There has been a very evident movement in the PC industry to make computers look better - after all, these devices often feature prominently in houses.

However, the problem with a lot of PCs now is that they make stylish ornaments but not very good computers, a subject that brings us nicely onto the Packard Bell iMedia 5087.

The iMedia looks very smart indeed and these good looks are matched by the 17in TFT monitor. This is a great screen and, at its native 1280 x 1024 resolution, displays a sharp image. It even has four USB ports built into the side.

Beyond these superficial features, however, things begin to go downhill. The 2.6GHz Intel Pentium 4 processor is a good starting point for a PC but 256Mb of memory is paltry in a PC at this price. As a result, its performance was adequate rather than impressive. With a computer of this power, we find that upping the memory to 512Mb delivers much better performance and a better Windows XP experience. Fortunately, there is unobstructed access to the spare memory slot, so upgrading later is a simple process.

The iMedia 5087 comes with an 80Gb hard disk, which is fine for most applications although, once again, hardly generous in a computer nudging £1,200. It is also more difficult to upgrade as there is only a single internal drive bay free. The only other storage in the iMedia 5087 are a combination DVD/CD-RW and floppy drive. This offers a minor cost saving but doesn't give you the same flexibility as two drives, such as the ability to copy a CD.

The graphics card is based on an nVidia MX440 chip. Although not a bad card, in a PC at this price something a little more modern, such as a GeForce FX5200 card, would add a degree of future proofing for little extra cost. As it stands, you will be able to play games but not at the resolution and quality that the 17in TFT monitor can support. Sound is provided through the on-board sound card and the set of stereo speakers are functional rather than impressive.

Strangely, in addition to the standard modem Packard Bell has also opted for an ADSL modem. While this might seem like good move to create a broadband-ready PC, it doesn't quite hold true. Cable broadband users won't be able to use this at all and ADSL installations are typically provided with a USB modem. It would have been more useful to fit a network port, which was absent. This is the first PC we have seen for a while without a network port.

Looking on the bright side, Packard Bell has provided plenty of software. Microsoft Works Suite 2003 and Encyclopaedia Britannica 2002 are both good packages and we were pleased to see Norton Internet Security 2003.There's also a healthy dose of free software installed including Acrobat Reader, QuickTime and Real Player.

The iMedia 5087 isn't a bad computer but the lop-sided specification underneath that good-looking exterior means it doesn't impress us as much as it should have.

Contact: Packard Bell 01628 512456
www.packardbell.co.uk