searching for a computer!

[�mermaid�]

still! I DON'T want windows vista, just XP (although not sure which edition). Need to be:
-fast
-burn CDs/DVDs
-download music/films
-broadband internet/email
-have good security!

just the general stuff really but i want to be high performance in it's everyday tasks, be longlasting (current computer lasting almost 10 years, although it's very broken and dying now) and resilliant to viruses/spyware and the like, current computer has loads!
Was thinking about a Dell one, at first glance they seem reasonably priced but when you go through the 'customise and buy' section of the website it seems to magically add a few hundred to the price, even when you don't add things! Help!
Cheers

[Ethel]

I wouldn't recommend Dell, but that's just my personal choice.

I would say that the anti-virus / spyware and so on shouldn't be a factor in your choice of pc. It is up to you to install those programmes, and maintain them, once you've bought it.

The free programmes are good enough.

Buy the latest pc magazine, use it to get to know the current specs and read the reviews.

Good luck!

[�mermaid�]

Why don't you like dell, and where would you recommend?

[fo3nix]

May I recommend Apple Macs? They do everything you want, and are far more resilient to viruses and spyware than windows. In fact, currently, there are no viruses or spyware on Mac OS X at all.

http://www.apple.com/imac

If you want to stick with Windows, then just make sure that it's got DVD burner with it, 1GB RAM, and a decent processor (ideally a core 2 duo, but an amd64 processor will do fine). Also buy the largest hard drive you can.

[�mermaid�]

Just looked on the apple website and unfortunately they are more expensive, though I love the simpleness of the 'customise' bit, they don't give you a million and one ridiculous options that you've never even heard of!

[RATTER15]

You can buy a mid range Pentium4 PC in PC world for �400.00 not bad specs, will do all you want of it no probs.

Ive bought one for a mate, set it all up and used it, no probs!!

[�mermaid�]

Parentals have an unreasonable, unexplainable distrust concerning PC World.

[�mermaid�]

Parentals have an unreasonable, unexplainable distrust concerning PC World. It's a no-go area I'm afraid.

[fo3nix]

PC World is terrible, for many reasons.

Do you know of anyone in your family that's a uni student? Apple offer great discounts for uni students, dramatically reducing the price of their stuff. Also remember that you don't need to buy many of the things that you do with windows. No antivirus, no firewall, no photo editing software, etc. It all comes ready. You also get a simpler life in many ways.

[�mermaid�]

Someone's just left uni..b*llocks!