Whatever your budget, there is a PC that can streamline how you live, work, and enjoy your life.
Basic laptops start between $500 and $700. If you want a computer to function as your home's entertainment hub, you should expect to spend $800 or more. Computers with extra-large hard drives for extra storage will cost more, as will PCs specialized for high-powered computing tasks such as video editing, sound mixing, and high-end gaming.
RAM and CPU
Two major factors in a PC's price are its processor (CPU) and system memory (RAM), which determine how fast it is and how many programs it can run comfortably at once. More RAM—measured in gigabytes (GB)—means a faster and more responsive computer.
A more powerful CPU has multiple cores (dual or quad instead of single) and greater speed—measured in gigahertz (GHz).
This table shows the RAM and CPU specs you might find on different types of PCs:
PC type
|
RAM
|
CPU
|
All-around laptop
Email, Internet, photos
|
2+ GB
|
1+ GHz dual core
|
Work from anywhere
Portable but powerful
|
2+ GB
|
1+ GHz dual core
|
Professional
Professional-grade video editing
|
3+ GB
|
2+ GHz dual core
|
Entertainment
High-definition display and theater sound
|
2+ GB
|
2+ GHz dual core
|
Power gaming
Serious speed and graphics
|
4+ GB
|
2.8+ GHz dual core,
possibly 64-bit |
How will you use your PC?
Plan to park your PC in the office permanently? A desktop or all-in-one will give you the best experience. Need to take your PC with you to class, a coffee shop, or the library? You'll need an Ultrabook, laptop, or tablet to provide that flexibility. Want an entertainment hub, gaming machine, and computing power in your living room? Then an all-in-one is the way to go for you.
Ultrabooks are a new breed of super-portable laptops. Thin, sleek, and light, they're perfect for life on the move.
Laptops can vary widely in size, weight, capabilities, and price. Choose a laptop if you want your system to be portable. Once you decide that, you'll need to consider just how portable you need it to be: Will you be carrying the laptop every day to work or class? Or will you use it primarily at home, and prefer a laptop that you can easily stash when you clean up your work area?
Tablets are typically a bit smaller than laptops and feature a touchscreen.
All-in-ones or desktops provide larger viewing and storage capabilities, but aren't as easy to move.
Storage: Hard-drive size
This table shows how much storage you might need in your new PC:
PC type
|
Typical storage
|
All-around laptop
Email, Internet, photos
|
60+ GB
|
Work from anywhere
Portable but powerful
|
150+ GB
|
Mobile studio
Professional-grade video editing
|
350+ GB
|
Movies on the go
High definition display and theater sound
|
250+ GB
|
Power gaming
Serious speed and graphics
|
350+ GB, 7200 RPM
|
Screen
Once you've decided on the location for your PC, consider what type of monitor or screen will best suit your needs. A big screen is great for watching movies or juggling a bunch of open windows. And usually a bigger screen—14 inches and up—means higher resolution (how many pixels are shown, which determines how detailed the image is). But if you're going mobile a lot, smaller might be better: screen size is a major factor in both weight and battery life.
Where will your PC go?
Will you be using the computer for games, photos, music, household budgets, schoolwork, movies, or presentations? Some activities, like playing games, require more computing power than others.
Operating system
Windows 7 comes in several editions. Windows 7 Home Premium provides a top-notch entertainment experience on your PC, and Windows 7 Professional and Ultimate add premium features for even more power and versatility. Not sure which one's right for you? You can compare Windows 7 editions, review the system requirements, or square off Windows vs. Windows to compare Windows 7 to the version of Windows you're currently using.
Video capabilities
Video cards (also called graphics cards) create your computer's visuals. Some PCs use a graphics processing unit (GPU) built into the computer instead. These built-in GPUs come in one of two flavors: integrated graphics or dedicated (discrete) graphics.
Integrated graphics cost less but are usually less powerful than dedicated graphics, which are a premium option on many laptops. Integrated graphics are fine for most uses, but dedicated graphics are best for gaming, editing high-definition video, and other graphics-intensive tasks (and might be needed for some Windows features—read the Windows 7 system requirements to learn more).
Ports, cards, and wireless
Make sure you've got enough ports to connect all your devices and accessories, like a USB port for your keyboard or an HDMI port so you can see your HDTV screen in all its high-def glory. You'll also want to think about memory card slots and wireless connections like Wi‑Fi and Bluetooth, and maybe even a TV tuner, so you can plug cable or a TV antenna into your PC and use it as a DVR. To find out how you can record TV shows onto your PC, check out Record TV in Windows Media Center.
Most PCs come with rewritable DVD drives, although Blu‑ray Disc drives are becoming more common. Some laptops don't include an optical drive at all, which is something to keep in mind if you're looking to go ultraportable.
