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Now when I say relevance, I don't mean just cost. I also mean the technical relevance of the products we review. We constantly discuss new technologies and products, those in production and those a few months from release. But we run the risk of being too far out on the bleeding edge. And if we did get caught out there, we'd end up compromising what we do best: providing you with the information you need to evaluate and purchase technologies to help solve real business problems. Even if our geek nature drives us to look for what's next, we make sure to focus on the here and now.

We work to balance the editorial content of every issue, aiming to cover the technologies most critical for solving your problems -- today. But we're always examining and informing you about the technologies that are sure to shape your enterprise a few years from now. We realize you have precious little time to wax poetic about what might be coming down the pike.

You have too much work to do and too little time to get it done as it is, so we keep an eye on the horizon for you.

Then there's the subject of price. When we start scoping out a new technology review or plan for an RFI process to evaluate services, we absolutely take price into account. Let's face it, a technology solution might be the best thing since instant replay, but if your checkbook can't take the hit, it serves little purpose. However, that does not necessarily mean some other reader won't be able to cut the purchase order that day if the solution fits. We service the large-scale enterprise and service provider readers every bit as much as we do small and medium-sized businesses. It's just that sometimes we can't please everyone in the same article.

So, is there any value in reading about an expensive technology you have no chance of owning in this decade? Of course. Not only will pricey technology become more affordable over time, but other technology companies eventually will deliver competitive products that may lack the scalability and performance features of the high-priced original but still deliver the core technology solution.

Storage solutions, network- and systems-management products, switches and so on -- these technology sets have cost-range models to fit any size organization. Just remember that the fastest, biggest and best core technology powering the largest computing environments today will end up in the small and medium-sized business environments -- maybe not tomorrow, but some day. Look at the new SOHO gear running at gigabit speeds: pure overkill but inevitable.

So we'll keep an eye out for all those "blue-light specials" and "2-for-1" sales on new technology. But one way or another, you'll eventually cut a check. Don't sweat it, though, Network Computing will always be here to help you find the best technology to solve your business problems -- no matter how big or small your organization. We know your company is the perfect size for you.