Autumn is here, and the Ingram Micro Solution Centers have a rich harvest of new technology to offer solution providers. Here are a few of the latest additions, according to Fran Murello, senior engineer at the East Coast Solution Center.

Digital Home and SOHO
The East Coast facility recently completed a large-scale, 1,000-squarefoot expansion that included new digital home and SOHO demonstration facilities. In the added space, visitors can sample a variety of digital home and SOHO products from NEC Technologies, Microsoft, Buffalo Technology, Panasonic and other leading manufacturers.

"We're using the Media Center features of our Microsoft Vista PC to act as a central repository and management station for audio and video media that is stored on a Buffalo Technology TeraStation," says Murello. "The Xbox 360 is being used as an extender, which is how most people would set it up in their homes."

Murello reports that he is also using Keyspan's new iPod Tuneview to remotecontrol an iTunes-equipped PC, as well as taking advantage of Keyspan's 4-port USB serial adapter.

"It's great because many new laptops don't come with serial ports, which are critical for any engineer that needs to work on networking equipment," he says.

Other new products in the Digital Living Room and SOHO area include an NEC 1080P monitor, a Panasonic 1080P projector with a 100-inch diagonal screen, Polk Audio in-wall speakers, and Smarthome INSTEON lighting controls that are programmed to simulate a variety of lighting conditions. Gyration, a provider of motionsensing controllers, has supplied RF presentation devices, home theater remote controls and wireless keyboards for use with Microsoft Media Center. Visitors to the Solution Center also can test Digital Associate, a new dig ital signage product from Audio Video Interactive.

Business Solutions
Both the East and West Coast Solution Centers are featuring new technology in their data centers, including the latest blade servers and storage systems from HP and IBM; high-end, large-format DesignJet Z3100 and Z6100 printers from HP; digital signage and IP surveillance solutions from Cisco Systems; and products from Castelle, Corinex, Microsoft, Symantec, Websense and Xerox.

"One of the latest products we've received is Microsoft's new RoundTable videoconferencing phone," says Murello. The phone's built-in 360- degree camera creates a panoramic video with side-by-side images of everyone who is taking part in a conference, and tracks the flow of the conversation so the image and voice of each speaker is spotlighted.

"The depth and breadth of product in the Solution Centers continues to grow," Murello says. "It's the place to see and use new technology."

For more information about the Solution Centers, or to arrange a tour of a Solution Center facility, Ingram Micro customers can call (800) 759-3003, ext. 23340, e-mail solution.center@ingrammicro.com or visit http://www.ingrammicro.com/solutioncenterrequest.