Desktops & Servers > From 512 MB to 1.0 GB Desktops & Servers > 2 GHz to 2,9 GHz > Personal Computer

Advantages: A good all round system
Disadvantages: DVD writer software

When I was looking around for a new PC I only went in PC World to get a feel for what sort of things were available. I would then look around the various other more reputable high street and on-line manufacturers before parting with my cash. I never thought that 2 hours later I'd be at home setting up this truly excellent machine. This is what I got for £699: Processor: Athlon 2600 XP+ (running at 1913 Mhz) Memory: 512 MB Hard Drive: 80 GB Optical ...
...4 graphics Screen: 17" Flat Panel monitor (free upgrade from 15") Floppy drive: 1.44 MB Software: Win XP (home), MS Works, Win DVD, Ahead Nero. Modem: 56 kbps Sound: integrated Nforce2 sound Speakers: Stereo desktop USB: 6-off USB2 ports (2 on front of case) Other ports: 1 x serial, 1 x parallel, 1 x network, keyboard, PS2 mouse, speakers & microphone. Plus on the day that I bought it I was offered 10% off anything else I bought at the same ... Read review

Advantages: Superb value, quality components
Disadvantages: None

I purchased the 'October 2003 Mesh Matrix 2500+ TFT' system and it arrived a few days ago. Curiously (this review written on 21st September) this precise system is no longer available, although equivalent and doubtless slightly better value systems are now available under the subtitle November 2003! I am delighted with it in every respect, particularly on the value for money. I shall run through the specification, and comment where I see fit: - ...
...throughout (I have also reviewed Mesh as a company separately, under Offline Hardware retailers). I can't fault it in any way... Except that my only gripe regarding the system is the lack of clear setup instructions from Mesh for the system, and no manual for the speakers. There was just a poster outlining which port was which on the back of the main unit. This isn't ideal for those with little or no experience of setting up PCs! The monitor came ... Read review

Advantages: Performance, plenty of USB ports, LAN
Disadvantages: Upgradability, sound

...manufacturer support, my experience with Packard Bell has been mixed. I had another different machine from Packard Bell some time before this one and the hard drive failed. I was bounced around their customer support and sent discs, which weren't even meant for my machine and would have left me in a bigger mess but because the hard drive wasn't working, I fail to see why I was sent discs to rectify it. I also had 3 customer support engineers come ...
...were useless. I would have fixed the computer myself had I not been entitled to it free under the warranty. It was 6 months before my PC was up and running again. That was my first experience with their support. It has since gotten better. The hard drive also failed in this machine about a year ago. I was bounced around a couple of people that weren't very helpful at all but one or two were extremely helpful. They now have a service that sends you ... Read review

Advantages: Screen, Webcam, amazing processer speed
Disadvantages: With mine the Wifi can sometimes be an issue

...I bought it from the Apple store in London, where I must say the customer service is amazing and the staff had an answer to all my questions! Before this Imac I had an Ibook G4 which was the best thing since sliced bread, thats what made me want one of these. The IMac is all an all in one computer, all the bits are in the screen with only the keyboard and mouse separate. This makes it great for people with not so much space. This computer is very ...
...round, the whole unit is a sort of brushed aluminum colour and my favorite bit is the small brushed aluminum keyboard, which has nice sized buttons and a nice feel to it (ie not big and chunky keys) The IMac loads up in no time, unlike a Windows machine and within less than say 30 seconds you are ready to go. The screen is Massive, bright and very clear, and the graphics can easily handle online TV and gaming, I use mine to play World of Warcraft ... Read review

Advantages: ibms past record
Disadvantages: poor choice of graphics port

I've got one of these, in fact I'm writing this review on it right now. I bought it at my local auctions 2 years ago & I'm still getting great use out of it. It looks sleek with its all black case, keyboard & mouse. It's really easy to do upgrades on as it requires no tools to open the case or remove any parts. I upgraded the dvd-rom in mine to a rewriter & it took minutes to do & was as quick to get running & burning with. It might not have a ...
...games pretty well. I've been able to play both Quake 4 & Half Life 2 at fairly decent speeds. The port to fit a graphics card is a slightly annoying issue as it's intended for a standard PCI card & I was expecting to find an AGP port but I guess thats the price you pay for buying what was only ever intended to be a business machine. On-board sound is very good, the 1gb of RAM that comes as standard is more than enough for what I use it for. It ... Read review