Packard Bell Ixtreme

Sometimes at PCW we think we should award more marks for style. Maybe that way computers like the Ixtreme Duo MC6142 might not be so harshly judged when we look at them.

Packard Bell obviously believes white is the new beige and this looks good enough to suggest it is right. It wants owners to set up this PC in the front room rather than the office and, to press the point home, it comes with Microsoft's Windows XP Media Center edition installed.

Aside from the way it looks and the software it comes with, this is a pretty standard PC. There is an Intel Pentium 4 processor running at 3.06GHz and 1GB of 333MHz PC2700 memory, which isn't the fastest memory available.

If you plan on using all the Media Center options to record television programmes or other things, you'll be pleased by the 200GB hard disk, but perhaps less so by its tardy 5,400rpm spindle speed.

These two corners look like a cut too far in a PC costing £1,500. We won't get too wound up by the Radeon 9200 graphics card, but it is hardly the leading-edge performer we'd like to see for the price.

On a happier note, there is a generous software bundle, a 15in TFT display, remote control, cordless keyboard and mouse and a top-of-the-range multi-standard DVD-burner. Sadly though, these are not enough to distract us from the other failings of this system.

Ultimately, you are paying a hefty premium for having a computer with Media Center. We know equipping PCs with Media Center rather than straight XP costs more, but we'd rather shop around and get a better PC without the frills. It does look really good, though.

Contact: Packard Bell
www.packardbell.co.uk

Specifications:

• Windows XP Media Center Edition
• Intel Pentium 4 3.06GHz
• 1GB of PC2700 DDR Ram
• 200GB hard disk
• DVD+/-RW drive
• ATI Radeon 9200
• 15in TFT
• Norton Internet Security 2003, Microsoft Works 7, Ulead PowerDVD 5, Videostudio 7SE, Photoexpress 4SE