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Computer Buying Guide

Meaningful differences in speed between desktops and laptops have largely disappeared. But each design has its own advantages and trade-offs. We give you the essential information to find the computer that's right for you.
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Getting started

New technology is providing a dizzying array of choices for consumers shopping for a computer now. More powerful processors with "multicore" features offer improved performance for demanding tasks such as online gaming and multimedia processes such as editing digital video.

In laptops, new processors also promise improved performance—without sacrificing battery life. Portable PCs are also getting bigger and sharper displays, making them viable alternatives to desk-bound PCs. An up-and-coming storage technology, the solid-state flash drive, is also adding to battery life, and making laptops lighter. But it's still too expensive for most people.

This guide will help you to understand these various factors and help you to navigate the arduous process of buying a computer. Begin your decision-making process by considering these questions:

Do you need a new PC?

If your old computer is sluggish, it might be time for a new PC. First try to these steps to beef up its performance: Run the defragmenting software it came with. That will help your hard drive access files faster. If you're running out of space on the hard drive, open up some free space by deleting programs you no longer use. To add a lot more storage space, consider adding a hard drive. (An external hard drive is one of the easiest computer upgrades that even a computer novice can perform.) If that isn't enough, and the computer is no more than four years old, add 1 GB of memory. Memory is a lot less expensive than it was a few years ago. If none of that works, and the computer is more than four years old, it's probably time to replace it. (Be sure to recycle it.)

Windows or Macintosh?

Many people choose laptops using the Windows operating system because it's what they've always used, but Apple's Mac OS X is a fine alternative (Apple computers can also run Windows, but you need to purchase and install it yourself). In recent subscriber surveys, Consumer Reports found Apple's technical support to be top-notch. (Unfortunately, it's only available free for 90 days.) According to another survey, we also found that Apple computers were less susceptible to most viruses and spyware than Windows-based computers.
 
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