First they were at the office, then in your study and now they are trying to sneak into your living room or bedroom and even your kitchen. As computers colonise our homes, they are evolving from bulky beige desktop boxes into slim, unassuming, even attractive, accessories.

Some – known as all-in-one models – have shed the traditional tower unit: the components, memory, drives and sockets are built into a flat panel monitor with a separate keyboard and mouse. Smaller still are tiny, whisper-quiet computers designed to be neither seen nor heard. Often remote controlled, these “bookshelf” computers connect to your entertainment system, bringing digital music files, photographs and films to the living room, but rarely come with monitors.

A number of lifestyle systems are sold on their “media centre” credentials, boasting TV tuners, speakers and movie playback. All the computers on test can play DVDs and the Sony has a Blu-ray player for high definition playback. These are great if you want something to double as a secondary home entertainment system in the study, but be realistic: are you really going to watch movies on a 20in monitor, rather than the 40in plasma TV in the lounge?

All the models on test feature wireless networking to share files, music, internet radio and more throughout your home. All but the Sony and HP also have Bluetooth, for moving photos and files wirelessly to or from a mobile phone. Card readers are handy for transferring digital snaps, and the more USB and FireWire ports you have, the more peripherals (such as printers and scanners) you can connect.

The Apple iMac, Sony, HP and Dell systems have built-in webcams, making internet video chat almost as easy as e-mail. Except the Apples, all the computers tested come with Windows Vista Home Premium.

All have enough computing power to surf the web and enjoy your media, but those with at least 2GB of Ram memory will be smoother and faster. Pay attention to the size of the hard drive: a few hours of digital video will make a noticeable dent in the smaller 120GB hard drives here, and even the largest 500GB drives are not excessive.

The most obvious competitor to this type of computer is the laptop, especially now prices are tumbling. However, lifestyle systems have one big advantage over laptops: comfort. Anyone spending an evening hunched over a laptop can tell you that they are the chiropractor’s new best friend. All-in-one systems have large, easy-on-the-eye screens and full-size keyboards, while bookself units usually give you the choice of using a flatscreen TV as a computer monitor.

There are some disadvantages. Although much quieter than normal systems, few lifestyle computers are completely silent. Good design also comes at a premium, with all costing several hundred pounds more than traditional equivalents. You are also limited in your upgrade options: you may be able to add memory, but that’s often as far as it goes. And though some lifestyle systems boast advanced 3D graphics, forget about playing the latest blockbuster action games.

Still, a bit of style is worth the extra – and if you want stunning games, buy a console. These easy-to-use computers are more chic than geek, letting you digitise your home without sacrificing your design principles.

THE ONE TO BEAT

Dell XPS One – £900 from www.dell.com/uk
A smart combination of looks, power and price

Dell’s XPS One is an effortlessly cool all-in-one PC distinguished by classy design touches, ranging from a fancy glass-fronted screen to touch-sensitive controls that glow while in use, then fade away. With its sharp 20in screen, built-in Freeview TV tuner and remote control, Dell’s system is a fine home entertainer. It packs a multi-format memory card reader, two FireWire ports and six USB sockets. It has a generous 2GB of Ram and spacious 320GB hard disk, although its sluggish graphics card won’t suit the latest games. The screen is also overly reflective in bright rooms. If you want to stick with the Windows Vista system, the XPS One is the best-value style PC around.

DESIGN CLASSIC
Apple iMac – £1,150 from store.apple.com/uk

The original and the most stylish

Apple’s iMac was the first stylish all-in-one PC, and the current model is the coolest yet. If its seamless aluminium casing doesn’t floor you then its vivid 24in screen will. However, this suffers with reflections. A fast chip and 320GB hard disk mean there’s enough power for video and creative programs, although it’s worth doubling the 1GB of Ram (£60) when you order. Two FireWire ports, four USB ones and a webcam are appreciated but the nonstandard video connection less so. An impressive unit, especially with Apple’s slick, useful Leopard operating system.

MEDIA MONSTER
Sony Vaio VGC-LT2S – typically £1,300 or £1,226 from www.pcwb.com

A truly entertaining system – at a price

Fronted by a superb, 22in screen, this attractive all-in-one PC could be mistaken for a small TV. The speakers are excellent, and with built-in Blu-ray movie playback and twin Freeview tuners the Sony can take on the role of TV, video recorder and high definition player. Thanks to its 2GB of memory and 500GB hard disk, the Vaio is as comfortable in the office as in the living room. Its five USB connectors, FireWire port and two memory card slots mean it also plays well with others. The Vaio is a superb entertainment system for a small space, but its whopping price tag may deter all but TV addicts.

EASY TOUCH
HP TouchSmart IQ790 – typically £900 or £800 from www.laskys.com

Computing with a touch of class

This all-in-one’s gorgeous 19in monitor is a touch smaller than others on test, but a touch smarter too – infrared sensors track your fingers, letting you select icons on screen directly. Once you get used to surfing the web or flicking between TV channels without a mouse, you may never want it back. A 500GB hard drive means you shouldn’t run out of space, and 2GB of memory makes the most of the low-power processor. This is fine for office software but it might struggle with the latest games. The solid HP comes with six USB ports, two FireWire sockets and multi-format memory card reader, plus a slot for its wireless keyboard, making it ideal for space-starved bedrooms or even kitchens.

MINI ADVENTURE
Apple Mac Mini – £500 from store.apple.com/uk, plus £400 for 20in Apple Cinema Display monitor

Light on space, light on features

When space is critical, this tiny pip of an Apple (running Leopard software rather than Windows) is compact, low profile and virtually silent. The Mini has faster components than its obvious rival, the Asus Nova P20, but its 1GB of Ram and 120GB hard disk are rather miserly – especially as you can’t upgrade at home. Four USB ports and a single FireWire connector let you easily connect accessories, such as a TV tuner and speakers, to make the Mini a media centre. But you might resent the expense, especially after having paid for a separate monitor, keyboard (£29) and mouse (£35). A minimalist icon, perhaps, but with sparse specification. The Mac Mini is older than other computers here, and may soon be redesigned and upgraded.

SUPERNOVA
Asus Nova P20 – on sale from next month. Typically £600, plus £140 for 20in Asus VW202SR monitor

Cute but underpowered

This tiny desktop system, available in black or white, is scarcely bigger than a hardback book. It’s supplied without a mouse, keyboard or monitor. The Asus stays whisper-quiet while web browsing and won’t hit your energy bills too hard. It includes a smooth slot-loading DVD drive, but you’ll find only four USB ports plus network, audio and monitor connectors. The 120GB hard disk is small for anyone who shoots a lot of digital photos or video, and its power is equally modest, with just 1GB of Ram (not upgradeable) and a processor not equipped for demanding multimedia. If you just want a small, stylish system to take care of business, though, the Nova P20 fits the bill. Available from www.pcworld.co.uk from mid-May.

JARGON BUSTER

Blu-ray High-definition disc format aiming to replace DVDs

FireWire Connection for camcorders and external hard drives

Hard drive/hard disk Where software and data are stored. Measured in gigabytes (GB) – one downloaded movie can take up several GB

Ram Live memory. Vista needs 1GB but 2GB is better

USB Connection for computer peripherals and accessories

Wi-fi Wireless technology in computers (and some gadgets) for transferring files

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