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Desktop digest: 13 things you need to know to buy the perfect desktop

Despite the laptop gaining strength as the PC du jour in recent times, the desktop still has a place in the home. Here are our top 25 things to consider before buying or building your own desktop.

Apple iMac (24-inch, 2.8GHz)

A slight bump to the specifications for the same price, the option to upgrade the graphics means the 24-inch iMac keeps the Editors' Choice it earned last year.

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Reviews

  • Apple iMac (20-inch, 2.4GHz)

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

  • Alienware Area-51 m9750

    Alienware's flagship gaming laptop, the Area-51 m9750, has plenty of appeal for high-end gamers, but the alien head aesthetic seems dated, and newer components are right around the corner.

  • Apple SuperDrive Mac Mini (1.42 GHz)

    The Apple SuperDrive Mac Mini addresses some of the shortcomings of its AU$799 predecessor, making it a well-rounded home PC at its base configuration.

  • Dell OptiPlex GX280

    Dell's OptiPlex GX280 is overkill for some offices, but it's a smart investment now if you've got an eye on the future.

  • Dell Dimension 4700

    Dell's new mainstream Dimension 4700 is an affordable, forward-looking PC that's well suited for the home or the small office.

  • Dell Dimension 8400 (Pentium 4 Processor 550 3.4GHz, 1GB RAM)

    The Dell Dimension 8400 offers exciting new hardware, but unless you're a staunch early adopter, you won't see a compelling reason to make an immediate upgrade.

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Features

  • CNET Labs' Dream PC

    We started with a custom-painted case, then sought out the most powerful PC components we could find to make our desktop dream a reality.

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DIYs and How-to

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The Explain Series