Desktops

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

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

Dell XPS One preview

The latest in Dell's XPS series is the XPS One, a self-contained, all-in-one desktop PC. Looking just like a monitor without a base unit, it saves space and is almost free of cables. With an integrated hybrid TV tuner and some great design touches, will this PC compete with Apple's iMac?

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

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

rock Meivo-E4300

rock's Meivo poses as a television, masquerades as a desktop and has the guts of feisty little laptop. It will no doubt please multimedia fans everywhere with its classy design, large hard drive and its ability to use up to four TV tuners simultaneously

User rating 5.0

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 Solar Storm

The Vista-equipped Solar Storm is available for £999, which might seem like a big wodge for a PC nowadays, but you get what you pay for -- a gorgeous 20-inch widescreen monitor, capacious storage and strong multimedia capabilities

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

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

Elonex Artisan

The Artisan looks like a clunky old VCR and as such, looks perfectly at home under a TV -- unlike many Media Center PCs. And with a huge range of connectivity options and relatively easy setup, it could well infiltrate more than a few living rooms

Evesham ebox

More so than any other Media Center we've tested, the Evesham ebox looks the part. Its minimalist silver fascia and slot-loading DVD drive give it living-room credentials -- but the frustrations we've experienced with other Media Centers were matched here

User rating 2.0

Apple iMac G5

User rating 6.5