Great monitors and mice for the holidays

If you're looking for an easy way to modernize your (or someone else's) setup, consider a new monitor, keyboard, or high-end mouse to give the same old rig a whole new feel.

The Asus PA248Q IPS monitor gives you both great performance and useful features for a low price. It's ergonomic and for those who relish a green holiday, its eco-friendly LED backlight uses less power than its highly rated predecessor.

The Samsung SyncMaster S27B970 impresses with both its sleek aesthetics and stellar performance. It's a bit on the pricey side with a hard-to-disconnect DisplayPort, but both design and performance of the monitor outweigh its cons.

"Thin, light, and only $800" aren't typical descriptors for a 27-inch monitor with a 2,560x1,440-pixel resolution. However, the UltraSharp U2713HM isn't a typical 27-inch monitor. It hits the sweet spot with a sensible design, impressive performance, plenty of connections, and screen customization options, with an $800 price, which is lower than many high-end 27-inchers.

The HP 2311xi is a monitor where the saying "you get what you pay for" is a good thing. It has wide viewing angles, good connections, and overall good performance. This monitor is a no-brainer if you're looking for solid performance at a budget price.

The Microsoft Wedge Mobile Keyboard is surely expensive, but a simple, versatile design for the stand, the strong keyboard, and an assortment of thoughtful touches make this one of the best tablet accessories to date, and an easy recommendation.

Yes, it's a little pricey, but the fact that you never have to change the battery will certainly save you some dough over the years, and in the long run makes the Logitech K760 a better deal than Apple's Bluetooth Wireless Keyboard.

Its $165 retail price will likely induce sticker shock for those who view keyboards as simple peripherals, but typing enthusiasts, geek hackers, and anyone else looking to upgrade to a mechanical keyboard with a custom paint job will find the Filco Camo Majestouch-2 Mechanical Keyboard well worth the cost.

The Wedge Touch costs a pricey $70, and that's a lot to pay for a tiny mouse. While other mice offer similar functionality and cost a lot less, they're not at all as attractive as the Wedge Touch. If you have money to burn and want an ultraportable mouse at any cost, the Wedge is a pretty pick.