Purchasing a PC that is Right for You
It is very difficult to provide a generic description of the best PC to purchase because it depends on what you have in mind to do with your computer. If you are into playing video games then you would go one way; if you are into pictures or movies then a little different way; music again a slightly different slant.
Buy a Good Processor: Basically I suggest that you start by getting the best processor you can afford; the newest processors are what they call dual core and are Pentium (Intel) or the AMD top of the line are also good. The type of processor affects the speed of processing.
Memory and Storage: The two main issues that remain are memory (RAM) and storage (Hard Drive). I would suggest 512k to 1 GB if you are just doing simple internet lookups and basic Microsoft tools. I would suggest somewhere around 60 GB or more of storage. Here is where usage comes into play: If you are a heavy user and have a lot of stuff open or use heavy demand programs (such as games) then you may want more RAM. If you are going to be storing lots of music, pictures or especially movies then you need a large Hard Drive.
One Final Note: It is always easier to add RAM and Storage after a purchase but not so easy to upgrade a processor – that is why I say get the best processor you can afford.