A typical custom PC with plenty of power and a touch of room for upgrades, the Mega PC MPC Quad Fortress is an easy choice for those who don't want to build their own PC.

Not only is this system versatile and powerful, but is reasonably quiet and has been pitched at a fair price. It will be an effective media centre, play the latest games, run any Office or antivirus programs you might need for personal and work situations, and is Vista capable when you decide to make the switch. Added storage may be necessary for some.

This machine should handle all the latest games with ease and won't burn a hole in your wallet.

This PC is perfect as an out-of-the-box solution for a family. It comes with Microsoft Works, Encarta and its input peripherals and 19in LCD screen make it a joy to use.

The Dell XPS 720 is a little hard to judge. One can't help but admire the effort Dell has put into its design and construction, yet by the same token, its a little awkward and the construction is excessive. It sure does look good though, so if you're after a machine that will be used for gaming, or even 3-D and video rendering applications, then it's worth considering.

As appealing as the new iMac is, with the Leopard operating system coming this month, I'd recommend holding off. If you do, you'll get the new OS preinstalled.

The iMac Core Duo is undoubtedly one for the future, especially considering the impending release of Windows Vista.