Dear members,

Please help me decide on buying a new PC since i dont know much about computers. I already have a 6 year old toshiba laptop and which is still works fine but has fairly old features (256 mb, usb 1.1, 30 GB, old graphic card, etc). These are the minumum requirements I am looking for in a PC:

512 RAM (if windows vista isn't installed)
30 GB
usb 2.0
a way to connect to TV via HDMI or S-video inputs
at least has windows XP home edition or media center
Famous Brand Like Sony, Dell, Toshiba, HQ,
Price Range $700-$2500

I will be using mainly for selling item on ebay, surfing, downloading vidoes from site like rapidshare and saving to an external HD, watching anime/drama by connecting a TV, and playing MMORPG games like world of craft (but not games that require the latest graphic card etc).

I won't be doing nothing like video/picture editing, burning CD or DVD or anything that require a lot of processing power, transfering files from digital camera or phone, and wireless route or internet connection (but wireless keyboard/mouse is okay)

Please also let me know should I get PC that has windows vista (I have window xp home edition which is just fine for me) and any other feature I should also look for. thank you very much!

That price range is very wide, I could recommend you a $700 cheapie or an over-the-top $2500 system...

Do you want it to be another laptop, like what you currently have, or would you prefer a desktop?

The minimum specs you have listed will be easy to recommend and even exceed. What country do you live in?

Also, to let you know i will only be using credit card not store credit card (bestbuy,circuit city) so they won't take my credit card if i buy in store (maybe online and if i buy online how long does it take to arrive?)

I also won't be saving videos on internal hd but an external seagate hds (5 year warranty) thats because i don't want to have my internal hd give up on me very quick because by downloading videos on it some of the time.

I also won't be buying a MAC because it doesn't have enough features like windows, don't play many PC games and a lot expensive.

From your comments, Is this the right hardwares for me (i am not purchasing the exact product but similar to it if it meets my requirements):

Motherboard
[AMD] Asus M2NPV-VM
http://www.pugetsystems.com/part_info.php?part=3875

CPU
AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+ AM2 DUAL CORE
http://www.pugetsystems.com/part_info.php?part=3805

Ram
Kingston Value 1GB DDR2-667 (2x512MB)
http://www.pugetsystems.com/part_info.php?part=4371

Video Card
GigaByte GeForce 7300GS 128MB (256MB shared) QUIET PCI-E
http://www.pugetsystems.com/part_info.php?part=3783

Sound Card
Creative X-Fi Xtreme Audio
http://www.pugetsystems.com/part_info.php?part=4487

CD / DVD Rom
http://www.pugetsystems.com/part_info.php?part=4479

Accessories
ATI TV Wonder 650 PCI TV Tuner
http://www.pugetsystems.com/part_info.php?part=4609

Operating System
Windows Vista Home Premium (it has windows media center)

Monitor
Undecided (i won't be watching videos from laptop from faraway but by connecting it to tv) should i get a widescreen or normal?

should i get a tower pc or something like this:
http://www.pugetsystems.com/part_info.php?part=3889

Keyboard
Microsoft Multimedia Optical Combo (black)
http://www.pugetsystems.com/part_info.php?part=1440

Mouse
Microsoft Optical Tilt Wheel
http://www.pugetsystems.com/part_info.php?part=1654

System Price: $1,406.06 (with a monitor)


What must also be included in:

Dial-up modem (if possible build-in not usb connected)

Build-in Fax and Scan without using a fax machine (windowx vista business has it but it doesn't have windows media center so i don't want that)

At least 6 Month warranty

Can play HD dvd download videos


Can you also tell me if I also buy a Remote Control for Windows Media Center will it work only with windows media player or others like zoom player? Thats all i want to know so please help me out!

Can you tell me do i need a sound card if i don't buy an external audio system (i will be only using normal headphones). If not will this computer below will be fine for my need (it has 8 Integrated High Definition audio channels but what does that mean?):

HP Pavilion M7667C-B(RC644AA) 22" LCD Core 2 Duo E6400(2.13GHz) 2GB DDR2 600GB NVIDIA GeForce 7500LE Windows XP Media Center - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16883107502

Actually that system doesn't look too bad, although perhaps a little on the pricey side... You won't need a separate audio card for headphones, onboard sound is just fine. The 8 audio channels mean you can connect it up to a 7.1 surround-sound system.

Okay what about this one:

4600+ EXTREME SERIES COMPLETE:
http://www.computerlx.com/config.aspx?t=&product_ID=710
# AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual-Core Processor 4200+ AM2

# AMD SOCKET AM2 STANDARD COOLING FAN

# Asus M2N32-SLI Deluxe Socket AM2/nforce 590 SLI/Wifi/ATX Motherboard

# AENEON AMPO 2GB DDR-2 800MHZ PC-6400 (2X 1GB)

# Seagate ST3250620AS 250GB SATA2 7200rpm 16MB

# IBM 48X CD-ROM DRIVE

# nVidia Ge-Force 8400GS 256MB w/TV-OUT/DVI PCI-Express Video Card

# Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy SE 7.1 24-bit Sound Card, Bulk

# ENCORE 10/100Mbps PCI Adapter

# AGERE V.92 PCI Fax Modem

# BBC MID-TOWER ATX TYPHOON CASE

# OKIA A-POWER 500 WATT ATX POWER SUPPLY

# 103 Keys PS2 Basic Keyboard (Black)

# I-MICRO 800dpi PS/2 Optical Mouse (Black)

# ViewSonic VG2030WM 20.1 inch 500:1 8ms DVI w/Speaker LCD Monitor (Black)

# WINDOWS XP-HOME EDITION W/SP 2

Grand Total: $1,019.90+SH

Also, can anyone just tell me does it matter what brand i get or what really matter is who are the manufactures of components only?