IMO the only thing that matters with the bigger PC suppliers is the after sales services.
Check out the help lines charges and wether you have to pay to return the PC under warranty (RTB - return to base) or if it is an onsite warranty and weigh this against buying local or online.
You cant really say "I had a Packard bell which was rubbish because the hard drive died" because all the company's build PC's from the same "pool" of parts. So a hard drive has the same chance of dying in a DELL, PB or Fujitsu etc system
One thing I object to is having things installed without being asked eg AOL , Norton Internet security and MS office 30 day trials. I like a PC with a basic windows install or better still just the discs and drivers. I'm sure this is why there are so many people suffering with Norton AV and AOL.
Personally I would look at ebuyer or Novatech
Glow