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We’ve tested some of the latest technology and found the gadgets that can give your job hunting a boost - or even just make student life a bit better.

Terratec Cinergy Hybrid T XS
This tiny gadget turns your PC or laptop into a fully-fledged TV – ideal for both students in halls or for those travelling while on business.

The Cinergy includes a digital tuner to receive all the many Freeview channels and radio stations as well as a backup analogue tuner for when you’re in a non-digital area. You simply install the software and plug the small device into a spare USB2 port on your machine to start watching telly.

It’s relatively easy to use - the software includes an electronic TV guide and you can even record programmes on to your computer hard disk.

A remote control and a compact travel antenna are included, or you can plug in a normal roof aerial. The makers suggest using it on faster computers – 2GHz or higher – although we had it working on a slower laptop. A cheaper digital-only version is also available.

Price: £81.71 from www.cclonline.com
Verdict: Great for gadget lovers who want TV on the move.
Contact: www.terratec.co.uk

Think Outside Stowaway Bluetooth keyboard
The latest mobile phones and pocket computers are great for checking your e-mail or surfing the web, but the lack of a keyboard can be hugely frustrating.

That’s where the Stowaway comes in – it’s a mini folding keyboard that connects wirelessly to your Bluetooth-equipped phone or PDA, making communications on the move a breeze.

Initial setup is straightforward, though you might need the latest software from the maker’s website, and in use the keyboard folds out in a James Bond gadget-style motion to reveal a decent-sized set of keys.

You can touch-type on it after a bit of practice and there are shortcut buttons for commonly used functions, the only minor gripe being the doubling up of letters and numbers on the top row of keys.

While you wouldn’t want to type a novel on the Stowaway, it beats fumbling on a phone keypad hands down.

Verdict: A must for mobile e-mailing for work or personal use.
Price: £64.61 from www.discountgpsdirect.co.uk
Contact: www.thinkoutside.com

U3 USB drive
USB memory drives are a brilliant way of taking all your computer data with you – be it your latest CV or your important work documents.

But a new type of pocket drive – called U3 – goes one step further by running programs directly from its own memory. This clever trick means you can plug the tiny drive into a computer in an internet café, university library or an office and then surf the web or send e-mails without leaving a data trail or footprint on the host PC.

Any passwords, messages or transactions you input will all be kept on the pocket drive alone so there’ll be no trace of your activities on the computer itself. As well as e-mail and internet programs, other software for the U3 drive can be downloaded - some are free while others are paid for.

We tested 1Gb memory drives with the U3 standard from Disgo and Verbatim and both worked flawlessly on our XP systems. Other manufacturers’ versions are also available,

Verdict: Surprisingly useful – if you’re after a USB memory drive, get a U3 version.
Price: 1Gb Disgo U3 is £58.29 from www.epcbuyer.com
Contact: www.u3.com

Devolo Microlink dLAN Highspeed starter kit
Wireless internet connections – called Wifi – are great for online access throughout a home or office, but the signal can easily be cut by walls, floors or interference.

This Microlink system offers an elegant solution in the shape of two plug adapters which safely carry the internet signal over the electricity mains.

One plug is for your broadband router, while the other connects to a computer or network device, theoretically located anywhere in the house or office where there’s an electricity socket.

The adapters have a speed rating of up to 85Mbps, which is faster than all regular Wifi devices and means that you stream video and music across the network, as well as access files and the internet.

It’s simplicity itself to set up and use – the starter kit comes with two plugs and two network cables – and we found no problems at all connecting up computers separated by several floors.

A cheaper but slower version of the kit is also available at about £75 which runs at up to 14Mbps but which includes sockets for both USB and network devices.

Verdict: Not cheap, but an excellent way of getting internet access where Wifi fails.
Price: £111.40 and free delivery at www.amazon.co.uk
Contact: www.devolo.co.uk

All prices are correct at the time of going to press. While we’ve searched extensively to find the best deals, you should check the internet and stockists yourself.

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