Desktops & Servers > Hewlett Packard Desktops & Servers > Intel Pentium 4 and earlier > Microsoft Windows XP Media Center > Personal Computer > PC

Advantages: High Spec and a Few Hidden Extras
Disadvantages: Doesn't Really Look Like a Media Centre

Ok, so my title is a bit OTT, but there isn't much this PC cannot do, add an integrated toaster and it would be perfect. Even though I have had the PC for about a year I'm new to Ciao so I thought I better write a review for thing that brought me and Ciao together. ~*~Cosmetics~*~ To look at the M7081 looks like every other home PC. I'm not going to tell how it doesn't… because it does. The familiar tower structure is fairly plain ...
...of the case, the connectivity panel is well hidden by one of the two sliding doors on the front, what's behind the other will come later on. The look of the PC is more suited to bedroom rather than at the heart of the home as the name "Media Centre" suggests, the two tone chrome effect works well the blue light that emits from the power button and other crevasses. I am in no way trying to imply that this PC is ugly but you could find more attractive ... Read review

Advantages: Extremely fast, Great sound, Wireless keyboard and mouse, Remote control, TV and Computer!, Removable hard drive, Wireless capability
Disadvantages: No monitor, Uninspiring tower design, Flimsy HP flip-down CD flaps

...- on this computers' case HP have added: > HP Image Zone > HP Tunes You select your option using the keyboard, mouse, or remote control, and away you go! The options are fairly self-explanitory:- > Play DVD allows you to play any DVD that you place in the hard drive, with all your usual functionality of a DVD Player. > Online Spotlight - a feature exclusive to the media centre PC - this allows you to surf channel providers, and watch streaming ...
...can be controlled by the HP Remote Control - an extremely useful device! Some of what I've written doesn't even touch the surface of what's available to you in the Media Center software! To get the whole grasp of the Media Center software - I would recommend experiencing it at a computer store - or viewing some screenshots - a quick search on Google will find some helpful ones. That's enough about the software and OS - here's some stats about the ... Read review

Advantages: Quick, Cheap
Disadvantages: Better (albeit more expensive products) are out there

...* Hard disk controller HP Embedded 6 Port SATA Controller with embedded RAID (4 ports for HDD) * Internal drive bays Four 3.5" Non Hot Plug SATA * Optical drives DVD-RW * Internal mass storage Maximum 2 TB (4 x 500 GB) SATA System features * Chassis type Micro ATX Tower * Chipset Intel 3200 Chipse Networking & Expansion * Network interface Embedded NC105i PCIe Gigabit Server Adapter * External I/O ports Parallel - 0; Serial - 1; Pointing ...
...- 1; USB - 8 total (4 rear, 2 front panel, 2 internal (one for USB Tape connectivity)); Network RJ-45 (Ethernet) - 1; Management: Optional Lights-Out 100c Remote Management port * Expansion slots Expansion Slots: Slot 1: 32-bit/33MHz PCI at 3.3V slot; Slot 2, 3: PCI-Express x8 connector with x1 link; Slot 4: PCI-Express X8 connector with x8 link Power * Power supply type 365 Watts Power Supply * Power requirements 90 to 132 VAC, 180 to 264 VAC; ... Read review

Advantages: Can play the latest games, fast boot-up, reliable, runs cool, runs quietly
Disadvantages: Price is a little steep, not all games are compatible with Quad Core processors

...built XPS 420 directly from Dell which contains a 2.40GHz Quad Core processor, 4GB RAM, an Nvidia GeForce 9800GT, and all the other good stuff a computer needs. I ordered it late night on a Sunday, and I had it setup and working by the Thursday. Best of all? Shipping was free! Between pressing the power button and the computer being ready to use, you are looking at around 30 seconds. This includes me entering my password to log on. I see this as ...
...hadn't been for the current Dell offer and a discount code I had at the time. I will admit, I wouldn't have paid £920 for the system, no chance! Since starting the computer for the first time, I haven't had a single problem with it that wasn't caused by a faulty disk or my lack of patience. I would recommend it to anyone, even gamers. ... Read review

Advantages: double proccessor, never overheats, very quiet, selection of grpahics cards, enclosed in silver casing
Disadvantages: none

The Dell Inspiron 530 was a birthday present for me and is a very stylish and new computer. This computer is very stylish because of the silver casing which covers the actual black computer box its self. Bothe DVD and optional blue ray disc drives are hidden making it look plain which also makes it look very neat and tidy. The Dual Core processor is capable of much more than it seems. All though Core 2 duo would be much better, the PC is able to ...
...that the 1.4Ghz is doubled meaning that the total output is actually a big 2.8Ghz! (reliable source - My dad who works for an IT buisness as a programer). There is also a selection of graphics cards to choose with this proccessor if bought online from dell. This computer makes little noise and is very quiet compared with my mums Packard Bell computer which has only a Pentium D proccessor. There are no disadvantages to this computer so far and I ... Read review