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Price: £299-499

Benefits: sufficient for most people. Easily handles Web surfing, e-mail, Microsoft Office applications and most standard multimedia applications but it is not super fast

Important: get 512 MB RAM + a flat panel monitor

Dell Dimension C521

Affordable entertainment PC

Processor:
AMD Sempron 3400+ Processor

Ram256 MB DDR2 RAM

Hard drive:
80GB SATA

Screen:
15" Analogue Flat LCD

DVD:
CDRW/DVD-ROM Combo

Other:
Windows® XP Home Edition

From£349(inc.VAT)

Price: £499-799

Benefits: easily handles Web surfing, e-mai and Microsoft Office, but is also great for multimedia fun like music, photos and video because of more power, better monitor and speakers

Important: make sure that the hard drive is >80GB to store your fun stuff

HP COMPAQ-1949

Latest multimedia Tech

Processor:
Intel Pentium D 805 Dual Core Processor

Ram: 1GB DDR2 RAM

Hard drive:
160GB SATA

Screen:
19" Analogue Flat LCD

DVD:
DL DVD ReWriter Drive

Other:
Windows® XP Home Edition

From£569(inc.VAT)

Price: £699-2000

Benefits: does everything and more super fast including games. This machine will not let you down even when seriously challenged with multitasking and heavy processing tasks

Important: make sure that you are really getting the latest technology

Dell XPS 700

Ready for duty

Processor:
Intel® Pentium® D 930 Dual Core Processor

Ram: 1024MB DDR2

Hard drive:
250GB SATA

Screen:
Not included

DVD:
16x max. DVD+/-RW Drive

Other:
Windows XP Media Centre Edition 2005

From£949(inc.VAT)

Price: £499-2000

Benefits: have one machine that allow you to manage your digital music, photos and TV with a simple and easy to navigate interface

Important: get one with a TV tuner that has Microsoft Media Center pre-installed

20" 2GHz iMac

All in one

Processor:
2.0GHz Intel Core Duo Processor

Ram: 512MB DDR2

Hard drive:
250GB SATA

Screen:
20 inch 1680x1050

DVD:
double-layer SuperDrive

Other:
Mac OS X v10.4 Tiger
Wireless & Blue tooth

From£1,129(inc.VAT)

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These sites also offer value for money and are worth a look!

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			We think: great value for money, but only available online
			Dell Web site: can be confusing and the last part of the purchasing journey is particularly long as there are so many options and things they want to sell you, but the upside is good value, latest technology and the chance to configure your own system. Notice that they often add 2 years extra warranty, which you manually can de-select to avoid paying a generous insurance premium which you might not need.

			We think: similar to Dell, but perhaps a bit more colourful but less value for money
			HP Web site: they don't make it easy to navigate their site and it is clear that their focus is more on retail than online, but it is possible but notice that you cannot configure your own system although some people might appreciate that as it is simple

			We think: great looking machines where lots of love have been put into every little detail including their easy to use software, but be ready to pay a premium.
			APPLE Web site: just like their machines, the web site looks super while the site is as their software easy to navigates

			We think: like Apple they also focus on great feel and look with many small useful details
			SONY Website: the look and feel of their website is quite nice, but overall their site is confusing as it is loaded with information and products and like HP, it can be a bit tricky to buy online

The processor is the engine of the computer and will either be made by Intel or AMD. Their entire range can do the basic job, but their latest Dual Core products offer top performance processing. While a processor is important you do not need to overinvest unless you are into heavy multimedia stuff or gaming

Short term memory used by the PC to store what your are currently working on. Compares to your desk; the bigger it is, the less you need to use your cabinet (the hard drive), which is not as easy and fast to access. Most common size is 512 Ram.

Long term memory where you store your files so this compares to your cabinet. The bigger it is, the more stuff you can keep and the less likely you are to run into capacity issues and be forced to delete old files. The most common size is 60-80 GB.

Most important is the size. Currently they range from 10" to 17" on laptops and for desktops there is no upper limit. The most common laptop format is 15" while the most common desktop monitor size is 17-19". You might prefer a Wide screen format, which is becoming can be more practical.

Most come with a DVD+RW/+R with CD-RW which means it can read and write CDs and DVDs. The speed is what makes them different. Speed range start from 6x. A DVD burning facility is now standard on most PCs, but remember to check it if you buy a basic system.

Determines how long you can use it without having to be plugged in. Standard is around 3 hours but it depends on whether you are watching a DVD or is simply writing e-mails.


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