness (300 cd/m2 on the LA2405wg).

All three monitors should be available today or within a few weeks. Pricing has not been announced at the time of this posting, but I'll update this post if pricing is released today.

Line2 is exactly that: a second line (well, phone number, anyway) for your iPhone.

One iPhone, two phone numbers. That's the idea behind Line2, a new telephony app that effectively adds a second line to your handset.

Despite Apple's curious claims that iPhones aren't for business, Line2 should come as good news indeed to business users. It provides a new local number, a ported existing number, or an 800 number.

Whichever option you choose, the number comes with voicemail, call history, and an independent contacts directory. (The Line2 app provides one-tap switching between your iPhone and Toktumi phone books, a nice touch.)

Using Line2 requires signing up for Toktumi's "virtual office" phone service, which costs $14.95 per month if you sign up for an annual contract or $19.95 if you go month-to-month. Thankfully, there's a 30-day trial available.

Better still, the first 200 iPhone Atlas readers who sign up for an account and use trial code 591321851 will get three months free!

All subscribers will, however, have to pony up 99 cents for the Line2 app. Though it's hard to quibble with such a paltry sum, we can't help feeling that if you're paying for monthly service, the app should be free.

Once you've installed the app and signed up for service (which, impressively, you can do right on your iPhone), calls to your new/ported/800 number come through just like regular calls.

Well, sort of. Your iPhone rings and you see your Toktumi number as the caller ID. When you answer, the automated Toktumi bot tells you who's calling and gives you the option of accepting the call or sending it directly to voice mail.

That's a nifty feature, though it does require you to activate the iPhone's keypad to make your selection, which is a minor hassle.

As for outgoing calls, Line2 provides unlimited calling to the U.S. and Canada and low-cost international calls--all routed over the usual cellular airwaves, not Wi-Fi. Toktumi wants to make it clear that Line2 isn't intended as a "cheap calling solution," but rather an option for business professionals seeking a separate number that integrates with their phone.

Of course, you can get ostensibly the same thing from Google Voice, if and when it makes its way to the App Store. (TechCrunch has more about Line2's similarities to Google Voice, if you're interested.)

In the meantime, Line2 definitely works as advertised. If you like the idea of a second phone number for your iPhone, it's worth a look.

Whether you're watching a movie on an airplane or interacting with your iPhone while it's charging on your desk, some kind of stand is essential. That's why I read David's Mobile Xtand review with great interest.

Pretty cool product--but $40? That's way too rich for my Cheapskate blood. Fortunately, there are iPhone stands that cost significantly less--and some that cost nothing at all. Here's a look at three way-cheaper alternatives:

• The business-card stand Far and away my all-time favorite, this 60-second Instructables project turns any business card (the thicker, the better) into a perfect little stand. It can return to your wallet when not in use, and it has an unbeatable price. Be sure to read the accompanying comments for lots of other DIY ideas.
• The Crabble OK, it has arguably the worst product name since the Sony Clie. But this cool $4.99 stand is essentially a hard-plastic version of the previous one, and it can hold your iPhone for either portrait or landscape viewing. Plus, it folds flat, so it's just as wallet-friendly. See it in action in the above video.
• MovieWedge The bean-bag chair meets the iPhone. This soft-sided, microsuede-covered stand is ideal for uneven surfaces--including your dashboard, for those times when your iPhone is pulling double duty as your GPS. It's $9.95.

OK, your turn: What's your preferred method of propping up your iPhone?

Lexmark's 4.3-inch touch-screen LCD.

(Credit: Lexmark)

Not to be outdone by HP's recent touch-screen printer, the folks at Lexmark just debuted their line of Web-connected touch-screen all-in-ones.

The big difference between the two is that although they both have touch technology, the HP Photosmart Premium with TouchSmart Web is meant to live in the home, while the three printers featuring Lexmark's MyTouch technology are designed to increase productivity for the business market. Nevertheless, this won't stop us from putting them side-by-side in the first ever Web-connected, touch-screen-printing kumite.

Only three out of the eight new products include a large 4.3-inch touch screen, coincidentally the exact same size of HP's LCD screen. I had a chance to preview the entire lineup, and I was impressed with the comprehensive set of new features built into each device. The "SmartSolutions" button layout lets SMBs streamline their work flow by customizing their home screen with easy-to-use applications that include template shortcuts, address book favorites, RSS feeds, ID and ID card copies--all built into the machine with updates available through the host computer.

Four of the new printers also feature 802.11n wireless connectivity and all eight include Lexmark's Vizix technology that uses individual ink tanks to produce higher quality output at a cheaper refill cost. Business users will also be happy to see Lexmark's new business card scanning technology that recognizes and automatically uploads contact information into popular desktop software suites. One drawback: the technology isn't available for Apple's vCard address book sync.

All of the new printers will be available in September, and we'll be getting units into the CNET Labs as soon as possible to begin testing, so check back soon to see who will win in a head-to-head match.

Documents To Go has finally arrived on the iPhone.

It's been a long time coming, but DataViz's Documents To Go has finally arrived in the App Store.

The software allows you to view, edit, and create Microsoft Word documents, while a companion desktop app (for Windows and Mac) enables two-way synchronization.

Needless to say, this should have business users dancing in the aisles (or at least doing a little Where the Hell is Matt-style jig).

Drawing on years of experience with Palm and Windows Mobile versions of Documents To Go, DataViz crammed in a laundry list of features. For starters, the company's InTact technology guarantees that all document formatting gets preserved between iPhone and PC.

The app also offers predictive text, landscape viewing/editing, character formatting (bold, italics, underline, etc.), bulleting and numbering, tables, embedded graphics, and plenty more. Most importantly, it allows you to cut, copy, and paste text. (Remind me why it took Apple three versions of the OS to add this?)

For the moment, Documents To Go supports only Word files, at least in terms of creating and editing. As with countless other apps, you can view Excel, PowerPoint, PDF, and iWork documents.

Down the road, DataViz will add support for creating and editing Excel spreadsheets, at which point anyone who purchased this version will get a free upgrade.

And right now, Documents To Go is priced at just $4.99-- a"grand opening" special that ends June 30. I'm not sure what the price will be after that, but it's a good bet it'll be closer to competitor Quickword ($12.99). The latter can't yet edit Word 2007 files, nor does it actually synchronize documents.

Also on special: Documents To Go with Exchange Attachments, which includes a built-in e-mail client for downloading, viewing, and sending Word files on the run. (In other words, it syncs with your company's Exchange server.) That version will cost you $9.99 until June 30.

Good stuff. Now all we need is a decent portable Bluetooth keyboard for word processing on the run. Come on, accessory makers! Get with the program.

How to succeed in business: Use free software whenever possible, like Peachtree Pro Accounting 2009, which is free after rebate.

(Credit: Peachtree)

Here's a fiscally responsible business move: Pay $140 for Peachtree Pro Accounting 2009 now, and get a $140 rebate in 4 to 6 weeks.

You can thank Staples for this eventual freebie (even shipping is free, though you'll probably have to pay sales tax). Just don't wait too long to push through your purchase order; the rebate deal expires this Saturday, May 9.

Designed for small businesses, Peachtree Pro Accounting helps with payroll, invoices, inventory, reporting, and stuff like that. As I understand it, it compares favorably with QuickBooks.

CNET hasn't reviewed the 2009 edition, and in fact I've found few reviews of it anywhere. Thus, if you've tried Peachtree 2009, let your fellow Cheapskaters know what you think of it (in the comments, natch).

Of course, even if it turns out to be a lemon (as opposed to, ahem, a peach), you're only out the cost of sales tax. That should make the accounts-payable department happy.

BONUS DEAL: While we're on the subject of free-after-rebate software, Fry's has the Kaspersky Internet Security 2009 suite (three-user) for--wait for it--free after rebate. Actually, it's a pair of rebates. I'm generally not a fan of security software, but if you're in the market, Kaspersky got a fairly decent review from CNET.

Looking to blur the line between business and consumer laptops, HP's new ProBook line of systems looks to, in the company's words, "merge business functionality with sophisticated design."

The HP ProBook 4515s, in "merlot."

(Credit: HP)

These 14, 15, and 17-inch 16:9 models come in red or black ("merlot" or "glossy noir") and include thin LED backlit displays, and a spacious raised keyboard design that's a departure from HP's norm.

Interestingly, Linux will be an option, in addition to Windows Vista. It's not the first time we've seen Linux from HP, but it's the first time the company has offered it as a pre-installed option on a business laptop.

According to HP, the available models will be:

HP ProBook 4410s (Intel) and HP ProBook 4415s (AMD)
Feature a 14-inch diagonal 16:9 HD widescreen LED backlight display, integrated optical drive with Blu-ray option and choice of ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4330 or Intel GMA X4500 HD graphics controller.

HP ProBook 4510s (Intel) and HP ProBook 4515s (AMD)
Offers a 15.6-inch diagonal 16:9 HD widescreen LED backlight display. Customers can select the optional HP Mobile Broadband connectivity with built-in Gobi technology. They also feature an integrated numeric keypad.

(Credit: HP)

HP ProBook 4710s (Intel)
Features a 17.3-inch diagonal HD widescreen display, the largest of the lineup. Includes the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4330, with up to 512 megabytes of GDDR2 for video memory. It also features the latest Intel Core 2 Duo processors. The notebook incorporates a HDMI port to connect to HD displays, as well as an integrated numeric keypad.

The ProBook line is available to order now, starting at $529, but the merlot color option won't be available until June (and then only on the 14 and 15-inch models).

The entire line has an EPEAT silver rating, is EnergyStar qualified, and according to HP, "The ProBook s-series has been engineered for reduced impact on the environment by eliminating or reducing substances of concern, using fewer resources and reducing energy consumption."

Casual home users might not need something like this, but the business world will definitely want the new NAS server from D-Link.

Last week, the company announced its all-new Stack DSN-1100 iSCSI SAN Array NAS server, which offers up to 7.5TB of storage and 425MBps of bandwidth. It achieves this high throughput speed thanks to IEEE 802.3ad Link Aggregate Groups technology that combines the speeds of the device's four Gigabit Ethernet ports.

The new DSN-1100 NAS server.

(Credit: D-Link)

The NAS server include five bays, each of which can take a 3.5-inch SATA (or SATA-II) hard drive of up to 1.5TB. The company says that the bays will be able to accommodate higher-capacity drives after a new firmware update. These hard drives can be configured to RAID 0, 1, 1+0, and 5.

The DSN-1100 features an embedded, user-friendly IP-SAN Device Manager, a suite of utilities that allows monitoring and control via the Storage Management Initiative-Specification command set. Users can also remotely configure and monitor their SAN storage subsystems.

Thanks to its internal 10Gb iSCSI SoC configuration, the DSN-1100 can handle more than 80,000 input/outputs per second.

Other features of the new NAS include:

• Compact Cube Chassis for easy office placement (10.7 inches high by 6.6 inches wide wide by and 10.2 inches deep.)
• 200-watt power supply
• CHAP authentication to halt intruders
• SSL security to manage the console
• Up to 72 hours of battery backup on full charge
• VLAN zoning for traffic segregation to secure access and jumbo frames
• Highly integrated, multi-core SoC for greater power efficiency

The new DSN-1100 NAS server is available now with the estimated price of $1,799.99.