brands???

I'm assuming you mean desktop?

I'd stay away from HP/Compaq computers. I've yet to be impressed with anything either company produces for the consumer market.

Dell hands down does the most testing of their systems. They're not always the most bang-for-the-buck, but they're usually pretty decent on the average. They make some very good systems that are rock solid.

I'm not a huge fan of Gateway myself. Gateway has made some nice systems through the years and has had some good prices at times. The big thing that irked me about them is my bro's computer. He got a Gateway and they had a gigantic peg on the MB that blocked one of the 5.75" bays, it was the stupidest design in the world. Not to mention it was pretty loud for what it should have been. It wouldn't keep me from buying a Gateway, I'd just have to actually see the system in person to verify it's acceptable before I'd buy it. I trust Dell more than that.

There are so many other brands that I don't know much of, I'll leave that to the more current folks around here.

b