Product Reviews

Ebay is becoming an essential source for IT professionals looking for great-value computing kit. But whether buying or selling, you need the right tools to get the best possible value out of the deal.

For the best search tool with unique features and a decent interface approach to proper integration, look no further than Munnin, which gets our recommendation this month. It's as powerful an Ebay search application as anyone could want, with an ability to archive your search data offline, add watch folders, automatically synchronise data - it even comes with a shipping-costs calculator. But the unique selling point is the bargain hunting mode. This can quickly track down items that have no bids in auctions coming to an end, or ones where the bids are below a pound, for example. You have to watch for postage costs, and sniping activity can often spoil the fun, but serious bargain hunters will be hard pressed to find a better-equipped tool.