Best

Best- Great stuff - tested and approved in our top-secret labs.

CD BURNERS

First Class:
__Plextor PlexWriter 12/10/32A __
While your friends spend up to half an hour per disc burning audio CDs at 2X or 4X, Plextor's top CD-RW drive blasts them out in 6 minutes a pop. The PlexWriter 12/10/32A's numbers-heavy name means that it records CD-R discs at 12X speed, rewrites CD-RWs at 10X, and reads back all CDs at 32X speed. Top-notch manuals and software make installation easy. And the drive's accuracy is perfect - no misses or skips. Plextor led the way on this, and other manufacturers have just caught up.

__PlexWriter 12/10/32A: $329. Plextor: (800) 886 3935, +1 (408) 980 1838, www.plextor.com. __

Business Class:
__Ricoh MediaMaster MP9060A __
Ricoh's MP9060A is a tight, reliable 8X burner. Like the other drives here, it comes as an internal drive that plugs into an E-IDE connector on the motherboard - the most popular type of configuration. Its write/rewrite/read numbers are a brisk 6X/4X/24X, and as a fun bonus the drive also plays DVDs. In practice, the read-speed difference between 24X and 32X isn't noticeable.

__MediaMaster MP9060A: $299. Ricoh: (800) 955 3453, www.ricohdms.com. __

Coach:
__Yamaha CRW8824EZ __
The drives in Yamaha's CRW8824 series write and read at 8X/8X/24X, beating the Business Class Ricoh on CD-R speed and surpassing almost all drives for CD-RW - though a lot of audio equipment can't play music recorded in the CD-RW format. As a workhorse burner, the internal E-IDE CRW8824EZ is a great deal. But unlike the Ricoh, it can't also play movies on DVD.

__CRW8824EZ: $229.99. Yamaha: +1 (714) 522 9011, www.yamaha.com. __

PDA CASES

First Class:
__RhinoSkin Palm V Molded Hardcase __
No good technocrat can manage without a PDA, but how to protect it? RhinoSkin closes the case with its Palm V Molded Hardcase, the classiest wrap for Palm's sleekest handheld. Constructed in a stark, industrial style from aircraft-grade aluminum, RhinoSkin has black foam-rubber padding and a friction latch, as well as a window that lets you beam from the IR port while your Palm's inside the open case. The finish stands up to table-height drops onto concrete, compression in tight jeans pockets, and the depredations of a cluttered courier bag.

__Palm V Molded Hardcase: $79.95. RhinoSkin: +1 (307) 734 8833, www.rhinoskin.com. __

Business Class:
__Concept Kitchen Bumper __
Made from molded rubber, the Bumper not only softens falls, it also prevents them from happening - the case grips any surface it's on, staying in place when other cases would slide floorward. Sized for Palms III and V - the most popular models - the case comes in bright yellow or dark gray, and closes with a gray plastic lid. Side channels hold the stylus for easy access when your Palm is encased, and like the Hardcase it has an IR-port window.

__Bumper: $39.99. Concept Kitchen: +1 (415) 348 9999, www.conceptkitchen.com. __

Coach:
__Levenger Otter Box, Medium __
The bright plastic Otter Box lets you surf with your PDA - in the ocean, that is. And the floating, watertight case also shields it from rain, snow, sleet, and coffee spills. A lanyard with an adjustable clasp lets you secure your electronic right-hand man to packs and clothing, or hang it around your neck. Fiberglass reinforcements add strength, and the foam interior cushions against rough seas. There's room inside for a pen as well, if you still use one.

__Otter Box, Medium: $21.95. Levenger: (888) 592 7461, www.levenger.com. __

SOHO FIREWALLS

First Class:
__NetScreen Technologies NetScreen-10 __
Any broadband connection to a home or office LAN needs a firewall for protection. The NetScreen-10 appliance serves vigilantly, commanded by a browser-based configuration even your mom could grok. Proprietary silicon lets the NetScreen-10 keep up with a full 10-Mbps connection and 4,000 users - more than you'll need. Traffic-shaping prioritizes your research above your partner's Napster downloads; VPN capabilities create a shared network with other offices using military-grade encryption. And a second LAN port feeds your dedicated Web server.

__NetScreen-10: $3,995. NetScreen Technologies: +1 (408) 330 7800, www.netscreen.com. __

__Business Class: __
__3Com OfficeConnect Internet Firewall 25 __
With two Ethernet ports - one out to the world, one into your LAN - the OfficeConnect Internet Firewall 25 is every bit as secure as the NetScreen, and handles 25 users, but lacks VPN and traffic-shaping features and the extra LAN interface. 3Com also gives you a special deal on a subscription to CyberPatrol's CyberNot (which can run from any standard firewall), so you can keep Gross Depictions away from the kids.

__OfficeConnect Internet Firewall 25: $695. 3Com: +1 (408) 326 5000, www.3com.com. __

Coach:
__Network ICE BlackICE Defender __
BlackICE Defender isn't an appliance - it's software you install on each of your Windows or Linux machines. But the low-priced firewall is as security-obsessed as any dedicated box, and every stray packet kicks off an array of alerts. Configuration is simple but hardly flexible: You pick from Trusting, Cautious, Nervous, and Paranoid. If you choose Paranoid, you'll confront a lot of alarms and warnings - but it's better than getting hosed.

__BlackICE Defender: $39.95. Network ICE: +1 (650) 532 4100, www.networkice.com. __