Play your video, photo and music files on your TV from a networked PC. We put five network players to the test

Stack your system full of software without paying a penny, with our guide to essential downloads

Share and back up music, photos, video and documents on your network with a high-capacity NAS drive.

One of the cheapest 500GB drives here, but this is reflected in the lack of features and slow transfer speeds.

Speed up your home network with these wireless routers, including faster speeds, better gaming and VoIP handling and automatic security.

A reasonable option if your budget is tight, but you get what you pay for

Great performance, near-silent running and the FTP server make the Buffalo a great alternative to the Maxtor.

The USB port is a great feature, but we’d still choose the Squeezebox.

Poor coverage means the Zyxel isn’t a bargain.

Easy to use, and with space for a second SATA disk, but it struggles with small files and is overpriced for the features.

It lacks Wi-Fi, but is otherwise an excellent budget video-streaming choice

Decent features and speed, but still lacking in this company.

Great speed for a wireless router, but lacking features for the price.

A business-orientated router with average performance

Mediocre value for the features and performance on offer.

Packed with great features and offering decent coverage, the DIR-655 is a winner at this price.

Excellent speed, both wired and wireless, but this comes at a hefty price.

Beautifully designed with a clear interface, but format support is limited

As prices continue to fall in a competitive market, we take a look at the latest crop of devices for backup and storage.

Not the fastest or quietest here, but it does offer some unique business benefits.