If price is no object go with the Dell. If you are a cheap SOB like me get a bottom of the line E- machines computer. They go for about $275-299 at Best Buy with the old style CRT monitor. Unless you are into high speed gaming that machine will do everything you need. I have had 4 Emachines and never had a problem with any of them. If machine should run slow take the others advice and add more memory. The advice about virus protection is also good and keep in mind that Comcast high speed comes with Macafee free. That alone saves me about $100 a year. One more thing - I don't know how I lived without my laptop but keep in mind that to be truly portable they need a wireless network otherwise you don't have decent access to a printer which can be a pain. Good luck.