Desktop computers
Tech support and reliability can help you decide which model to choose
The desktop computer has become just another appliance you use every day. Replacement sales-not first-time purchases-drive
the market. Fully loaded desktops selling for less than $600 are common, even among established brands.
But there is an emerging trend, and that's the all-in-one system. Those systems house all the computer's processors, memory, hard drives, and other components inside the monitor. You'll pay a premium for the space you save.
Alternatively, you might want to consider a slimmed-down desktop. Although those still have a "tower" housing all of the inner components, it's significantly smaller than that of a traditional desktop.
When choosing a model, it's hard to go too far wrong; the performance of today's computers is routinely quite high across brands. With performance so consistently high, differences in manufacturers' technical support matter more than ever. Repair rates for computers are higher than for most electronics products we track, according to Consumer Reports' Annual Questionnaire.
Technical support remains a hot-button issue, judging from our latest subscriber survey (available to subscribers) of computer users. Apple has kept its lead (though it offers telephone support free for only 90 days after purchase), while most other brands continue to show only so-so performance and face some chronic support woes.
Our subscribers still say that PC tech support is dismal. The most serious complaint was that the support people simply couldn't solve problems. But Dell was above average for problem-solving, according to our survey, as was Apple.
Major complaints about phone support included being kept on hold for too long, being bounced around among support staff, and communication problems. Support by e-mail or the manufacturer's Web site was also lacking. Live-chat online support was problematic, too. In fact, your best bet might be to pay for independent tech support, as an earlier survey indicated.
WHAT'S AVAILABLE
There are nine major brands of desktops from which to choose. Computers from Acer, Dell, Compaq, eMachines, Gateway, HP, Lenovo, and Sony all use Microsoft's Windows operating system. A number of mergers have changed the face of the market in recent years. Acer now owns Gateway, Gateway owns eMachines, and HP acquired Compaq a few years ago. Lenovo systems were formerly branded as IBM. Finally, there were also some changes among high-end PC makers, with Dell taking over the high-end gaming brand Alienware, and HP picking up VoodooPC.
Apple is the sole maker of Macintosh models. Newer Macs are able to run Windows as well as Apple's own OS X.
Price: $300 to $3,000 or more.
But there is an emerging trend, and that's the all-in-one system. Those systems house all the computer's processors, memory, hard drives, and other components inside the monitor. You'll pay a premium for the space you save.
Alternatively, you might want to consider a slimmed-down desktop. Although those still have a "tower" housing all of the inner components, it's significantly smaller than that of a traditional desktop.
When choosing a model, it's hard to go too far wrong; the performance of today's computers is routinely quite high across brands. With performance so consistently high, differences in manufacturers' technical support matter more than ever. Repair rates for computers are higher than for most electronics products we track, according to Consumer Reports' Annual Questionnaire.
Technical support remains a hot-button issue, judging from our latest subscriber survey (available to subscribers) of computer users. Apple has kept its lead (though it offers telephone support free for only 90 days after purchase), while most other brands continue to show only so-so performance and face some chronic support woes.
Our subscribers still say that PC tech support is dismal. The most serious complaint was that the support people simply couldn't solve problems. But Dell was above average for problem-solving, according to our survey, as was Apple.
Major complaints about phone support included being kept on hold for too long, being bounced around among support staff, and communication problems. Support by e-mail or the manufacturer's Web site was also lacking. Live-chat online support was problematic, too. In fact, your best bet might be to pay for independent tech support, as an earlier survey indicated.
WHAT'S AVAILABLE
There are nine major brands of desktops from which to choose. Computers from Acer, Dell, Compaq, eMachines, Gateway, HP, Lenovo, and Sony all use Microsoft's Windows operating system. A number of mergers have changed the face of the market in recent years. Acer now owns Gateway, Gateway owns eMachines, and HP acquired Compaq a few years ago. Lenovo systems were formerly branded as IBM. Finally, there were also some changes among high-end PC makers, with Dell taking over the high-end gaming brand Alienware, and HP picking up VoodooPC.
Apple is the sole maker of Macintosh models. Newer Macs are able to run Windows as well as Apple's own OS X.
Price: $300 to $3,000 or more.
