Price: £1,723

Model: G6-233M

Spec: Pentium 233 MMX chip, 32 Mb ram, 4.3 Gb hard drive, modem, 17-inch monitor.

Great value for money, this package includes an Epson Stylus 300 printer. The modem is fast at 56.6 Kbps, the screen is nice and big, and the hard drive is good and chunky. There's also a choice of software bundles, depending on what use the machine is to be put.

Dell (direct):

Price: £1,814

Model: Dimension XPS D233-MT

Spec: Pentium 233 MMX chip, 64 Mb ram, 6.4 Gb hard drive, modem, 17inch monitor.

Great value for money. No printer, but the 64 Mb of ram, the powerful 233 MHz chip and the fast modem mean that software programmes and the Internet should zip along. The larger monitor should make viewing multimedia clips and pictures a more pleasurable experience.

Packard Bell

Price: £1,799

Model: Pulsar 20

Spec: Pentium 200 MMX chip, 16 Mb ram, 3.2 Gb hard drive, modem, 15-inch monitor.

The advantage of this computer is its easy-to-use programme for beginners, a navigation system that compares the machine to a house and is simple to follow. It also comes with a good bundle of software. It is a good family computer, and can be used easily by everyone.

Compaq

Price: £1,799

Model: Pressario 4526

Spec: Pentium 233 MMX chip, 16 Mb ram, 4 Gb hard drive, modem, 15-inch monitor.

Compaq is a quality brand, and has a good reputation for well-built computers. The company comes from the business end of the market, and has brought its noexcuses philosophy to the general computer store. If you want to run a small business from home, this would be a fine choice.

Fujitsu

Price: £1,799

Model: Fujitsu 4

Spec: Pentium 233 MMX chip, 32 Mb ram, 3.2 Gb hard drive, modem, 15-inch monitor.

Fujitsu is a company that clones other companies' computers. Because its quality is quite high, the computers are often very good value for money. Although the computer comes with a comprehensive software bundle, it is probably less of a family machine and one best suited for one main user.