Desktop Computer Information

If you are not a competitive gamer, graphics professional or other power user, good systems can be found for much less than the $1,000-and-up systems here. See our separate report on budget desktops for more information.

Laptop computers continue to offer more and more power, and capabilities often approach those of desktop computers. Check out our report on laptops if you're interested in a portable system. Gaming laptops are now also available (though they are not lightweight).

Now that LCD monitors are de rigueur, it's easy for manufacturers to bundle them with computers and fit everything into one box. For several reasons, bundled monitors are generally a disadvantage. Unless you're buying a preboxed system in a store, you can always subtract a monitor from a package, but manufacturers won't let you subtract the full price of the monitor. If the computer manufacturer also makes (or brands) monitors, your monitor choices are often limited to their brand. That means you may not get a great monitor. We found that mainstream brands generally bundle monitors, and specialty brands are less likely to do so. You may prefer to match a designer appearance, but there's no technical advantage to matching computer and monitor brands. See our report on LCD monitors for the best options.

Many expert publications provide useful buying information and reviews. Start with the sources in our All the Reviews Reviewed chart.

If you are interested in the more technical aspects of CPUs and components, Tom's Hardware Guide and AnandTech make excellent reading.

Dated March 2007, ArsTechnica.com offers the Ars System Guide (Doing it yourself).

WAY2WEB.net has a very brief, basic buyer's guide.

Microsoft's Vista website has information about the various versions of that operating system, on hardware and software compatibility, and more:

Manufacturers' websites:

ABS

Alienware (a division of Dell)

Apple

CyberPower

Dell:

Falcon Northwest

Gateway

Hewlett-Packard (HP)

Puget Custom Computers

Velocity Micro

Xi Computer

Voodoo PC (a division of HP)