A Computer for Giants
Bucking the trend toward slimmer, smaller-footprint computers, the ABS sports an extrawide tower case with big, thick side panels. Although the 25GB hard drive, the 256MB of RAM, and the 600-MHz AMD Athlon processor all sound big, they would have just as easily fit into a smaller case. But because this machine costs just $2,299 and its loaded configuration means you won't need to buy a new system next year, maybe you can afford a bigger house instead.

You will, however, need to buy some software. All that the ABS Multimedia System ships with is Corel's WordPerfect Suite and Grolier's Encyclopedia, neither of which will even begin to tap this machine's considerable resources. Which raises an important question: who really needs this kind of power? With its DVD drive and satellite speaker system, the ABS is clearly a home multimedia computer. Its ridiculously fast performance on our games and applications tests--aided by the Diamond Viper V770 graphics card with 32MB of VRAM--ensures that the system easily runs every game and app you throw at it. It handles image editing as well as most professional workstations do. Whatever you can come up with, this computer has the legroom to handle it.

Documentation Beyond Compare
Even though the ABS has horsepower to burn, it's not a bad choice for a first-time computer buyer who wants to start out big. It has some of the best documentation of any machine we've seen, all organized neatly in a big binder with plastic envelopes to keep the component documentation and driver disks in one place. The manual contains easy-to-follow setup instructions and advanced information about adding cards and drives, as well as troubleshooting tips.

Your biggest concern about buying the ABS Multimedia System 1 should be whether you have the space to accommodate it. But once it finds a spot in your home or office, it's sure to become one of your room's most important fixtures.