12 Tech Must-Haves All the essentials for about $2,000 (cool chair included).

Welcome to the golden age of small business technology. If the grueling Great Recession has a silver lining, it's this: Tech vendors are innovating and discounting. From furnishings to computers to mobile devices, consumer electronics have never offered the start-up enterprise more for less. What it used to cost for a computer, printer and some software will now get the savvy entrepreneur an entire office. So if you're ready to start that business, you owe it to yourself to check out these 12 essentials, all for about two grand.

1. Humanscale Diffrient World Mesh Back Task Chair (starting at $600)
New York-based Humanscale, a high-end maker of office products, has worked hard to bring some of its best chairs within reach of small budgets. For our money--and yours, considering how much time you will spend in that command position-- the Diffrient World line (named for designer Nils Diffrient) is the right balance of ergonomics, good looks and value. At this price, it's a bargain. And your back will thank us.

2. Dell Vostro 1015 Notebook PC ($450)
Fear not, Mac heads: You will get your Steve Jobs style points when we get to smart phones; but the fact is, burning three quarters of your budget on a MacBook makes no sense, when a mere $450 buys an awesome notebook from Dell--a basic black, 15-inch Dell Vostro running Windows 7 Home Premium. Skip the Microsoft Office software and instead get a free Google Apps account (more on that later). And stay away from fancy memory upgrades, beefier processors or extended service plans. Eventually, you will need to upgrade to a better PC and Microsoft Office as you grow. But for now keep it cheap, fast and simple.