Hitachi pioneered the idea of consumer cameras capable of recording video direct to DVD. The early models were large and relatively expensive but high quality. It has taken a while for the idea to take off but it is certainly gaining momentum with a number of competitors now coming into the market. Hitachi has responded by progressively making its cameras more compact and adding extra features such as a SD memory card for storing still images or compressed video clips.

Burn straight onto a disc or choose the hybrid HDD model.

It's a sign of the times when Compaq's Aero 8000 runs Windows CE in a box bigger than a Sharp PC-A250 (reviewed issue 23, p86) running Windows 98. So what's the big idea? Windows CE uses no moving parts, while software in ROM means immediate start-up times, high reliability, and long battery life all highly desirable qualities in a portable.

High-capacity desktop drives have never been so affordable. Darien Graham-Smith puts 23 to the test to find the best

Hitachi pioneered the concept of recording digital video direct to DVD . Now into its third generation of DVD cameras, a few competitors have appeared on the horizon with its first generation models

A decent machine with plenty of power, but it’s not earth shattering in terms of features and value.

Dan Chiappini delves into multimedia jargon in our monthly tech term glossary.

If the CCD is the brain of a digital video camera it is logical that three should be better than one. A single CCD has to deal with all colours together while a 3-CCD system divides the primary red, green and blue (RGB) colours to individual CCDs to give a much more precise and accurate picture. The result is a high quality image that is as good as any of the cameras tested - including the Sony DVD201E, which provided the benchmark for most of the others.

An inexpensive laptop that, when it comes to style and quality, more than punches above its weight

Its one thing to flatter ones self but its another to be aware when its happening. Thats the impression I get when introduced to the Sony Vaio PCG-FX880K. Like the name?

Monster storage; plus a choice of professional SAS or consumer SATA interfaces and reliability to boot.

An adequate Media Centre PC, but Asus’ competitor blows it out of the water.

There is not a huge difference between this and the MV550E. In fact, if you put them side by side you have to look closely to see the difference in looks, which is model number in small print on one side.

Panasonic claims this to be the world's smallest palm-type DV camera, and who am I to argue?

Dell Dimension XPS B733r

Like most Gateway machines, the case is solid and the internal layout is very clean offering plenty of space to get in and exchange components or install drives.

Beautifully engineered and constructed, the Mac Pro is also the fastest PC we’ve ever seen by some margin.

The future, they say, is based on the Internet and mobile computing.