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HP TouchSmart IQ506
HP's new-and-improved TouchSmart all-in-one PC refines the touch-based concept it introduced last year. Faster all-in-ones, and Apple's iPhone, make the TouchSmart seem a bit behind the times, but the convenient software and its kitchen-friendly design offer functionality that's unavailable elsewhere.
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Gateway GT5674
The Gateway GT5674 is a low-cost quad-core desktop that delivers excellent bang for the buck. The problem is, most mainstream users don't need four processing cores and can get away with a dual-core PC for even less.
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eMachines T3646
eMachines T3646 is one of the cheapest desktops available, and unfortunately it shows. It offers some compelling performance, but basic capability is more important in budget systems, and we found this system came up short compared with others in its price range.
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Shuttle KPC K-4500
Shuttle's KPC K-4500 has appeal as a prebuilt Linux PC for a tech-savvy owner to play around with or as a more or less accessible, basic computer to bestow upon a loved one (for whom you're willing to provide tech support). If you're aware of the potential pitfalls we recommend it, not least because it's so affordable.
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Apple iMac (24-inch, 3.06GHz)
The aluminum-and-glass look remains the same, but underneath Apple makes some small but meaningful updates to its all-in-one iMac.
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Apple iMac (20-inch, 2.4GHz)
The aluminum-and-glass look remains the same, but underneath Apple makes some small but meaningful updates to its all-in-one iMac.
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Apple iMac (20-inch, 2.66GHz)
The aluminum-and-glass look remains the same, but underneath Apple makes some small but meaningful updates to its all-in-one iMac.
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Velocity Micro Edge E2250
The Velocity Micro Edge E2250 is a very fast midrange PC, and it's one of the best PCs in its class for digital media editors. Gamers will find a strong foundation with some upgrade potential, but they can get better performance for the dollar elsewhere.
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Apple iMac (24-inch, 2.8GHz)
A slight bump to the specifications for the same price in addition to a much appreciated option to upgrade the graphics means the 24-inch iMac keeps the Editors' Choice it earned last year when the brushed-aluminum-and-glass design was first introduced.
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Dell XPS 730 H2C
Dell's updated flagship gaming desktop incorporates the latest hardware from Intel, Nvidia, and AMD into a system that delivers some very impressive gaming scores. We'd give it a higher recommendation if it wasn't so expensive compared with systems from the competition.
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eMachines T5254
The eMachines T5254 costs less than similar systems from Dell and HP, and it outperforms them (in some cases), and uses less power while doing so. You can't configure it before making a purchase, but eMachines has chosen this system's specs wisely, and with a level of environmental consciousness that make it a very enticing deal.
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Dell Inspiron 530
PC vendors have very few tricks remaining to differentiate their systems from the competition, which makes the built-in Bluetooth in the Dell Inspiron 530 unique. There's little else that makes this system stand out, but if you need Bluetooth in your budget desktop, we can recommend no other.
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Acer Aspire M5100
For performance-minded shoppers on a budget, the $700 quad-core Acer Aspire M5100 is fast enough to make you think about spending more than you might otherwise. If all you need is a capable PC with a decent hard drive, you can get away with a less expensive dual-core system.
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eMachines T5246
The eMachines T5246 is an imminently capable budget desktop, with pretty much every feature you'd want in a day-to-day PC. If you're inclined to bargain hunt you might find a better deal by a few dollars, but if you pick this one up you won't go wrong for the price.
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HP Pavilion Slimline S3330f
The HP Pavilion Slimline S3330f delivers a remarkable combination of features, value, and flexibility. It excels as both a traditional desktop, and a full-fledged living room PC, complete with a Blu-ray and HD DVD drive. Any nongamer in the market for a sub-$1,000 PC should put this system at the top of their list.
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Dell XPS 630
With its second full-fledged gaming PC, Dell shows that it understands the mainstream gaming desktop as well as the high-end. The Dell XPS 630 delivers everything a gamer would want in a sub-$2,000 PC, from its components, to its case, to its powerful software. We've seen no better system in this newly competitive category.
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Velocity Micro ProMagix E2055
Not every PC has to be a decent gaming box, but regardless, we expect them to be priced appropriately. Velocity Micro's ProMagix E2055 looks great and does well on some tests, but its gaming scores and its overall bang-for-the-buck fall short.
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Asus Nova P22 (black)
The Asus Nova P22 makes a decent attempt at competing against the Mac Mini. If you want a small form factor PC with 802.11n networking, this system is your best option. Otherwise, Asus can't compete with Apple or other Windows vendors on price, features, and performance.
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Sony VAIO VGX-TP25E Home Theater PC
You might be drawn in by the VAIO TP25's looks and features, but considering both its price and what it lacks, we hope you'll turn away. Other vendors offer similar capabilities for much less, and Sony charges way too much for this system's few advantages.
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eMachines T3642
eMachines nailed the $300-$400 desktop with the T3642. It has a faster CPU, a larger hard drive, and is generally more capable than any other system in this price category. We would recommend it over anything else out there for the same price.
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Dell XPS One (with Blu-ray drive)
It's outclassed as a computer by Apple's iMac, and as a home entertainment system by a recent HP, but in the weird niche of high-end, digital-media-friendly all-in-ones (of which we know of one other competitor) the Dell XPS One gets our nod. If you're not shopping in that narrow market, move on.
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Velocity Micro ProMagix E2240
Velocity Micro's ProMagix E2240 is perhaps the fastest preconfigured gaming desktop you can find on store shelves. It might not offer all of the features you want in a PC to anchor your digital lifestyle, but that's not really its point. Instead, this system lives up to its admirable goal of providing solid 3D gaming performance, and also offering room to grow.
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eMachines T5234
The eMachines T5234 is a capable if basic budget PC, but it takes a step back in performance because it uses a slower processor than the older model it replaces.
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Dell XPS 420
Dell's new XPS 420 offers almost all of the latest in PC-based digital-video capability, as well as a few unique features you won't find elsewhere. The default configuration fares poorly against the other new PCs, but if you're willing to spend money on upgrades, you can turn this system into a powerful digital-media nerve center.
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Velocity Micro ProMagix A50
Velocity Micro keeps to its performance ethic with this new ProMagix A50 desktop. This PC doesn't have a quad-core chip, nor does it want to serve as the hub of your "digital lifestyle." Instead, it promises fast 3D and overall performance, with room to grow. Dedicated PC gamers will appreciate what this system has to offer.
