Like the cookie-cutter houses that sprouted after World War II, the desktop PC, for most of its history, has been stuck with a design set in beige stone. With few exceptions, PC makers have emphasized function over form and showed little aesthetic flair. Fortunately, that's no longer the case (pun intended), as system manufacturers and their customers finally agree that the boring box has got to go.

The design breakout is gaining momentum largely in the movement toward small-form-factor (SFF) PCs. These compact systems are designed to look as good in the living room or the entertainment center as they do on a desk. But just because they are small doesn't mean they lack features or performance. For example, Shuttle, one of the leading SFF designs, is aimed squarely at the high-tech enthusiast who wants a fast processor, lots of storage, and the most-advanced graphics accelerators.

Of course, not all SFF systems are vying for the performance buyer. Systems with the Via C3 processor, such as the Monarch Traveler 1000 and the Niveus Onebox Media Center, don't deliver near the performance of Pentium- or Athlon-based machines such the ABS SPC 5 or the Polywell Mini Qbox 845-3000, respectively. The Via-based systems, however, are made with purposes other than just PC computing in mind: the Monarch Traveler is built for mobile computing, and the Niveus Onebox's primary function is digital video recording.

Obviously, shoehorning high-end components into a small space presents some serious design challenges. Fast processors give off lots of heat, and noisy fans won't do in PCs designed to coexist with a home theater. Plus, full-size PCI and AGP cards are very difficult to cram into smaller cases. Designers have found ways, though, to circumvent these issues without significantly sacrificing features or even expandability.

Change, however, doesn't come cheap. With few exceptions, small-form-factor systems are more expensive than similarly configured standard towers. The reason? You're paying for the ingenuity required to build a powerful PC within a small space. Although they may not be willing to admit it, early adopters and tech enthusiasts who buy these systems are also paying for the looks. While the blah-box PC has had a good run, buyers appear ready for more ah!-inspiring designs. If manufacturers heed the call, your next PC could be both brainy and beautiful.