While it's not perfect, NEC's Powermate S7000-003 is a capable machine for the office that undertakes basic, everyday tasks.

This is a relatively simple PC, which has been designed to be as power-efficient as possible. For the most part, it consumes well under 100W of electricity, even under a full load, yet it's definitely not a slow coach. It's suited to large PC roll-outs for schools and government departments, and also for any office where employees forget to switch off their PCs before leaving for the day.

This PC is worthy of consideration if you want something zippy and good-looking, not to mention easy to maintain and upgrade, for the office.

The HP DX2710_03 (FH071PA) is a very capable business PC that is stylish enough to suit any home environment. Featuring a very effective processor, a wide array of expandability options and a sub-$1000 price tag, its only let-downs are the relatively small hard drive and the lack of DVI outputs.

This business PC has an enticing price tag and is useful for multitasking, but it needs much better graphics capabilities.