Don's advice is correct. I currently run two Dell machines at home. The main workstation is 2 years old and my older one is 5 years old. We have absolutely hammered them with use by myself and two pre-teen kids with no problems at all. If cost is an issue then some of the entry models are really reasonable on the Dell website or Dell Small Business, and the older TV-like monitors are going for almost nothing. But the upgrade to a flat-panel LCD monitor is really worth it in extra desk space alone.

Best,
WMD