Kudos to Xanboo for taking a relatively complex home surveillance system and making it blissfully easy to use. The package includes a color camera with a built-in motion detector, a 60-foot video cable, a four-camera–capable base station, and software. Wizards guide you quickly through setup and device management, and the software interface is both intuitive and attractive.

Although the Internet Home Management System is great at capturing still-image and video events triggered by alarms and can also stream live video, you need to purchase a subscription from Xanboo.com to see these things ($9.95 per month for a one-year agreement; 5MB is included, with more storage at an additional monthly charge). But with accessories—including sensors that detect door and window motion, temperature, sounds, and water leaks—the Xanboo Internet Home Management System is one of the few offerings that goes beyond home surveillance and into the realm of home security.