Desktop Computers

Whether you're buying a computer for your daughter starting university, your digital photographer father, or for yourself, there is a desktop computer that will suit your needs. Before you start to oggle super-fast processing speeds and contemplate how much music would fit on a terabyte hard drive, there are two important questions to consider: how much are you able to spend, and what tasks do you plan to do on your computer?

Desktop or Laptop?

If you haven't quite made up your mind that you even want a desktop computer, this section should help you come to a decision.

In brief, desktop computers  offer greater flexibility in design than laptops  with price tags that are astonishingly low. Once a laptop is built, its specifications are set and upgrade options are restricted because of space constraints. However, a desktop comes with empty bays which can be efficiently used to upgrade RAM or install a faster chipset. In addition, most upgrades cost less for desktops as compared to laptops. You can spend as little as £600 for a desktop and upgrade the specifications over time as your needs expand, making it a cost effective option in the short and long run. This chart highlights the advantages and disadvantages of each.

Desktop Computers  Pros: A desktop tower has more powerful components compared to an equally priced laptop. Easier to customize or upgrade. Many can function as a TV, DVR, DVD/CD player and photo display, as well as being powerful computers. You can choose a monitor that suits your needs. Cons: Bulky. Even with a flat monitor, a large powerful tower needs space either on your desk or underneath. If you do need to move your computer eventually, it needs to be packed carefully. Cluttered. Even the most basic setup for a desktop requires a monitor, mouse, and keyboard. All the nifty peripherals - like speakers, a printer, a memory card reader, and other things - all add to the number of cables and power strips you will need.

Laptop Computers  Pros: Portability. Although not as high powered as desktops, a good laptop will do pretty much everything the average user wants in a three to ten pound package. Self-contained. A laptop sitting on your desk needs nothing more than a power cord and maybe an internet hookup. This keeps your work Self-powered. Have you ever lost a document you were working on because of a power cut? That won't happen on a laptop as long as the battery is charged. Cons: Difficult to upgrade. Difficult to repair. If they break they usually have to go back to the manufacturer to be fixed. Screens are particularly hard to fix. Easily stolen. Easily bumped and bruised. Laptops are heirs to a thousand natural shocks. If you're clumsy, get a model meant to withstand slings and arrows, not to mention falls and spilled tea.

How Much Computer Do You Need?

One of the first concerns most shoppers are faced with is budget. How much can you realistically afford and do you really need to spend that much? Computer prices are continually dropping, and these days you can find deals on decent systems for as little as £400. On the other hand, powerhouse models can soar up to over £1000 and even higher. The key is to find a happy medium between your budget and your needs. Below, take a look at the difference in system capabilities for an economically-priced machine and a top-of-the-line model. Also consider how much money you can realistically spend before you go shopping; it will help you steer you in the right direction.

Budget PROS Affordable, starting at about £300 for the most basic models. Everything is included: monitor, keyboard, and mouse. Best for basic productivity functions, such as word processing, emailing, and web surfing. Great as first computers for kids and adults to learn basic computer skills. CONS Many of these desktops feature cheaper Intel Celeron chip series, meaning that they won't be as fast as pricier models. Impossible to upgrade to match the quality and speed of a high-end system. The graphics on most budget desktops have limited 3D capabilities, making them unsuitable for gaming. Usually bundled with bulky CRT monitors.  (Some packages may not include monitors.) Look to pay extra if you want a flat panel display.	Media Center PROS Enable you to watch DVDs and listen to music with improved sound quality along with the ability to burn CDs/DVDs. Usually a decent video card is included, which is great for photo editing and potential gaming. What is special about these models is that they usually come with a remote control and plenty of audio/video input/output jacks to create a home theater system/PC hybrid. Speakers are often included with the package along with a slim monitor, stylish keyboard, and mouse. CONS If you want quality you will have to pay extra for it and as you improve the quality of the components, prices can jump considerably. Expect to pay a minimum of £600 for a decent system and as much as double that for something top of the line.	Workhorse/Family PCs PROS Faster processors make everything work smoothly, from browsing the Web to running multiple applications simultaneously. Look to buy processors with speeds of 2.6 GHz or higher for faster application speeds. Most mid-range models have a slim form factor and flat screen monitor which allow for the most efficient use of desk space. Hard drive storage capacity of 80 GB or higher comes standard, which is necessary for storing large amounts of media content, such as movies, photos, or large applications. Best for heavy daily computing and home office or business use. CONS Unless you invest in a top-of-the-line graphics cards, playing PC games on these desktops won't be satisfying for gamers. These models may or may not have great CD/DVD burners and/or players.	High Performance/Gaming PROS Most come equipped with dual-core processors and plenty of memory. Storage is available in a wide range of options with the optimum configuration being two 500 GB Serial ATA 300 hard drives to create one terabyte of high performance storage in a RAID 0 configuration. Most systems come equipped with a 16x DVD+/-RW dual layer DVD burner. Many vendors will provide your high-end system with a customized system graphics solution, perfect for gaming or running 3D graphics heavy applications. Can be hooked up to plasma or LCD TVs for larger-than-life gaming action. Customer support for these desktops is fast, dedicated, and extremely knowledgeable. CONS Your buying spree could end-up costing you around £4000 in the end. Some might find even these customization options limiting. For those people, a build-it-yourself plan should be initiated.

Layout

Choosing a layout is a matter of how much desk space you have and how much space you want to save. Keep in mind that slimmer computers are usually more expensive for the same components. Computers with snazzy exteriors also cost more . Below you'll see how desktop towers (the heart of the computer) stack up. Don't forget though that monitors will play a part in how much desk space you'll use up. A basic CRT monitor (like a CRT TV) is big and bulky, while a flat screen monitor (like an LCD TV) is slim, sleek, and more expensive.

Standard and Mini Towers Towers are the simplest design and the easiest to customize. Most common type of desktop computers. Because of their simplicity, they start out costing very little but they still allow upgrades as needed. Vertical and horizontal configurations available. Drawbacks: often large and bulky; connecting new devices can be difficult if the requisite port is located in the back.	Compact Cases Two options available -- short squat computers like the Mac Mini (pictured) or towers that are slimmer than the usual hulking PC; minimalist design saves desk space. Great for people who do large amounts of creative or visual work as they can save money on the CPU and spend more on a large screen monitor. Drawbacks: don't offer much storage for the price; usually video quality is inadequate for gaming or video editing. However, external storage drives are available for moderate prices if you require additional storage. '	All-in-Ones Both functional and space-saving. Unlike tower forms these models combine all the hardware in one convenient spot that's easy to reach. Drawbacks: this layout doesn't allow for expansion or upgrades; repairs are difficult; you can't pick and choose the best combination of monitor and computer. The two major companies going after this segment of the market are Sony Vaio  series all-in-one designs and the Apple iMac.

Computer Specs

If you've never bought a computer before, you might find yourself bombarded with lots of unfamiliar terms. Despite the urge to shrug off learning what all these things mean, it is rather important to understand what you are getting yourself into before talking to a salesperson or comparing products online.

As a general rule of thumb, the higher the numbers, the better the quality. If there are any specific programs that you know you want to run, such as a digital imaging or gaming programs, you will want to verify that the system you want to buy meets those requirements.

Processor Speed

• This is the measure of how quickly the CPU (central processing unit, aka the microprocessor) runs; sometimes referred to as clock speed.
• Measured in Gigahertz (GHz). A decent desktop will start at around 2.0GHz, but at least make sure to get something with a minimum of 1.5GHz.
• The CPU is like the brain of the computer. If you want the machine to think quickly, you need to have a fast processor or clock speed.
• The speed of the CPU is how fast the CPU can access and process information, which translates to how fast you can work on your computer.

Processor Make and Model

• If you have shopped around at all for a computer you will have seen things such as this: Intel Pentium M, Celeron D, Athlon or Duron. Certain makes are designed to be faster than others, but don't worry about their names, just go for the highest speed processor.

RAM

• RAM  (Random Access Memory), sometimes just called memory, works hand-in-hand with the CPU to manage all your open programs and improve the speed at which each process can run.
• It allows multiple applications to function simultaneously without slowing down the computer's speed.

• Even the most basic computers will come with at least 256 MB of RAM. Most users will want at least 512MB, while gamers and people who do graphic-intensive work (photo editing, etc.) will want at least 1024MB (1 GB).
• Top-of-the-line computers now have 2 to 4 GB of memory.

Hard Drive

• The hard drive  is the storage capacity of the computer. It is now measured in gigabytes (GB), although terrabyte (TB, equal to 1000 GB) external drives are just starting to become widely available. Half-TB (500 GB) internal and external drives are common.
• Today's minimum requirement is least 60 GB for average users who want to store music or photos on their computers. You can go as high as you want if you are willing to spend the money on large drives or multiple drives.
• Large drives are good if you plan to store your DVD and music collections on a computer and use it as a media center.

CD/DVD Drives

• CD/DVD drives  have pretty much replaced floppy drives for data transfer, plus they are essential to burning CDs and watching DVDs.
• If you plan to burn any disks, check for an integrated DVD/CD-R/CD-RW drive.
• Some offer CD burners only (CD-Recordable or CD-ReWriteable), and others offer both a CD-RW plus the ability to watch DVDs.
• If you opt for a budget model, you may eventually want to invest in an external CD-ROM drive.  Just make sure to check the drive speed and the transfer rate. Examples of this are 8x, 24x, 32x, etc., again the higher the number the better.
• If you are getting a tower, consider getting a second CD-RW drive -- this will allow you to directly copy CDs from one drive to the other, frequently in only a minute or two.

Sound Card

• If you are interested in watching DVDs or playing games with surround sound, or even getting a rich audio experience from CDs and MP3s, you will want a sound card  that is up to snuff. However, sound cards are fairly easy to upgrade if you decide later on that you want a better one.
• Remember that a sound card is only as good as the speakers. 

Graphics Card

• A top-quality graphics card is important if you are planning to game a lot or do graphics work on your computer. Many high-end models offer decent graphics cards. 
• Higher processor speeds are needed, as is more memory.
• Always check for system requirements and compatibility between programs/games that you plan to use before buying a computer.
• If you plan to use yourcomputer mainly for word processing, checking email, and otherlow-intensityuses,

Software

• When you look at a particular model and make of computer it is not always clear what software packages will come included with the price. When in doubt, ask.
• Most often software bundles come at an extra cost, such as those for managing finances, editing images and even doing word processing.
• Also, there are many products that manufacturers will say come included, however, they are often only trial editions.

New, Used, or Refurbished

Most manufacturers offer refurbished computers at decent prices. Generally, buying directly from a company that specializes in such models is better than buying a used computer on EBay. Also consider the upgrade options available for your existing computer before buying a used one. Generally, computers will last about two to three years before they need any repair or revamping. After a few years they will certainly require updating, and at around 7 years, it's usually time to say farewell. Research all the available resources and get as much relevant information you need to make an informed purchase. In some cases, it might make sense to hold off a purchase for a couple months in the interest of buying an improved upcoming model. Look for companies to roll out their new product lines just in time for the holidays.

Major Manufacturers

• Dell 
• Apple 
• Alienware 
• Evesham 
• HP 
• Packard Bell 
• Sony 
• Acer 
• Shuttle 

External Links

• Ox.ac.uk -- this basic guide to computers should help you find the right kind for you.
• Le.ac.uk -- another beginner-oriented guide; this one also includes some more detailed explanations.
• EBay.co.uk -- short guide on buying computers, with the focus on buying them online.
• Personal Computer World -- a very helpful magazine; this article is a few months old but includes a few recommendations.
• IT Reviews -- breakdown of the different categories of computer; nice photos of the inside of a computer.
• CNET -- a thorough buying guide from one of the best tech sites around; plenty of reviews as well.