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by Paul Lilly
HardwareLogic.com is a computer enthusiast website oriented to beginning do-it-yourselfers. As such, it doesn't often review complete systems, but reviews are thorough, balanced, comparative, analytical,… well written and even amusing. Paul Lilly reviews two CyberPower desktops with Vista. The Gamer Infinity 7500 is an extraordinary value. You'd spend hundreds of dollars more to build it yourself. The quad-core Gamer SLI KO QX6800 costs four times more and aces the benchmark tests, but price and other issues temper the recommendation. A Puget Custom Computers custom-configured model reviewed in December earns the highest overall rating. The Alienware Area-51 7500 is a premium product, but arguably overpriced.
by Editors of CNet.com
CNet.com's reviews sometimes don't jibe with its ratings, and all ratings are high, which makes comparisons a challenge. Editors are specific about configurations tested, and they measure performance with… applications and with benchmarks. Testing here is neither as thorough nor as relevant as at specialty and enthusiast websites or computer magazines, but CNet's breadth of coverage is unmatched. CNet has the best frame of reference because it reviews the most computers.
by Editors of PC Magazine
PC Magazine regularly rates desktop computer systems. Substantial testing is done and discussed within the review, though the data itself is not always posted. In general, the reports make appropriate… comparisons, and all systems are rated. Five desktop computers earn an Editor's Choice designation, though some are budget systems. This index links to top rated products, as well as reviews of computers in six categories and five price ranges.
by Editors of MaximumPC.com
High-end enthusiast publication Maximum PC reviews about one computer in each monthly issue. Reviews are oriented to game players who want overclocked CPUs, video cards and RAM -- a strategy that maximizes… performance and minimizes computer life. The Polywell Poly i680SLI-QX eschews overclocking, but it's driven with two power supplies. The machine is good, but topped by overclocked computers in benchmark tests. The speedy and very expensive Maingear F131 earns the highest score of recently reviewed computers. The Vigor Gaming Force Recon QXN is panned.
by Editors of Computer Shopper
Computer Shopper reviews about five computers in each issue. The write-ups are similar to those from sister site, CNet.com. The reports are balanced and nicely summarized with lists of pros and cons. All… desktop computers are rated, but all ratings are high, especially in light of the reviews' conclusions in many cases. A huge cross-section of brands is covered. The reports are shorter than some, and while they cite some test results, the full results aren't published. The Polywell Poly P503 and Alienware Hangar18 HD Entertainment Center are recent Editor's Choice selections.
by Editors of Consumer Reports
Editors of Consumer Reports test and rank nine desktops in a comparison chart. Prices for Windows-based computers top out at just over $1,000. Models are tested with similar configurations. Four models are… briefly described in quick recommendations. However, editors point out that models from two major brands have not fared well in past technical support and reliability surveys. Editors advise buying at least 1GB RAM to run any version of Vista.
by Eric Butterfield and Editors of PC World
This chart lists the five computers PC World considers best for power users. Links lead to full reviews and performance test ratings. Reviews sometimes focus on unimportant buying considerations, but they… are greatly enhanced by test results. PC World's bias toward high-end systems clearly shows through in some of its commentary. For example, we don't think many consumers would agree that $2,033 is "very inexpensive" for a mainstream desktop computer. Most of the magazine's reviews are single-product reviews, but this article does compare desktops to each other. We'd like this listing a little better if it were more current, but all of the systems covered are still available.
by Danny Allen and Editors of PC World
Here, PC World lists its top five gaming PCs. According to Danny Allen, "these powerful desktops use overclocked CPUs, one or more ultra-high-end graphics cards, and gobs of high-speed storage to put… performance above all else." With those requirements, it's no surprise that most are very pricey ($3,500 and up, as configured when reviewed). The reviews have the same positives and negatives as the ones listed above, but this list has the benefit of a more recent update.
by Editors of Macworld
Macworld regularly reviews new Macintosh computers and has recently added reports on the new 20- and 24-inch Aluminum iMacs and the Mac Pro 3GHz 8-core. Reviews of older Mac models remain on the site as… well. Reports are relatively brief, but they cover the basics well. One thing we wish were addressed is performance when running under the Windows operating system. The machines are primarily compared with older Macintosh computers.
by Editors of PC Magazine
PC Magazine conducts yearly service and support surveys. Readers report about instances of repair, experiences with tech support and other information about contact with manufacturers. Last year's poll… included responses from 13,000 desktop owners. Apple and Sony get the highest overall satisfaction ratings. The magazine hadn't published its 2007 survey results when we last visited, but they are expected shortly.
by Editors of Consumer Reports
Consumer Reports conducts an annual product-reliability survey. The report covers many consumer products -- not just computers -- so coverage of desktops is nowhere near as comprehensive as in PC Magazine's… annual survey. More than 75,000 readers reported their instances of repair or other major problems. Results are similar to the PC Magazine poll. In general, the most expensive brands have the fewest repairs, and the cheapest brands have the most repairs.
by Editors of Which.co.uk
Like Consumer Reports and PC Magazine, British consumer magazine Which? conducts a support, reliability and satisfaction survey. The Which? survey has the smallest number of responses, and desktops and… laptops are lumped together in some categories. Apple, Dell and Sony owners are most likely to recommend the brand to friends. Very small percentages of owners say the same about their Compaq or eMachines desktop computers. All brands have poor satisfaction with support, according to survey respondents.
by Editors of HotHardware.com
by Editors of [H]Consumer
[H]Consumer's unique approach to reviews is to evaluate the entire buying and usage process from a consumer perspective. Reviews include all the testing done by professional and enthusiast sites, as well as… tests of service and support, the buying process, simulated long-term reliability and real-world uses. Reviewers do everything you might do with a computer, and then they objectively report the results. Many computers are not recommended. Unfortunately, no new content has been posted on this website in months, and editors say they will stop reviewing computers.
by Eric Bangeman
Technology website Ars Technica provides one of the most wide-ranging and detailed reports on the latest iMac, concentrating on the 20-inch model equipped with a 2.4-GHz Core 2 Duo processor. The review is… exceedingly complete, focusing on performance, ergonomics, usability, styling and just about every other aspect that could matter to a potential buyer. The iMac is also performance tested using benchmarking software and while doing real-world tasks using real-world applications. Comparisons are made to other Mac computers, but not to PCs. Conclusions drawn are both balanced and reasonable.
by Editors of Trusted Reviews
British website TrustedReviews reports on at least two desktop computers each month. Computers are rated, but since most earn scores over a narrow range, the ratings are not as helpful as they could be.… However, since only a small percentage of desktop computers earn the site's "Recommended" tag, it's easy to see which desktop computers the editors consider to be the best overall. The reviews themselves are balanced and supported by thorough test results. Unfortunately, many of the desktop computers covered are not available in the United States, which means Trusted Reviews is only really useful for computer buyers in Europe.
by Mark Kyrnin
Mark Kyrnin, About.com's guide to computing, offers lists of his top five performance desktops, mainstream desktops and budget desktop PCs. These lists link to full reviews, but those show no evidence of… testing or even using the machines. Instead, Kyrnin's recommendations are "based on my research and experience." Kyrnin evaluates specifications and features, and he compares them with the price. This approach may have some value for novices, but it ignores many important considerations. On the upside, Kyrnin is knowledgeable and offers lots of general buying advice on this site. However, articles aren't dated, and some of the information is several years out-of-date.
by Chris Adcock
This excellent article is a balanced look at buying a major brand computer versus building your own computer or having one built for you. Adcock concludes that brand name computers are cheaper. He… discovered that the only proprietary parts in the now discontinued HP Media Center M8020N TV PC are the case and the motherboard, which made direct comparisons possible. The ugly factors of the HP are the lack of a Windows disk and enough bloatware to generate 70 startup processes, which considerably slows the machine. Adcock sees value in all options, but a boutique brand computer is better for many people over a major-brand computer.
by Editors of AnandTech.com
AnandTech.com is a hardware analysis and industry news specialty website. It periodically reviews complete systems, but hasn't looked at any since February. Reviews are incredibly detailed, yet they're easy… for anyone to understand. They are balanced and comparative to the extent possible, but products aren't rated or ranked. AnandTech would be a great source for computer system reviews, if it covered a good selection of computers, and if the reports were more up-to-date. Computers from Puget Systems and iBuyPower are compared in an effort to determine the better vendor. Puget Systems charges more for better service.
by Editors of Tom's Hardware Guide
Enthusiast website Tom's Hardware Guide occasionally reviews high-end gaming systems. The enthusiastic reviews are more descriptive than evaluative, except for performance testing. Readers will have… difficulty distinguishing the qualitative and value differences between the very expensive computers that Tom's Hardware Guide reviews. However, some of the newer reports compare benchmarks with previously reviewed computers. The Dell XPS 720 H2C is compared with the revised Gateway FX530XT. An iBuyPower system is similarly compared with the previously reviewed Biohazard Armageddon and the Falcon Northwest Mach V.
by Contributors to ResellerRatings.com
ResellerRatings.com invites customers to describe and rate their experiences with merchants. As computer manufacturers sell directly to the public, this is a good source to check before ordering. You can… learn about customer satisfaction with the purchase process and their early experience with the product and manufacturer support. However, owner surveys are a better gauge of satisfaction with the purchased product, since they cover a longer period of time. Boutique brands earn the highest scores and the most compliments from customers. Mainstream brands are rated average. Gateway fares worst among them; most customers say they are very dissatisfied.
by Jesse Sutton
by Editors of Computer Power User
Computer Power User typically publishes one short desktop computer review accompanied by test results in each issue. Most reviews are of very expensive gaming computers. Direct comparisons are rare, and… more than half the computers tested this year earn the same high rating. Those considering spending thousands on a computer will undoubtedly want more information than what Computer Power User provides. Recently reviewed desktop computers include the Dell XPS 720 H2C and the Falcon Northwest Mach V.
by Contributors to Newegg.com
Newegg.com is a technology retailer that also publishes user-written reviews. More high-end systems can be found here than at CircuitCity.com, but the site gets less traffic, and there are fewer reviews… overall. One advantage is that reviewers are required to state their technical proficiency and how long they've owned/used the computer, so it is easier to but individual reviews into context than at some other sites.
by Editors of TopTenReviews.com
TopTenReviews.com presents ratings of ten gaming computers, most of which cost about $2,000. In spite of the 2007 date, all of the machines are reviewed with XP, or editors do not specify which operating… system was loaded. The reviews reveal no indication of testing. Instead, they tout features and specifications and compare them. Reviewers reveal a lack of knowledge of gaming systems by emphasizing considerations like hard-drive size.
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This is our assessment of the review’s relevance, clarity of testing and thoroughness.
Read more about our Ratings Criteria by clicking the link at the top of the page.
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Apple iMac Desktop with 20" Display MA877LL/A (2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 1 GB RAM, 320 GB Hard Drive, SuperDrive)
 from Amazon.com
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HP TouchSmart IQ770 19-inch Desktop PC (AMD Turion 64 X2 Processor TL-52, 2 GB RAM, 320 GB Hard Drive, SuperMulti DVD Drive, Vista Premium)
from Amazon.com
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