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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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Types

The choices among desktop and laptop computers can be confusing. New desktops can be smaller and less conspicuous than some laptops. Meanwhile, some portable computers laptops offer features and capabilities that rival traditional desktops. Here are the types of computers—and the pros and cons—you need to consider.

Desktops  |  Laptops  |  Netbooks

Desktops

The desktop computer has become just another appliance you use every day. However, considers these pros and cons of desktop computers in general:

Pros: Desktops deliver more performance than laptops. They are less costly to repair. They allow for a more ergonomically correct work environment. They let you work on a larger screen and they can be equipped with better speakers.
Cons: They take up a lot of desk space, even with a thin LCD monitor.

Desktops are available in various styles and configurations, all designed to appeal to different tastes—and uses.

 

Full size

If you have the space for a tower under your desk, consider a full-size desktop. While they are the largest type of desktop, they are the least expensive and the easiest to upgrade and repair. Full-size desktops offer the most features and options.
 

Compact

If you don't have the space under your desk or you plan to put the computer on top of your desk, consider a compact desktop. Compact desktops are less than half the size of a full-size desktop. Like their larger brethren, compact desktops tend to be inexpensive. But they may be more difficult to upgrade and repair.
 

All-in-one

These incorporate all components, including the monitor, into one case. The components are tightly packed behind and underneath the display, making it difficult to upgrade or repair. Meant to be space savers, they're also designed to look less stodgy than a traditional computer. You'll pay a premium price for these models.
 

Gaming

The sky's the limit for these, which are geared primarily toward gamers. You get the fastest quad-core processors, the most sophisticated graphics cards, multiple large hard drives, and plentiful RAM. Cases are usually large—and, in some cases, offer a fair amount of bling—with lots of room for expansion.
 

Laptops

Laptops let you use your computer away from your desk, but you pay for that mobility with a smaller screen and keyboard, and often at the expense of performance. Technological advances have lessened the performance compromises somewhat, though. Whether portability or power is your main consideration, screen size will be an essential factor in deciding which type of laptop is right for you:

Pros: Laptops can travel. They take up less desk space. They're easily stowed after use. They can do anything desktops can do.
Cons: Laptops cost more than comparably equipped desktops. Our reliability surveys show laptops are more repair-prone than desktops. Laptops are more expensive to repair.
 

12- to 13-inch

If you're planning to carry the laptop around with you frequently, a 12- to 13-inch model is probably the right choice. In our tests of 13-inch systems, we found that you might have to sacrifice some speed, and you'll spend a few hundred dollars more than you would for a larger laptop. But you'll also lighten your load by at least a pound, and you'll find many of the same features on these laptops that are available on larger laptops, including webcams, memory-card readers, and fingerprint scanners.
 

14- to 16-inch

Laptops with a 14- to 16-inch screen generally offer the ideal balance of performance, portability, and price. They weigh about 5 to 6 pounds or more. They're a good choice for those who need to take a laptop along less frequently, and a system in the 14- to 16-inch size range can easily be configured to serve as a desktop replacement.
 

17-to-18-inch

For a full-blown, entertainment-oriented desktop replacement, consider a 17- to 18-inch model. You'll get better performance, a good-sized screen, and better speakers. It will cost more than a comparable desktop, but it's handy if you have space constraints or if you're planning to use it in areas of your house other than the home office.
 

Netbooks

Inexpensive and portable, netbooks are downsized laptops with a 10- to 12-inch screen that weigh 2 to 3 pounds and cost $300 to $500. They are designed chiefly for Internet use and light word processing. They are not meant to replace the full-functionality of your laptop or desktop. Most netbooks run Windows XP:

Pros: Not much larger than a hardcover book, netbooks are lighter, smaller, and less expensive than most standard laptops. They're very good for travel and might also make a good computer for a child.
Cons: Netbooks have small displays, keyboards, and touchpads, and performance is slow. They have no optical drive (although you can add an external one), so you can't easily install shrink-wrapped software or play CDs or DVDs. Netbooks are a relatively new computer category, and we currently have no reliability data.
 
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