Desktops

Dell Vostro 320

While a few tweaks such as an in-built wireless receiver for keyboard/mouse and a video input so it could double as a monitor for your laptop would be nice, if you're looking for a cheap all-in-one PC, it's hard to ignore the Vostro 320 as an option.

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  Dell Studio One 19

  There's a decent but not great PC hiding behind the Studio One 19's touchscreen gimmickry.

  Specs: 4GB , Windows Vista Home Premium , Intel Core 2 Duo , DDR2 SDRAM

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  AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition

  While the higher power consumption is a slight concern, the X4 955 proves that AMD is back in the performance game and ready to play hard ball. Bring on the next generation.

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  MSI Wind Top AE1900

  MSI's Wind Top AE1900 tries harder than most to sell the nettop concept, but still falls flat in several specific areas, especially value for money.

  Specs: Windows XP Home , Intel Atom , DDR2-533

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  BenQ nScreen i91

  BenQ's nettop looks affordable on the surface, but you're still paying a premium for a low-powered desktop machine.

  Specs: 1GB , Windows Vista Home Basic , AMD Sempron 210U , DDR2-667

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  HP TouchSmart IQ528a

  HP's TouchSmart series still works well as an all-in-one solution, but seems to be on auto-pilot at the moment due to a lack of innovation. Here's hoping Windows 7 gives it the injection it needs.

  Specs: 4GB , Windows Vista Home Premium , Intel Core 2 Duo

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  Asus Eee Box B206

  For undemanding users who aren't into HD video, Asus' Eee Box B206 is worth a look; however, it's not powerful enough to take on other media-centre PCs.

  Specs: 1GB , Intel Atom , DDR2 SDRAM

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  Apple Mac Pro (2009)

  Apple's new eight-core Mac Pro demonstrates marked improvements over the older model in high-intensity digital media and multitasking scenarios.

  Specs: 6GB , Mac OS X , Intel Quad-Core Xeon , DDR3

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  Apple iMac 24-inch (2009)

  Apple made a number of changes to the 24-inch iMac, but making it available at this price is the most impressive. The rest of the updates are welcome, and Apple's multitasking capability remains unmatched.

  Specs: 4GB , Mac OS X , Intel Core 2 Duo , DDR3-1066