Unless you have a really good reason, and you know whats inside a PC, don't build one. PCs are so well priced these days that you can get a really well spec'd PC that will last you for years to satisfy all your surfing, document writing and photo needs.

A good reason... well, unless you have special graphics needs like serious gamers, or professional video editing, or some special data processing need you don't have a good reason. You may be able to save perhaps £100 by getting all the components separately but you'll lose all the testing that the big manufacturers put in. Not to mention the difficulties you'll end up with should it not work !

Where should you go to buy a PC? confusing isnt it! Go to Dell. Why? Quite simply, because they are good. Dell PCs are reasonably priced (as they build to order and ship direct) are designed and built well (I have placed hundreds over the years with a tiny failure rate). Do I use Dell? Yes, my home PC is a Dell and my office PC is a Dell and I even have a Dell PDA. Don't try and find them on the High Street, they're not there... just click here

Europc is one of the largest suppliers of discounted, surplus and factory refurbished computer equipment in the UK. EuroPC supply Dell, amongst others, and you already know what I think of Dell. I have bought two Dell PCs from EuroPC personally and also placed another. All have been excellent and significantly cheaper than direct from Dell. Why? Well Dell PCs are built to order so when a PC is ordered incorrectly or the payment/finance fails there is a PC built with no home )-: It gets shipped back and is refurbished (if its been opened) its tested again then as there is no shelf to put it back on it is sold at a discount.

Ok, I have to admit to not being an Apple fan over the years but the Apple iMac is a very sexy piece of kit. The electronics are all housed in the screen so you just have the screen, keyboard and mouse... nice.

If you're an Apple fan you'll be entirely at home with the operating system but if you are a PC fan you'de prefer Microsoft Windows XP... Good news! Apple will include technology in the next major release of Mac OS X, Leopard, that lets you install and run the Windows XP operating system on your Mac. Its called Boot Camp and you can download a public beta if you can't wait for Leopard to arrive.

If you need a laptop you are unlikely to get it for a better price than at Laptops Direct. Not much more to say really.

As I have already said, I don't recommend building a PC unless you have a really good reason... one good reason to build or modify a PC is to make it quiet, particularly if it is a home PC. QuietPC supply many many components that are engineered to be quieter as well as cases and acoustic kits that absorb the sound that is enevitable made. Definately worth a visit. I have a server that runs 24x7 (doh) and it doesn't wake the kids...

If you do have a really good reason to build a PC and you know how to do it you'll know where to get the bits so I'm not going to suggest anywhere else here...