Hard-Core Gamer

Must-haves:

Huge hard drive; scorching video card; big-time performance.

Games are among the few applications that truly require a high-end computer. Gamers should get the fastest available. Right now, that means a 2.2 GHz Pentium 4 or an Athlon-based system. If you're buying an Intel machine, make sure the motherboard has a dedicated AGP bus slot to get good-quality graphics. You also need a good graphics card, such as an Nvidia GeForce-based card. You should also get at least 256MB of RAM and spring for top-notch speakers. Just as important is making sure that your system has lots of room for expansion with open bays and extra PCI slots. 

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SOHO User

Must-haves:

Midrange machine; solid warranty; networking options.

The SOHO user needs the basic business PC. Because you don't have the budget for an in-house technology expert, small-office users need to get a solid warranty and tech-support plan--specifically, at least 36 months on parts and labor and unlimited, toll-free phone support. Be sure to get a full productivity software suite included in the system price, too. If your operation has more than one person, you'll need a home-networking solution for email and sharing peripherals and Internet access.

Minimum Specs:

Budget Buyer

Must-haves:

Solid core specs; ample system manageability.

If you're a first-time user, don't shop solely on the basis of price. Trust us: Cheap PCs generally have little or no service and support and will cost you your sanity. It's not worth it. If you're comfortable setting up a PC, then you can get a machine that will work for low cost outlay (£500) and a good PC for about twice that (£1,000). Even in the low cost range, you should be able to get a fairly nimble machine. But steer clear of a common trick that manufacturers use to keep the price down: a very slow graphics chip on the motherboard. ATI and Intel graphics chips generally strike a good price-performance balance. If you're looking for a bargain, start at CNET Auctions. 

Minimum Specs:

Family Focused

Must-haves:

Airtight technical support; a big hard drive; lots of handy extras.

A family computer probably gets more of a workout than any other. It's used for everything from extra office work to DVD movies, so it's best to get a home computer with fairly high-end specs: at least a 1 GHz Celeron processor, a Pentium III or an Athlon CPU, 128MB or more of RAM, and at least a 40GB hard drive. A good home PC may also ship with an ink jet printer. You should be able to get all this in the £1,000-to-£1,700 range. Unless you have an in-house technical guru, opt for a solid service and support plan, specifically 36 months of parts and labor support plus unlimited, toll-free phone support.

Minimum Specs:

Business Buyer

Must-haves:

Solid core specs; ample system manageability.

Chances are that your corporation has picked your PC for you already. Most office workers don't need a heavy-duty PC; word processing and Web surfing don't require a lot of power or high-end components. A decent business PC should have a 733-MHz CPU (most likely a Pentium III), at least 64MB of RAM, at least a 10GB hard drive, and a 17-inch monitor. If you're a systems or network administrator, your primary consideration should be system manageability (the ability to track and upgrade all of the computers on your network from a central location) and strong service and support. Dell, HP, and IBM all do a good job on this front.

Minimum Specs:

Starving Student

Must-haves:

Ample power; money left over for ramen noodles.

Students on the go: skip a desktop altogether and get a laptop. Take it to class, type in your notes, and spare the hassle when you have to move to a different dorm. If you don't need the most cutting-edge computing performance, you should also consider an iMac or an iBook, because students can often get great on-campus deals on Apple products. If you really want a desktop system, a solid home PC will do you fine. (Game-addicted students are a different breed, of course.)

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Computing Beginner

Must-haves:

A system that won't outdate quickly; a manufacturer that will help you night and day.

If the words mouse, modem, or monitor mean nothing to you, you're a big-time beginner. Your best bet is to get a computer with solid components; a software suite; and an even stronger service, support, and training program. Gateway computers come with great tutorial software (called the HelpSpot), and Micron systems include a year of free training with Micron University. Both companies, along with Dell, provide better service and support than most. And you won't find an easier way to get on the Web than with Apple's iMac.

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Multimedia Maven

Must-haves:

More power than most of us would know what to do with; a hard drive the size of Montana.

Graphics pros need a lot of pure processing power and should get the fastest processor available. For the moment, that means a 1.9 GHz Pentium 4  or Athlon-based system. Graphics pros also need a great deal of storage space, due to the large sizes of most multimedia files. You might even consider shelling out for a gargantuan 75GB hard drive. Plan to pay at least £1,000 and possibly up to £2,500 (or more). Because you may need to add graphics and sound cards, buy a machine with several free bays, as well as memory and PCI slots for future upgrades. And if you go with an Intel-based machine, be sure to get a dedicated AGP slot for maximum 3D performance. Word to the wise: Even though Apple aims for the graphics professionals, the base price on its Power Mac models probably won't cover the configuration you really need.

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This information should only be used as a gide. This information come from CENT