A few of their favorite things: Tech crowd ponders Colorado allure.

• Author: Lainson, Suzanne
• Position: E-buzz

EVEN WHEN WE ARE CONSTANTLY barraged by bad economic news, there are always bright spots. Like the Colorado-Nebraska football game.

I was so inspired by CU's football resurrection that I surveyed all my tech friends and asked them what they liked about the state.

The responses poured in. No. 1 one on the list was the weather, followed closely by the natural beauty of the state.

Fred Beisser, president of Tioga Capital Corp., told me, "What I really like is seeing 100 miles of snow-capped mountains along the Front Range as I come over the hill into Parker each day. And the fresh air (at least where I live), open spaces, and 300 days of sun, keep me up and running."

Similarly, Kathy Frederick, marketing promotions manager for Boulder's Rogue Wave Software, said, "Where else can you go comfortably mountain-biking in the morning and get three inches (or more) of snow that night and then have clear roads in the morning?"

Anne Tengler, president of Cornerstone Content Services in Louisville, shared her perspective. "After spending Thanksgiving week in gray (but mild for a change) Chicago, I have to say that my absolute favorite thing about Colorado is that no matter how slow the economy, how 'challenging' the client, or how much I hate balancing my checkbook, I can count on bright, warm sunshine just about every single day."

Colorado also looks good compared with Texas. Scott Toney, president of Astrea Systems, a wireless Web services platform developer in Greenwood Village, said this:

"In Dallas I had a good business environment. In Denver I have a good business environment, but on days off I can still remember why I work so hard. An escape from the excitement of work to the peace of the ski slope, the hiking trail, the fishing stream, the aspen grove, or even just the back porch on a summer evening makes life in Colorado more livable.

"Business may be a bit slow, but that just gives us more time to enjoy the...