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There are many factors to consider, many of which may be bewildering to some, when deciding which desktop or laptop to buy - it can be more than a challenge! Specifications, components, software, accessories, there's such a large number of options

Any brand new PC on the market today will be able to handle standard office chores such as word processing and spreadsheets, as well as Internet functions like e-mail and browsing. For £500 or less you will get a PC that will suit most people's needs.

If you want to edit digital video or manage large databases you may need more than the basics. Typically, for a set-up with great graphics and sound, you will have to spend between £500 and £800 for a system that will suit your needs and serve you well for the next few years.

The best way to pay only for what you need is to carefully consider what you want to do with your system now, and try to anticipate what might interest you next year. Specific applications, media players or video applications etc... will call for certain types of hardware, whether at home or in the office.

When you're ready to buy, make sure you get what you need.

Processor - 2.66-GHz Pentium 4 or Athlon XP 2800+ minimum would be adequate for the average user however we recommend a dual-core processor as minimum specification. For everyday work, word processing, spreadsheets, and e-mail, you don't need the latest, greatest, and most expensive processor.

RAM - At Least 512MB of RAM Memory. Anything less will slow your work, especially if you plan to use Windows XP and Broadband. For Windows Vista we recommend 1GB minimum, most PC's will take up to 2GB.

WINDOWS -. Most home and office PC users should find Windows XP Home or Pro a perfectly acceptable operating system.  Windows Vista Home Premium is currently priced at around £99 for an upgrade or £170 to £200 for the full package, if you are buying an operating system seperately we currently recommend XP.

GRAPHICS - Be Careful With Integrated AGP Graphics; before you buy a computer with integrated graphics, ask if it has an AGP slot. If it doesn't, you won't be able to upgrade your graphics chip in the future. If you want to do some gaming, and you're keeping an eye on the future, get a lower-level GeForce4 MX board with 64MB of RAM check that it will support next-generation DirectX games.

MONITOR - Unless you're really looking to save a few pennies, do consider a large monitor. A 19-inch monitor will let you see your documents with greater definition (or at a higher resolution) than smaller displays. LCD will take up less space on your desk and it's easier on your eyes; LCD prices keep falling, so keep a look out for bargains.

CD/DVD/HD - By this time next year, all PC's will come installed with BluRay writable drives, just like today, they are sold with DVD-RW practically as standard.  BluRay rewriters currently cost over £200 so if you are offered one in your package for a good price then take it!

HARD DISK DRIVE - An 80GB Hard Drive should be your minimum, we recommend 120GB to 200GB. A 40GB hard drive is fine for simple word processing or web browsing tasks, but you are likely to fill that hard drive very quickly. In the long run it's best to buy more storage space than you think you'll need. Today's largest hard drives reach 500GB and we are soon to see the release of the TERRABYTE - very exciting nes of a 1000GB HDD. Unless you're planning to use your PC as a mini server for your office database or for electronic entertainment, a drive with less capacity than that may be more cost effective.

CONNECTIVITY - Look for a minimum of 4 USB ports (including 2 on the front of the PC so you can connect multiple peripherals without having to reach behind the case!). If you have lots of gear to plug into the PC, look for systems with up-front FireWire (IEEE 1394) or USB 2.0 ports.

SOFTWARE - Purchase only an operating system if you are on a budget. Anti-Virus and adequate office suites are free online.

UPGRADES -  Do upgrade at the time of purchase as you wil often get a better deal on a larger hard drive or a better monitor when you first order your computer.

WARRANTY - Most PC problems tend to crop up in the first year, a one-year warranty should be fine. Returning PC's to shops such as PC World can be an absolute nightmare, they often take forever to do a minor repair and there is not replacement machine whilst yours is in the shop.

As computer warranties can often be a waste of time and money, we recommend insuring your PC with your home contents insurer and signing up to a local technical support service instead.  It is often easier get a response and quicker repair times with a smaller local company.  Like when you take your car to the garage - the cheapest and quickest MOT station is often not the large garage chains...

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