1. Apple iPod
Can Apple breath life into a virtually dead MP3 market? The iPod has the right credentials. It looks stylish, is pocketable and has an integrated 5GB hard disk with enough space for 1,000 tunes. The rub is that it has a Firewire, not USB, connection. And while this enables users to transfer tracks significantly faster than most rivals, it rules out the iPod for anyone who owns a non-Firewire Mac (ie original iMacs and iBooks). Still, they can always upgrade hardware, which cynics have suggested was Apple's primary reason for releasing the i-Pod. Great gadget, though. £350
2. Compaq iPaq H3660
This time last year Microsoft was nowhere in the PDA (personal digital assistant) market. If you bought a handheld PC it had to be a Palm or Handspring. However, the arrival of an improved version of the Pocket PC operating systems coupled with superb PDAs from Compaq, and Hewlett-Packard has changed everything. Techie Britons were so excited by its arrival that for a while there was a waiting list to buy one. And a superb colour screen, stylish design, excellent battery life and seamless compatibility with Windows-based PCs means the iPaq is one of the most coveted PDAs. £400
3. Philips DVDR1000
Almost two years after it was announced, Philips brought its DVD video recorder, above, to the UK. And home cinema fans concurred it was certainly worth the wait for the quality of recordings made on to the DV+RW format discs. Those disks could then be played back in existing DVD players and drives. Hot on Philips' heels came Panasonic with its DVD-Ram video recorder. For the time being, they can only be played in the recorder. However, the DVD-Ram disks are capable of a few neat tricks, such as enabling the user to watch a programme on one part of the disk while recording a programme on to another. £1,100
4. Sony Clie PEG-N770
After a disappointing entry into the PDA market with the Clie PEG S300E, Sony upped the ante with perhaps the best Palm OS-based PDA on sale, above. It features the same 33MHz Motorola Dragonball processor as its rivals from Palm and Handspring and shares their core applications. However, its colour screen is much more comfortable on the eye. Its selection of entertainment software also sets it apart. These include an audio (MP3/ATRAC3) player and Gmovie for playing short video files. Look out for Memory Stick based add-ons (including Bluetooth and fingerprint recognition modules) arriving early next year. £350
5. Sony DSC-F707
In case anyone had doubts that Sony was taking the digital camera market seriously, the company unveiled the DSC-F707. Targeted at the serious digital photographer, the camera was among the first to take images of five megapixels. Sony didn't shirk on features either, including an autofocus facility that allows the user to shoot images in darkness and a powerful 10x digital zoom. £1,000
6. Handspring
Visor Edge Handspring's best offering this year was this ultra slim and stylish PDA. It has just been reduced in price too. £200
7. Casio WQV3
When Casio launched its watch with built-in digital camera last year, the major criticism was that it took mono pictures. Casio has gone one better this year and offered a colour version. £240
8. JVC GR-DVP1
The smallest digital video format camcorder is capable of shooting high-quality footage. It can also moonlight as a still image camera. £1,100
9. LG
MZ-60PZ10 Who could resist this 60in plasma screen TV? Shame about its outrageous price tag. £18,000
10. Panasonic DVD-LA95
The smallest and sexiest personal DVD player on sale. It plays DVDs, CDs, and CD- Roms laden with MP3 files, yet is small enough to fit in your briefcase. £1,000
