PLDS DX-20A4PU

If you're pushed for time and don't want to mess around with PC software just to burn a few copies of a disc then you could find the DX-20A4PU useful to have around.

Produced by PLDS (Philips & Lite-On Digital Solutions - a joint venture between the two companies), it's an external DVD writer that features two touch sensitive buttons on top of the drive - the file button will backup files from the PC while the dub button will make a disc to disc copy, useful if speed is of the essence.

To further ensure you're not hanging around waiting for it to finish, it can write DVDs at 20x speed and features support for both +R and -R discs. If you want to burn dual layer discs, then it supports those too, albeit it at a lower 8x speed.

The DX-20A4PU will be available soon for £49, see Lite-On for further details.

Mio C230

Satnav is no longer a luxury add-on and Mio has a budget route finder that will help you reach your destination.

Its new C230 GPS is aimed at the first time user, but still has maps covering 22 western countries so it will help you find your way whether you're just driving around town or off to more exotic destinations. It has a 3.5in touch sensitive display, so it's easy to use while you're on the road and the full post code recognition makes it easy to specify your destination.

It also knows where speed cameras are situated and comes with a year's worth of updates included in the purchase price.

The C230 is available now for £139.99, see Mio for more information.

Dell XPS M1530

If you want a thin laptop to slip into your travel bag then Dell's new XPS M1530 could be just the thing you're looking for. It's only 1in thick, so you shouldn't have a problem finding a home for it while you're travelling.

As it's part of Dell's high end XPS range it comes decked out with brushed aluminium accents and is available in a range of colours from black and white to red. It features a 15.4in screen and comes with an HDMI port if you want to hook it up to a high definition TV - perfect if you've chosen to add on the optional Blu-ray drive.

It features a 1.5GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T5250 processor and 1GB of RAM and comes with a 120GB hard drive as standard.

The XPS M1530 is available now in the States from $999 (around £480), a UK launch has yet to be set. For further details, see Dell's website.

Medion MD8828

HD DVD and Blu-ray may have been luxury items a year ago, but twelve months is a long time in IT and you can now find them in machines in the middle range of the market.

Medion is bundling the MD8828 PC with a multi-format drive capable of reading both HD formats, so you don't have to worry about being left with an obsolete machine if one format becomes the standard.

It's got a decent specification, with a 2.66GHz Intel Core 2 Duo E6750 processor, 2GB of RAM and a 500GB hard drive. The nVidia GeForce 8600GS graphics card features both a DVI-I and HDMI connector, so you shouldn't have a problem hooking it up to a widescreen TV or flat panel monitor. It runs Windows Vista Home premium and also has a Freeview tuner, perfect for making the most of the bundled Media Center software.

The MD8828 will be available through Aldi from the beginning of December for £629.99, see Medion for further details.

Dell XPS One

Dell is clearly angling for the iMac market with its new XPS One - an all-in-one PC that can also turn its hand to HD entertainment.

It only requires a single cable to provide power, with everything else - from keyboard and mouse to network and peripherals - handled wirelessly thanks to the built in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 2.0. It also features a motion sensor, so when you move your hand close to the screen a row of multimedia buttons light up, ready for action.

The 20in display has a widescreen resolution of 1,680x1,050 pixels, making it suitable for 720p HD content but just short of the top end 1080p standard. The base model comes with a standard DVD drive, but Blu-ray is available as an option.

Prices for the XPS One start at $1,499 (around £725), a UK price and release date has yet to be announced. For more information, see Dell.

Philips SRU8015 Prestigo

If you're constantly adding devices to your home entertainment setup, then you'll quickly find that it looks a bit like your remote controls have been breeding, which each box coming with its own controller.

If you want to pair down your sofa-side devices, but still keep the same amount of boxes beneath your TV then Philips has a new universal remote control that can handle up to 15 different devices from a single handset.

The SRU8015 Prestigo features a 2in, 176 x 220 full-colour LCD screen, a rotary wheel and white key backlighting making it easy to operate even with the lights down. It supports almost all devices and can learn codes of new remotes simply by pointing the existing remote control at it.

The SRU8015 is available now for £99.99. For further product information see Philips' website.

iSkin Cerulean TX F1

The Cerulean TX F1 from iSkin allows you to upgrade your iPod so it can broadcast music wirelessly. The kit comprises of two parts - the TX transmitter that you bolt to the bottom of your music player and the F1 Bluetooth headset for listening to your tunes.

According to iSkin, the F1 is the world's smallest Bluetooth 2.0 earphone and weighs just 35g so should be comfortable to wear for long periods of time. If you've got a Bluetooth enabled Mac running the latest Leopard OS, then you can also use the F1 earphones with that - or for PC users a USB adapter is included in the box.

The headset can also pair with your mobile phone and the built in microphone means you can easily take calls while you're listening to music.

The Cerulean TX F1 is available now for £129.99, see iSkin for further details.

Bye Bye Standby Online

If you're feeling a little guilty about your carbon footprint, but don't really want to give up your gadgets, then Bye Bye Standby can make you feel better about your impact on the environment by allowing you to at least reduce your energy use when you're not actually playing with your toys.

Just plug it into your router and you can monitor your energy use and even turn devices off wherever you've got an internet connection. It integrates with Bye Bye Standby's Smart Sockets and allows you to control the power supply to any device plugged into them in your home.

According to the company, the system will save the average UK household £38 a year on their electricity bill, which isn't to be sniffed at, plus you can sleep better at night knowing you're doing your bit to reduce global warming.

The device is available now for £49.99 from Bye Bye Standby.

D-Link DSM-510 HD Media Player

If you're not currently living the digital lifestyle dream, wirelessly streaming high definition video, images and music around your house from a central server but are eager to make up for lost time, then take a look at D-Link's DSM-510 HD Media Player.

The DSM-510 adheres to Intel's Viiv home entertainment standard, which should make it easy to setup and use with Viiv compatible PCs. It's also DivX Home Theatre Certified, meaning you shouldn't have any problems playing back DivX encoded movies or videos and it can also handle MPEG-1, 2 and 4 plus WMV format files.

It features an HDMI port, making it easy to hook up to an HD TV and supports both 720p and 1080i high definition resolutions, although not the highest quality 1080p format.

The DSM-510 will be available soon, pricing has yet to be set. See D-Link for more information.

Saitek Photo Mouse

If you've ever thought your trusty mouse was just a bit too impersonal and boring, then you need Saitek's new Photo Mouse. It works like any ordinary rodent, except you can add your own pictures to it - turning it into a tiny, yet functional, mobile picture frame.

To add a dash of colour and personality to the mouse, simply print out your chosen photo and cut it to size using the supplied template. Then simply slide the image underneath the transparent cover on the top and close the lid to keep it in place. There's a built in light underneath the photo area which will illuminate your image when the PC is turned on.

The 800dpi optical mouse will work happily with both Windows and Mac computers and connects via USB.

The Photo Mouse is available now for £12.99, see Saitek for further details.