Better looking PCs: A scientific approach
For a stylish new PC, simply compare the specs, consider the price, then pick the design that most suits your desktop
1. EEE TOP 1602 SERIES ALL-IN-ONE (above)
£450, uk.asus.com
Processor 1.6GHz Intel Atom
Memory 1GB
Hard drive 160GB
Verdict This is one of the coolest-looking desktops out there, at any price. Proof that you don't have to fork out hundreds for an Apple logo to look swish. Decent specs and a touchscreen built in.
2. ADVENT ECO PCT 5250 (above)
£350, pcworld.co.uk
Processor 1.5GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T5250
Memory 2GB
Hard drive 160GB
Verdict This machine is reasonably beefy, processing-wise, but uses 75 per cent less power than a standard PC. The casing is also made from recycled materials for even more eco pose value.
3. AMILO DESK TOP SI3535 (above)
£400, argos.co.uk
Processor 2.2GHz Intel Pentium Dual Core E2200
Memory 3GB Harddrive320GB
Verdict A wireless keyboard and mouse, plus ultra-fast Wireless-N Wi-Fi make this a bargain at this low price. Plenty of RAM, too, so should last - although the looks aren't exactly catwalk.
4. SONY JS ALL-IN-ONE DESKTOP (above)
£909, sonystyle.co.uk
Processor 2.8GHz Intel Core 2 Duo E7400
Memory 3GB
Hard drive 500GB
Verdict Sony is second only to Apple when it comes to stylish desktops - and this is a beauty. Still, unless you are Bill Gates, it's difficult to justify blowing £900 on a machine that doesn't even have Apple's excellent Mac OS X.
5. ADVENT ALL-IN-ONE 100 (above)
£450, pcworld.co.uk
Processor 1.6GHz Intel Atom
Memory 1GB
Hard drive 160GB
Verdict This is a neat little unit with a DVD rewriter as standard. The paltry 1GB RAM won't be enough for more demanding software, and the looks are functional rather than inspiring.
6. APPLE IMAC (above)
£950, pcworld.co.uk
Processor 2.66GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
Memory 2GB
Hard drive 320GB
Verdict Macs are never going to be good value, but once you've emptied the piggy bank, you do at least get Apple's excellent hacker-resistant operating system as well as the swish unit.
7. HP TOUCHSMART IQ820 (above)
£1,600, pcworld.co.uk
Processor 2.13GHz Intel Core Duo 2T6400
Memory 4GB
Hard drive 640GB
Verdict The huge 25.5in touchscreen and dedicated picture and music-browsing software make this a great purchase as a family PC, so long as your family is well-heeled enough to take the hit. You can even hang it on the wall.
8. PACKARD BELL IMEDIA D2317(above)
£400, pcworld.co.uk
Processor 2.4GHz Intel Pentium Dual Core E2220
Memory 2GB Harddrive160GB
Verdict The processor here is nicely zippy, but otherwise the specs are nothing to shout about, particularly as the unit isn't exactly pretty.
9. ASUS EEE BOX 206(above)
£310, uk.asus.com
Processor 1.6GHz Intel Atom
Memory 1GB Harddrive160GB
Verdict This patterned box is inconceivably tiny and cool - but the specs aren't dazzling, and you add your own keyboard and screen (it doesn't come with the ones pictured). Is there a point in buying a stylish base when it's paired with your grotty old mouse?
10. PACKARD BELL IPOWER X9910(above)
£1,050 ,pcworld.co.uk
Processor 2.66GHz Intel Core 2 Quad
Memory 4GB
Hard drive 640GB
Verdict The quad-core processor and beefy NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260 graphics card mean that this is aimed squarely at gamers and hi-def video fiends - and in that arena, it's actually good value.
11. ADVENT AIO200(above)
£900, pcworld.co.uk
Processor 2.3 GHz Intel Core 2 Quad Q8200
Memory 2GB
Hard drive 500GB
Verdict Decent spec, massive hard drive and iMac-alike looks. It's a similar price to Apple's desktop machine - but running the inferior Windows.
12. DELL STUDIO HYBRID (above)
£449, dell.com/uk
Processor 2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T5750
Memory 2GB
Hard drive 250GB
Verdict Given that you just get the base unit here, this isn't that good value. For very little more you can get screen and keyboard thrown in.
