Desktops

Dell Studio One 19

The 18.5-inch Studio One 19 brings some good ideas to the all-in-one-PC table, including an optional touchscreen. We're not massive fans of its appearance, but, if you're looking for a desktop PC that takes up relatively little space, is easy to set up and reduces cable clutter, it's well worth a look

User rating 8.0

Advent AIO-101

It's not as pant-wettingly sexy as an Apple iMac, but the AIO-101 is an attractive and versatile all-in-one PC nonetheless. With a built-in hybrid TV tuner, highly adjustable 18.4-inch display, and decent, but not outstanding, performance, it's a good option for those seeking a space-saving PC

Shuttle X Vision X50

Sporting a touchscreen, dual-core Intel Atom 330 CPU, attractive design and good connectivity, the 15.6-inch X Vision X50 all-in-one desktop PC looks, on paper, to have plenty going for it. But is it enough to knock the market-leading Asus Eee Top off its perch?

Sony Vaio VGC-JS2E

In terms of design, the gorgeous 20.1-inch Vaio VGC-JS2E all-in-one desktop PC gives Apple's iMac a serious run for its money. It's a real shame that it lacks a Blu-ray drive and TV tuner, but, if you can overlook that, you'll get good performance and a beautiful screen

Apple Mac mini (2009 edition)

The latest Mac mini is an impressively energy-efficient machine that continues to pack plenty of features into a compact, space-saving chassis. Updated internal components means it's also a good multitasking machine that would be well-suited to a light-duty work role

Dell Studio Hybrid

While there are a plethora of nettops on the market that offer -- at a basic level -- the same sort of package performance as the Dell Studio Hybrid, they are not as customiseable. You can alter the Studio Hybrid both internally and externally according to your personal preferences. The icing on the cake? It is eco-friendly

Advent Eco PC

With petrol prices skyrocketing, there's no question: the cost of powering your electrical goods is getting higher and higher, too. Advent has released its Eco PC, a desktop computer that uses just 25W when idle. It comes in recycled packaging and has a few other features to help it run more efficiently, but it isn't cheap

Shuttle XPC G5 6801M

If you were left out in the cold with your HD DVD collection, the Shuttle XPC G5 6801M Media Center PC warm things over. It doesn't ignore Blu-ray users either. With a large range of configuration options, it's a great option for a home cinema environment

HP Pavilion Elite m9000 series (m9065.uk-a)

HP is ploughing ahead with another family-friendly PC in the Pavilion Elite m9000 series. It's designed to be a good all-rounder, with 3GB of RAM and a 320GB of memory. It's good for any task and particularly fares well as a Media Center. Fit it into the living room and gather the family

Mesh Mesh Elite Quad 6600 FX

The Mesh Elite Quad 6600 FX is unbelievable value for money -- it has one of the fastest CPUs on the market, a ridiculous amount of memory and a fairly decent graphics card, all for under £700

Apple iMac (4th gen)

With its super-elegant new design and a strong configuration, Apple's new iMac competes with the PC desktop market better than any previous Mac to date

User rating 6.3

Shuttle XPC mini X 200MA

The Shuttle mini X 200 is the replacement for the mini X 100, a tiny, well designed desktop PC aimed at multimedia junkies. It packs a larger hard drive and more memory than its predecessor, but it has a slower CPU and graphics card

Evesham Mini PC Plus

The Mini PC is Evesham's second interpretation of the Apple Mac Mini. It's the same approximate shape and size but is now finished in black, and this time it comes with a host of newer and more powerful components that make it a more formidable multimedia PC

Shuttle XPC mini X 100

Shuttle's XPC mini X 100 is a lovely looking unit and a solid everyday machine -- it's the smallest, sleekest range the company has produced to date. Arguably the best aspect of its performance is its quiet operation. It's barely audible when idling and doesn't get much louder when running demanding applications

Acer Aspire iDea 500

The Aspire iDea 500 is among the most exciting Media Center PCs we've seen, incorporating all the components that make Intel's Viiv spec interesting in a package stylish enough to co-exist with your current multimedia equipment

User rating 5.1

Compaq Presario SR1729

The sheer number of mid-range desktops available makes it difficult to make a buying decision, but it also means you can pick up bargains such as this Presario SR1729. It's by no means the sexiest of PCs, but it is a competent all-rounder that Compaq has blessed with a generous specification and modern components

Apple Mac Mini (1.66GHz Core Duo)

The ultimate small form-factor PC gets even better thanks to the addition of a high-speed, dual-core Intel processor and the latest chipset. It's the perfect machine for anyone who requires a second home PC, and is also ideal for those who want to jump on the shiny white Mac bandwagon without spending a fortune

User rating 9.0

Expert Technologies Fusion Multi Media PC

A Media Center PC with extensive PVR functions, the Fusion blends in with your under-TV tech, and its hybrid digital/analogue tuner lets you watch and record a host of terrestrial Freeview channels -- all for under £800. But it's badly let down by very noisy fans

Dell Dimension 5100

While Dell has taken its case design in a new, more consumer-friendly, white direction, its budget PC's innards are as dependable and adequate as ever. As long as you don't expect Battlefield 2 to run smoothly on it, this is a prime piece of good-value computing

Dell Dimension 9100

Dell's formerly bland case offerings take an interesting new turn with the 9100. Changes here are more than skin-deep: the 9100 runs a 64-bit Pentium 4 dual-core processor and it's configurable with enough graphical power to keep gamers fairly happy without breaking the bank