Dell - every time. Forget PC self-builds, they are a support nightmare.

Basic rules:

1. Work out your budget and stick to it.
2. Write down what you want it to do NOW and then what you might want to do in a few months.
3. Look at the High Street names and see what they are offering.
4. If you are NOT technical, think about who will be looking after this later on (the classic failings of a self-build).
5. Remember that the cost of the hardware is nothing to the cost of the software. (eg: PC = £350 MS Office = £350)
6. Memory is more important than disc space. Get as much as you can afford.
7. Vista is about to be replaced with Windows 7 (why I use a Mac!)
8. The moment you buy your whizzy new machine, it is obsolete.
9. If you have kids and they need to use it, buy CyberPatrol before you connect to the Internet.
10. Just because it LOOKS good does not mean that it is good. The minimum warranty should be 12 months - preferably two years.

Finally, when you get connected to the World Wide Wait, make sure you have constant and updated protection. McAfee is better than most, Symantec can be slung in a bin as quickly as possible. Home power supplies are notoriously poor - invest in a surge protector or better still a UPS - they cost little and save a fortune.

SHARK!