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online. We're not talking about those. We're talking the games that absorb hundreds of hours of play, such as Civilization or Oblivion, and the myriad of online games known as MMORPGs such Warhammer Online, Guild Wars, World of Warcraft and the rest.

For games, your best option is Windows. All new games come out in Windows first. Sometimes a Macintosh version will follow later, but not always. And with Windows, look for the the most RAM, the newest processor, and the latest and best Graphics card. Look for machines dubbed "The Ultimate Gaming Machine". You'll notice they are incredibly expensive. You can play games on a lesser machine, but it will date all too soon.

However, here's a tip to get the best value on a gaming machine. Read the specs of the ultimate machine, and make a note of these three things: the processor, the RAM or memory, and the graphics card. At the moment (April 2008) these will be along the lines of Intel Core 2 Duo or Quad, 3072 MB and nVidia GeForce 8800 or Radeon HD 3870. Shop around the special offers looking for other computers that match those three specs. Pop into Dell Online and check out their small business machines, too: they have some surprisingly capable hardware on offer, and they're also able to customise.

GRAPHICS AND VIDEO
If you're a professional in graphic design, or making your own movies, Macintosh is probably your best option. Not because it offers better graphics or computer power, but because it has its own particular zen that clicks with creative people. There are fewer viruses that attack Macs, so your system is less at risk from email or surfing than a Windows system.

It's also a leaner operating system than Windows, and therefore needs less memory. However, get the most you can afford: your graphics and video will need it instead. Also get the biggest possible hard drive if you're into video. Video files take up massive amounts of space. Macs are considerably more expensive than the equivalent Windows machine, but they do come with support.

If you're into video, check with the salesman that your computer has Firewire and supports High Definition. You may not want High Definition now, but chances are good that you will want it before you want to buy a new computer.

If you're a hobbyist, movie-editing software is readily available for Linux.

INFORMATION SHARING
If you're going to be sending documents and files to lots of people, and getting lots of files and documents in return, then Windows is your best option. The

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