Whether you've just run out of space or want to finally want to get round to sorting out regular back-ups for your data, then adding an external drive is an attractive solution. There's nothing to take apart and nothing to put back together again: just plug it in and off you go!

Scanners aren't fashionable any more now that the majority of printers now include one. But perhaps you're looking for something more? Which is the best standalone scanner then?

We took six very different printers--colour, mono, inkjet, laser …--and we worked out how long they'd take to run for three years. We found some surprisingly similar results, apart from one star that ended up at half of the cost of almost all the others!

When your computer doesn't have an optical drive, you have two possible solutions: use one in another computer in your home or office via the network or buy an external USB or FireWire model.

Network Attached Storage systems--more commonly known as NAS--are file servers allowing you to access files from across your network, or even over the Internet from elsewhere.

How about switching from an inkjet to a laser printer to start the New Year? This move that could actually make you save quite a lot on ink (about five times). Personal lasers have indeed become increasingly affordable, and for the first time, colour laser too is available at a price that won’t send you broke.

You may not have noticed but you spend a lot of time with a mouse in your hand. A high quality model produces less strain, has gains in precision and reactivity as well as automating the most common tasks. In this arena, the competition between Logitech, Microsoft and the others is ferocious.

Using a multimedia hard drive is supposed to be easy: fill it up with music, movies and photos, plug it into your TV, sit back, relax and enjoy the show. But with so many models available now, it's hard to know which is the best for you: do you really need HD? And what about connecting to your home network?

USB keys are taking over, but it's difficult to decide from the huge range that includes models in all shapes and sizes. Some promise incredibly fast data transfer speeds, while others come with bundled extras like games, music or movies.

Why go for a gaming headset when you can get one you will be able to use with VoIP software as well? Our round-up of headphones with microphones shows you exactly what you can get.

Webcams are useful for using instant messaging software, of course, but also for recording videos to share on sites like YouTube or even as part of a lightweight home security system. At the moment, prices aren't moving very much, but the number of extra features is rising and quality is improving.

Here you'll find our archives of webcams from 2006 to 2008.

All-in-one, or multifunction printers, are just that: they combine inkjet printing with a built-in scanner to offer color copying, and, increasingly, other features too. With a starting price of just 39 euros, they're a tempting offer for all sorts of users and are no longer relegated to their traditional status as home-office workhorses.

Ditching the keyboard supplied by your computer manufacturer and replacing it with a new model is hardly an essential upgrade, but it can prove useful. Many of the models in this survey come bundled with a wireless mouse, but we've found a lot of variation in quality amongst these supposedly basic products.

These speakers target MP3 players -mainly iPods- but can now be used with some phones too.

More compatible than joysticks and much easier to handle, gamepads are the ideal interface for sports simulations, first person shooters and all sorts of other PC games, especially for converts from the world of console gaming.