best PC/laptop

[lele g]

im looking to by a good quality PC or laptop that will be used mostly for surfing the net + storing music. Not too dear, �500 maximum

[wideboy]

Why not look at the new 'Netbooks'. Unless you need a CD/DVD and/or writer, these are excellent (you can get an external CD/DVD writer for installing and recording at home). They are very portable and sometimes exceed the spec of some laptops. I've just got an Advent 4211 (first time I've bought from PC World, actually Currys/Dixons). It is really an MSI Wind for �50 cheaper. Its closest rival is the Asus 1000.

Look up the spec for the Advent 4211 (and reviews) and be amazed for �279 (hopefully there will be a longer-lasting battery in the autumn). You can (cheaply) even upgrade the memory to 2GB.

Not bad at all! (Make sure you get a 10 inch screen and Windows XP, some are cheaper but but don't have these).

Having said all that, Comet were doing a 'normal' laptop for about the same price!

[koster]

I think you should first decide whether you want a desktop or a laptop.

A 10" screen is very small. If you're going to carry a laptop around with you then a 10" screen means you'll have a small and light computer.

On the other hand if you're only going to use it at home there's no need to limit yourself to a 10" screen.

If I was buying a new PC I would certainly get one with Windows Vista, preferably with Windows Vista Premium.

For your �500 budget you can a desktop PC with really good specifications:
http://www.comet.co.uk/shopcomet/product/49000 8/ACER-ASP-M3640-3GB/tab/specification

This has Intel's best processor (quad core), a very big hard drive (640 GB), 3GB RAM, Windows Vista Home Premium, and a 19" widescreen monitor. It also has plenty of USB ports for plugging in your Ipod, camera, USB stick etc. - 4 on the back and 4 handily located on the front. Then it has slots for camera cards. All for �499.

Speakers are not included.

[koster]

You won't get all that on a �500 laptop - in fact you don't usually get more than a 17" screen on a laptop.