I think a computer assembled by enthusiasts using quality components is the way forward. I have two friends with excellent experiences down this route.
One used
http://www.meshcomputers.com and the other used
http://www.evesham.com/
I myself am tempted by
http://www.bestpricecomputers.co.uk who seem to have a popular fanbase and universally good reviews on the usual review sites.
Buying a new Dell seems a bit like going into a Ford garage and buying a new one at list price. Its alright - but there's a lot better out there for the money.
Cheers
WWW