GREATEST TECH HITS OF THE.... 'OOS

The gadgets of the noughties were actually rather nice

- Words: Rik Henderson

As we all emerged from our underground bunkers, blinking into the sunlight and contemplating a return to the dark ages, it dawned on us that we would never again be able to bank online, illegally download Radiohead’s latest track, or book a cheap EasyJet flight to Magaluf. The Millennium Bug had bitten, and the world had descended into chaos.

Or in fact, it hadn't. It turned out that the timely computer error that was to plunge us back into medieval times was in fact thwarted by a lot of hard work from IT departments everywhere. Phew.

The 2000s then became tech’s greatest decade. The continued rise of Apple, the emergence of Netflix, and perhaps most importantly, the birth of broadband changed the world and our daily lives. We were given smartphones, high-resolution video, and proliferation of choice, as the tech firms grew to be the giants they are today.

So, join us as we look back at the noughties, and especially at the tech masterpieces the decade unleashed, with fond recollection. These devices are the forefathers of the ones you own today, and who knows, maybe one or two of them are still in use.

XBOX 360

2005

While PlayStation gets the lion's share of plaudits for the last three decades of console gaming, it was the Xbox 360 that ruled the '00s. Having been released a year before the PS3, it gained a foothold in the market that would take years to match. It also had the best exclusive games, such as some of the greatest entries in the Halo series and Forza Motorsport - and bar the Red Ring of Death, it was also the better hardware option.

Launch price: from £209.99

HELLO, HIGH DEFINITION AND NETFLIX