Stay the heck away from eMachines, Fjolnirsson. Many problems with motherboards being eaten by lousy power supplies.
Dell are pretty decent machines as a rule. When there are problems, it's the occasional power supply issue, memory once in awhile, but usually nothing that isn't repairable.
They do use proprietary cases and motherboards in some (not all) models, making upgrades in those problematic.
Buying a machine from any of the big outfits means you get one loaded with lots of extra "crudware", stuff you have no use for. But you can remove it.
I run a little computer business on the side. Repairs, custom systems, etc., just down the road from you in Lebanon. The website is
www.ayscr.com. Check it out, call if you like. All the free advice you can handle. I'd be happy to help a fellow APSer.