HP-Pavilion Desktop a6414f

PROCESSOR SPEED:  3.0 GHz

HARD DRIVE:  360 GB (can add a 2nd removable hard drive)
RAM (Memory): 3 GB expandable to 8GB

CACHE MEMORY:  2MB
OPERATING SYSTEM:  Windows Vista Home Premium with SP1

VIDEO MEMORY:  128MB

GRAPHICS:  NVIDIA GeForce 6150 SE graphics

MONITOR:  17" Widescreen Flat Panel LCD Monitor

NETWORK CARD:  (Ethernet) Built in10/100Base-T (RJ-45 connector)

USB PORTS:  6 (2 front, 4 rear)

KEYBOARD:  HP Multimedia

ADDITIONAL:  Inkjet Printer, RAM expandable to 8GB, DVD+RW/CD-RW drive)

WARRANTY:  1 year limited

APPROXIMATE COST:  $529.99

Consumer comments: "I got this computer and I would recommend it to anyone, why waste money on all those bells and whistles when this basic computer does the trick for a lot less.
 

INTERMEDIATE

Dell I530-103B Desktop

PROCESSOR SPEED:  2.4 GHz per core

HARD DRIVE:  640GB (can add a 2nd removable hard drive)
RAM (Memory): 3 GB expandable to 4GB

CACHE MEMORY:  8MB
OPERATING SYSTEM:  Windows Vista Home Premium with SP1

VIDEO MEMORY:  224MB (shared)

GRAPHICS:  Intel®Graphics Media Accelerator 3100

MONITOR:  22" Widescreen, Flat-Panel LCD Monitor (3-year limited warranty on parts)

NETWORK CARD:  Built in10/100 Mbps Ethernet LAN (RJ-45 connector)

USB PORTS:  8 (4 front, 4 rear)

KEYBOARD:  Dell USB

ADDITIONAL:  Canon Photo Printer, Copier & Scanner; RAM expandable to 8GB, DVD+RW/CD-RW drive)

WARRANTY:  1 year limited

SOFTWARE INCLUDED:  Microsoft Works 8; Roxio Creator Basic

APPROXIMATE COST:  $949.97

Consumer comments:  sleek, fast, reliable, initial set up was painless

Apple iMac

PROCESSOR SPEED:  3.06 GHz

HARD DRIVE:  500GB Serial ATA Drive  (archive and edit hours of video)
RAM (Memory): 2 GB; supports up to 4GB

CACHE MEMORY:  6MB
OPERATING SYSTEM: 

VIDEO MEMORY:  256MB (shared)

GRAPHICS:  NVIDIA GeFore 8800 (video streaming; high resolution

MONITOR:  24" glossy Widescreen LCD Monitor

NETWORK CARD:  10/100/1000 BASE-T Gigabit Ethernet (NJ-45 connector)

USB PORTS:  5 (3 on computer; 2 on keyboard)

KEYBOARD:  Apple Wireless

ADDITIONAL:   512MB of GDDR3 memory for graphic intense applications; Built in Blue Tooth; built in stereo speakers; SuperDrive with 4x double-layer burning DVD+R DL/DVD+RW/CD-RW; built in iSight camera; mini-DVD output port with support for DVI, VGA, S-video, and composite video connections; built in wireless

WARRANTY:  1 year limited

SOFTWARE INCLUDED:  iWork 08

APPROXIMATE COST:  $2,500

Consumer comments:  easier to set up than a "real" PC; excellent design. Comes well-equipped".