HD DVD drives will continue to work and prices for such titles will no doubt plummet. Furthermore, optical drives in PCs are easily replaceable. Even so, it will have been an expensive lesson for some, demonstrating why having a decent broadband connection in a media-centric system is a good idea: movie downloads and online rentals don't bind you in the same way.

Games fans keen to impress friends might also consider a cutting-edge display such as Zalman's 3D Gaming Monitor. For less in-your-face entertainment, a screen that supports 'true' 1,080p HD playback with a response time of 2ms will do wonders for your viewing and gaming pleasure. Upscaled and 720p screens simply aren't on a par.

All-in-one approach

About the same time that Microsoft decided it was a good idea to work with hardware manufacturers on a standard-issue set of components for media-center PCs, several companies decided to combine the lot to make single-unit systems. While these appear to combine the benefits of a laptop and a desktop PC, they can also be restrictive in terms of placement and upgradability.

A better bet are systems that combine the main base unit with the screen. Gateway's ONE system is a good example, as is Apple's iMac with its glorious 24in flatscreen.

You can position your monitor well away from the keyboard, making work more comfortable, although such screens tend to be less height- and tilt-adjustable than most LCDs.

Miniature PCs

You don't have to saddle yourself with an all-in-one PC to save space. A miniature PC is a far more flexible option, as you can position the screen wherever you want and angle it as required (something that isn't always possible with single-unit systems). The tiny box that houses the PC's workings can be placed anywhere you choose, either out of sight or taking up a scant few inches of desk space. You may find such a setup superior to constantly kicking a bulky tower PC.

The best-known maker of miniature PCs is probably Shuttle. As well as selling complete PCs such as the Shuttle XPX X200, the company also acts as an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) supplier for other manufacturers.

Shuttle systems use a micro ATX motherboard -- a mainboard that's not much larger than the cover of a hardback book. Such systems tend to feature integrated elements such as onboard sound and don't have the very fastest processors or the most generous hard disks. Even so, mini-ATX computers can be useful as secondary PCs or entertainment machines.

With cost becoming more and more important, Shuttle added a new model to its mini-ATX line-up this February. The £100 Shuttle KPC is a cubed-shaped model with an 80GB hard disk (expandable up to 1.5TB) and 512MB RAM. This can be extended to 2GB depending on the configuration chosen. With 5.1-channel audio, the Linux-based PC has a changeable front fascia that's reminiscent of a digital photo frame.

For those that want to spec out the KPC themselves, the Shuttle machine will also be sold barebones for just US$99.

Shuttle sells many of its machines this way, which makes it ideal for other manufacturers to use them as a base.

Tranquil PC also aims to keep your outlay low while offering a miniature platform for basic computing. The design isn't as appealing as some of the others we've featured, but if your needs run to a capable but tiny system that's near silent in operation, its range is worth a look.

Prices start from £198 for a 600MHz Linux Puppy-based setup with 256MB of RAM. An extra £50 turns this allocation into a rather more acceptable 1GB, although the lack of hard disk space will be a worry for many users.