You might ask when starting to read this review, "How can someone get excited about a surge protector?" Well, it goes without saying that many of us struggle with that spaghetti junction of wires tangled under our desks. Whenever I install a new set-up, things look neat for about five minutes. The moment I move something the cables seem to tangle themselves.

Belkin have offered a lot of variants of surge protector before, but this new 'Compact Surge Protector' certainly breaks from the norm and offers a design that should have been released years ago. The products gives you six surge protected sockets, plus three telephone sockets (on input, two outputs). What makes the unit stand out from the crowd is its design. The unit sits vertically, with three sockets on each side. Also, the sockets face downwards, so when you have equipment plugged in, the wires are pointing in the right direction. Fantastic solution this, as it means you can bundle all your excess cable behind your desk or the equipment itself and keep it hidden away.

You can also route your cables in the traditional way, along the floor. To keep things tidy there is a simple, but effective management clip that is connected to the two metre length power cable. The clip can be slid to any position and your equipment cables can be routed through it. This is a nice addition, just a shame there was not two provided for even more flexibility.

For your money you get a very useful and well thought out design. The unit provides 2,190 joules of surge protection, plus £100,000 of electrical insurance for connected equipment. Belkin also throw in a lifetime warranty, which shows how confident they are of their products. Everyone should protect their valuable computer and other electrical equipment with a surge protector. I strongly advise you to invest in one today, and you won't go far wrong with the Compact Surge Protector from Belkin, as it only costs £24.99.

Note: I am the original author of this review at www.geekanoids.co.uk