Desktops

The good: Clean-lined design; takes advantage of all the new Vista media-oriented features, such as HD video and CableCard support; strong application and 3D performance; more bang for the buck than the home theater PC competition; outstanding Blu-ray video quality.

The bad: Big chassis; no built-in audio receiver; beta graphics card drivers can't handle component video output; game-friendly configuration, but PC gaming in the living room is problematic.

The bottom line: Velocity Micro's first full-fledged home theater PC pulls very few punches in providing a complete digital media experience. It's big, it lacks a built-in audio receiver, and it invites PC gaming into the living room, which has never been the best fit. It's also the victim of a few Vista-related growing pains. On balance, though, Velocity Micro has as complete a home theater PC as we've seen.

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