You probably know that many hardware manufacturers provide software for their products, but did you know that you can often try the software before you buy the hardware. Doing this can sometimes help you decide between two similar products or determine if a particular piece of hardware is compatible with your Mac. So, before buying any new hardware for your computer, check the manufacturer's website and download any software offered for the hardware you want. For example, HP has free software downloads for their Photosmart printers and for their digital cameras and most mouse and keyboard manufacturers have free downloads of software for controlling their devices. You may be pleasantly surprised by some of the software you find.