Most Popular Desktops

  1. Falcon Northwest Mach V (Intel Core i7-965 Extreme Edition)
  2. Dell Studio MT
  3. Gateway DX 4720-03 - Pentium Dual Core E5200 2.5 GHz
  4. Apple iMac (24-inch, 2.8GHz)
  5. Asus Essentio
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Top Rated Desktops

  1. HP Blackbird 002
  2. HP Pavilion Slimline S3330f
  3. Falcon Northwest Mach V (Intel Core i7-965 Extreme Edition)
  4. Falcon Northwest Mach V
  5. Atlas Micro PS 5000
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Desktops Buying Guide

What you need to know, from the kind of user you are to current technologies.
Desktops Buying Guide »
FT BK FTL OVI
OVR
FT BK FTL OVI

THE GOOD
SideShow screen extends Vista Gadgets to the top of the system; nearly complete line of digital-media options lets you make this system the hub of your networked home; strong support.

THE BAD
Not quite the best bang for the buck as far as pure processing power; no HD DVD/Blu-ray combo option; needs better software to expose the benefits of the hardware MPEG-2 transcoder.

THE BOTTOM LINE
Dell's new XPS 420 offers almost all of the latest in PC-based digital-video capability, as well as a few unique features you won't find elsewhere. The default configuration fares poorly against the other new PCs, but if you're willing to spend money on upgrades, you can turn this system into a powerful digital-media nerve center.

Go to the Full CNET Product Review »
Copyright © 2008 CNET Networks, Inc., a CBS Company. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
 
Average CNET Reader Rating: 6.2 out of 10

CNET Reader Reviews

  1. December 13, 2007 11:26

    4.5/5
    Just wanted to clear up some of the other reviews. I found the dell site flexible, there is an option for no monitor and depending on which 420 base model you start with you have plenty of options.

    I researched other similar computers, the ...  read more »

    - eyeej

  2. December 23, 2007 07:45
    Excellent
    2.0/5
    I'm not sure whether my problems with stability are specific to this machine or with the Windows Vista operating system. Either way I am very disappointed.

    The machine keeps suffering from "unexpected restarts" particularly when it goes into ...  read more »

    - datilson

  3. July 30, 2008 08:55
    Terrible
    0.5/5
    Truly a waste of money. Once you finish upgrading you spend a ton on a fancy aluminium box...because when it stops working (and it will), Dell tech support ("welcome to the XPS Experience"--hint: it sucks) will be unwilling to help you fix it. Yo...  read more »

    - doctorfederalist


All CNET Reader Reviews (22)

Where to Buy

Store In Stock Shipping Price
Dell, Inc. Yes

$941.00
* Taxes and Shipping costs are estimates and may vary slightly from stores' exact taxes and shipping costs.

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