So, six PCs with very similar pedigrees. All but the Big Red use some form of Celeron processor and sit them in MicroATX format system boards which make them quick and cheap to build. All have 64MB of memory and all but the NEC and Simply have hard drives around the 10-12GB mark.

These two stand out from the crowd in other ways, too. Simply has used an LS-120 drive instead of a floppy, which increases its usefulness considerably, and has included a 14.2GB hard drive and a very good software bundle. Its 600MHz processor is a touch above the norm as well, so it's certainly worth a second look.

The NEC Direction SP-533V stands out in even further. It has a Zip drive, in addition to its CD and floppy, its hard drive is over twice the capacity of those in the Big Red and Viglen machines, at 19GB, and it has a very good monitor. The software bundle is useful and even its speakers are a cut above all but the Altec Lansings supplied by Viglen. If you want a general-purpose PC which won't break the bank, you'll have to go a long way to better the NEC.