The bare-bones Shuttle SN25P PC provides a strong foundation for building a midrange, small-form-factor PC, but the overly complicated CPU fan and heat-sink design might annoy you at certain points during installation.

The bare-bones Shuttle SN25P PC provides a strong foundation for building a midrange, small-form-factor PC, but the overly complicated CPU fan and heat-sink design might annoy you at certain points during installation.

Apple recently updated the Mac Mini with Intel Core Solo and Core Duo chips. Apple no longer sells models with the older PowerPC G4 processors, but you can still find such units available at various online resellers. Since the Intel-based models aren’t any more expensive and they promise better performance and include more features, such as Front Row and a remote control, there’s no reason to choose a G4-based Mac Mini unless you find a great deal as resellers clear out their old inventory. For our most recent coverage, read our review of the Mac Mini Core Duo.

Apple’s Mac Mini Core Duo has effectively killed the small-form-factor, do-it-yourself market, which makes it hard to argue for the Antec Minuet 300, despite its cool features and slick design. If you can find a specific reason to help you justify building a SFF PC yourself, however, the Minuet 300 will serve you well.

HP’s Pavilion Media Center TV m7400 series comprises two similar systems but does give you the choice between Intel and AMD processors. Both fixed-configuration PC are capable Media Centers with dual-core processors, ample memory, and large hard drives.

HP’s Pavilion Media Center TV m7400 series comprises two similar systems but does give you the choice between Intel and AMD processors. Both fixed-configuration PC are capable Media Centers with dual-core processors, ample memory, and large hard drives.

Dell’s 24-inch wide-screen LCD delivers excellent image quality and a ton of connectivity options, including video inputs and picture-in-picture settings. Add in a great price, and the Dell UltraSharp 2407WFP is the best value in its class.

The HP Color LaserJet 1600 printer is the same printer as the HP CLJ 2600n with fewer features. Unlike the 2600n, the 1600 is not network ready and can be connected only via USB. Finally, the CLJ 1600 printer is compatible only with Windows-based PCs; the 2600n works with both PCs and Macs. Because both models use the same processor and memory, performance and print quality should be the same, so our assessment of those aspects of the 2600n stand for the 1600 as well. With its basic features and smaller price tag (about $299), the HP CLJ 1600 is better suited for home office environments.

If you can live with knowing that a handful of PCs out there are still faster than yours, we recommend Dell’s versatile XPS 600 for the extensive features and the good value it provides.

If you can live with knowing that a handful of PCs out there are still faster than yours, we recommend Dell’s versatile XPS 600 for the extensive features and the good value it provides.