In addition to our love for Apple's iMac, we like the Gateway, Maingear, and AVADirect systems listed here because each offers very strong bang-for-the-buck, with aggressive memory, processor and graphics card configurations. Each provides strong capabilities for work and play. The HP Photosmart C8180 is our favorite multifunction for its features and value, the inexpensive Canon Pixma iP2600 boasts impressive image output for its price, and the portable Canon Selphy CP760 lets you share your photos with friends. To take your data with you, we recommend either the Iomega eGo Camo or the Western Digital My Passport Studio for their speed and large capacity.
Editors' top pick
The bottom line: A slight bump to the specifications for the same price in addition to a much appreciated option to upgrade the graphics means the 24-inch iMac keeps the Editors' Choice it earned last year when the brushed-aluminum-and-glass design was first introduced.
Price:
$1,699.99 - $1,828.15
The bottom line: The Maingear Prelude has the best bang for the buck among midrange gaming PCs. It also has a certain stocky visual appeal. It's missing a few features, and you'll have to jump through a few hoops to make upgrades, but on balance, this system is a great deal.
The bottom line: AVADirect has a very strong value proposition in its Core 2 SLI DDR3 Gaming System. Assuming you can navigate the daunting shopping Web site, we recommend this system to tech-savvy shoppers who know exactly the components they want.
The bottom line: The Gateway FX7026 offers a quad-core processor at a modest price tag with specifications that any high-end gamer will be satisfied with. You might want to replace the peripherals and the video card down the road, but this system is an excellent option for a nonconfigurable, off the shelf desktop.
The bottom line: The C8180 multifunctional printer is an excellent choice for photo enthusiasts. It prints high-quality text and photos at a heavy price: the printer is s...l...o...w. If you always choose quality over speed, the c8180 will be a worthwhile addition to your digital toolshed.
Price:
$269.80 - $451.97
The bottom line: The Canon Pixma iP2600 is an excellent option for buyers looking to print their personal photos and text documents. We wish it had external ports for direct image uploading (although we're not surprised it doesn't), but you'll be more than satisfied with this printer's ability to deliver quality photos at a low price.
Price:
$42.99 - $59.99
The bottom line: The Canon Selphy CP760 takes the pain out of printing photos with its plug-and-play design and straightforward usability, and the $100 price tag makes it an excellent companion printer for quick prints in the home.
Price:
$67.64 - $106.19
The bottom line: The eGo Camo portable hard drive is Iomega's first attempt at a "ruggedized" drive--it can withstand a beating thanks to its Power Grip band. Despite it lacking a few accessories, you'll be satisfied with its competitive price and quick transfer speeds.
Price:
$98.35 - $109.99
The bottom line: Whether you use a Mac or a PC, the 320GB Western Digital My Passport Studio is the perfect compact external drive with a low cost per GB, a compact design, decent performance, and a surprisingly lengthy warranty.
Price:
$122.00 - $322.21
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