All SOHO Servers

The Bottom Line: For a reasonable price, the HP MediaSmart Server EX495 is a great network storage, content managing, and backup device for home and small business environments. It offers stellar performance, a great backup solution, and remote access options that are easy to use.

Specs: Intel Pentium 2.5 GHz, Intel Pentium (2.5 GHz), 2 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 1.5 TB Removable, 2 GB, Microsoft Windows Home Server, Microsoft Windows Home Server, None.

The Bottom Line: The HP MediaSmart Server LX195 is a great network storage and backup device for home users. The device offers stellar performance, and great backup and remote access options for a reasonable price.

Specs: Intel Atom 230 / 1.6 GHz, Intel Atom 230 (1.6 GHz), 1 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 640 GB Standard, 1 GB, Microsoft Windows Home Server, Microsoft Windows Home Server, None.

The Bottom Line: Microsoft's Windows Home Server is the best, easiest-to-use answer to backing up and corralling all of the disparate media files in a networked home. And delivered in this petite, relatively affordable MediaSmart Server ex745 from HP, you get plenty of storage in a well-designed hardware package. We recommend this system all the way to anyone looking to take full control of their data.

Specs: AMD Sempron 1.8 GHz, AMD Sempron (1.8 GHz), 512 MB DDR2 SDRAM, 500 GB Removable, 512 MB, Microsoft Windows Home Server, Microsoft Windows Home Server, None.

The Bottom Line: The versatile IBM xSeries 206m comes configured as a low-cost all-in-one server with plenty of room for expansion, or as a moderately priced powerhouse for resource-intensive services.

Specs: Intel Pentium 4 531 / 3 GHz, Intel Pentium 4 531 (3 GHz), 256 MB DDR2 SDRAM, None., 256 MB / 8 GB (max), None.

The Bottom Line: As long as you don't need dual processors, the PowerEdge 830 will aptly serve your small to medium-size business.

Specs: Intel Pentium D 3 GHz, Intel Pentium D (3 GHz), 1 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 160 GB Standard, 1 GB / 8 GB (max), Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition, Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition, None.

The Bottom Line: This server's solid components, economical price, and lack of manageability software make it most appropriate for budget-minded small businesses with just a few employees.

Specs: Intel Pentium D 830 / 3 GHz, Intel Pentium D 830 (3 GHz), 1 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 80 GB Standard, 1 GB / 4 GB (max), Microsoft Windows Small Business Server 2003 Standard Ed, Microsoft Windows Small Business Server 2003 Standard Ed, None.

The Bottom Line: For budding small businesses or midsize companies that have already endured their growing pains, the IBM xServer 226 is a wise investment.

Specs: Intel Xeon 3 GHz, Intel Xeon (3 GHz), 1 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 36.4 GB Hot-swap, 1 GB / 16 GB (max), None.

Editors' Take: IBM's xSeries servers speak to two groups: budding small businesses and established midsize companies.

Specs: Intel Xeon 3.6 GHz, Intel Xeon (3.6 GHz), 2 GB DDR2 SDRAM, None., 2 GB / 16 GB (max), None.

Editors' Take: IBM's xSeries servers speak to two groups: budding small businesses and established midsize companies.

Specs: Intel Pentium 4 3.2 GHz, Intel Pentium 4 (3.2 GHz), 512 MB DDR SDRAM, None., 512 MB / 4 GB (max), None.

Editors' Take: IBM's xSeries servers speak to two groups: budding small businesses and established midsize companies.

Specs: Intel Xeon 2.8 GHz, Intel Xeon (2.8 GHz), 512 MB DDR2 SDRAM, 80 GB Standard, 512 MB / 16 GB (max), None.