Shopping for a desktop computer

Although you might be seduced by the siren song of high-end computing powerhouses, for many users they can be flat-out overkill. Assess your needs realistically, consider your wallet and fit the computing power you want to what you actually need. Traditional desktops are big and bulky, but deliver terrific bang for the buck and plenty of room to grow. All-in-ones are pricey for the power they deliver, but they are an ideal solution when space is at a premium. Nettops are another compact solution, but they don't have the horsepower to do more than the basics. If that's all you need, their low cost is hard to resist. Here are some other things to consider:

  • Get at least 2 GB of memory for Windows 7. Experts say that's the minimum for a satisfactory computing experience, even though Windows 7 has a slightly lighter footprint than Vista. If you can budget for it, more memory will make you and your computer a bit happier.
  • Don't worry about hard-drive size unless you have massive storage needs. Even cheap desktops now come with large hard drives of 500 GB or more, which will provide plenty of space for the average user. If you plan to store a large number of MP3s, high-resolution photos or videos, a larger hard drive can make sense.
  • Check to see whether a monitor is included. Many budget desktops don't include a monitor, which is an advantage if you already have one. If you buy a computer online and add a monitor, it's usually cheaper than buying a monitor separately. All-in-one computers have an integrated monitor. Unless they come in an all-in-one design, nettops rarely come with a display.
  • Get a computer with a video card for better multimedia and overall performance. Most budget computers have a video chip on the motherboard instead of a dedicated video card. A large chunk of system RAM is then devoted to the display. An upgrade to a video card frees that RAM for other tasks and improves the smoothness of moving images on your screen. However, video cards suitable for the most demanding games are rarely included except in higher priced gaming computers.
  • Think about upgrade options. Many budget computers, especially compact desktops and nettops, don't have much room for expandability. If you like to add more memory or storage space after purchase, check to make sure that's an option.
  • Compact desktops and nettops have fewer ports. These smaller computers typically have fewer USB ports than their full-size counterparts. If you plan to connect a number of peripherals, check to make sure you have enough ports.

Windows 8 is barreling down

With Windows 8 presumed to hit the streets sometime in mid-to-late 2012, if you're in the market for a desktop, it makes sense to ensure that any PC you buy is capable of running the operating system in order to future-proof your purchase. Here's the good news: don't worry about it!

Windows 8's minimum system requirements are a 1 GHz processor, 1 GB of RAM for the 32-bit operating system or 2 GB of RAM for the 64-bit operating system, and 16 GB of hard drive space for the 32-bit version or 20 GB of hard drive space for the 64-bit version. These specifications make the operating system capable of running on tablet PCs as well as desktops, which Microsoft has targeted as a key capability for the new OS. It also ensures that any desktop capable of running Windows 7 -- including every desktop mentioned in this report -- is capable of running Windows 8.

Microsoft's next generation operating system includes a number of major changes to the traditional user interface in order to make it fit seamlessly on tablets, including a drastic overhaul of the traditional Windows start screen and UI in a new theme that the company calls "Metro." A new version of the popular Internet Explorer browser will also be bundled with the system in both "Metro" and classic varieties. To see the changes for yourself and keep abreast of new developments, visit Microsoft's Building Windows 8 blog.

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