Sony or Apple.
Sony for build quality,
Apple for build quality and runs both
Mac and Windows OS - so if XP goes tits up in a gig ( & believe me, it can ! ) you
can re boot to Mac as a "get out of jail card".
Both machines are geared
toward multimedia usage unlike cheap office computers which are all about price.
you budget will be you a 2nd-user dual core, which will be fast enough for 99% of
needs, as "Live" is VERY efficient !
which is nice