The faster the CPU is, the better. The drawback being the faster it is, the more expensive it is. Intel is always a bit more expensive than AMD, but I favor Intel. You shouldn t get anything less than a 20gig hard drive. With software programs getting bigger and bigger, you will need the space.
Every program comes on CD-ROM, which is cheaper and better for the consumer.
When purchasing stay with the 50x and above range. A DVD CD-ROM is for looking at DVD movies on your computer. There are a couple of games on the market that will use it. If you get a DVD player, the 16MB will play the DVD movies. The faster the modem, the less time you will spend downloading files.