If you're a casual home computer user and just want check your email occasionally, surf the Internet, and keep up with home finances, you'll probably be satisfied with a desktop or an all-in-one system. An inexpensive desktop offers a large screen that's easy on the eyes—although if you prefer sitting on the couch to sitting at a desk, a tablet or netbook could offer both the features and comfort you're looking for.
Generally, high-end power and capabilities are more affordable in a desktop system, which is also easier to upgrade over time. You can keep a desktop computer contemporary by replacing components year after year, a process that's more difficult or impossible on most portable computers and all-in-ones. If you need a computer for travel, doing business, or attending school, you'll want a laptop or an Ultrabook. Tablets and netbooks keep you connected to the Internet and allow you to do light work, but neither offer the full-fledged power of a laptop or desktop computer. Still, for a computer that's so highly portable, tablets and netbooks are about as convenient as you can get.
The next step in our computer buying guide is to determine the components that will go into your new computer.
Get Enough Hard Drive Space
Most of your files and data will be saved on your computer's hard drive. While text documents, pictures, and music files generally don't require much space on their own, it's easy to quickly chew through the available storage as your collection grows. In general, you'll get more hard drive space for your computer buying dollar by opting for a desktop computer instead of a laptop or tablet.
Try to get enough gigabytes (GB) of storage--or perhaps even terabytes (TB) for a desktop--to keep all the files you'll need today as well as what you might need in the next few years. You don't need to go crazy, though: 500GB will be enough for many users, and you can also purchase additional external storage or upgrade your internal drive if you need to down the road.
You could also choose a solid state drive. SSDs are quickly becoming more common, especially on ultrabooks and tablets. SSDs are faster than traditional hard drives, and they use less power--but you pay for that speed and economy. If you need help deciding which type of drive is right for you, see our computer buying guide to solid state drives vs. hard drives.
Know About Memory (RAM)
While your computer's hard drive determines how many files, movies, and songs you can store on your computer, your random access memory (RAM) determines the performance of multiple programs running at the same time. Large programs like video editors and games usually demand more RAM. Simpler activities such as watching a Blu-ray or checking your email don't necessarily require much RAM, but extra power makes everything go quicker.
Most computer buyers will be satisfied with 4GB of RAM, while budget-conscious shoppers could make do with 2GB. A video gamer or heavy computer user will want 8GB or more of RAM, which represents the upper end of the spectrum for most computers. It's important to note that RAM isn't really a factor in choosing a tablet computer. While tablets do use RAM, you don't get RAM options when choosing a tablet.
Consider Processor Speed and Power
When it comes to your computer's processor, the general rule is that faster is better. You can generally assume that the more cores you have and the higher the speed (measured in gigahertz or GHz), the better off you are. The more cores the processor boasts, the more computations it can do at once. Speed describes how quickly those cores can work.
Unless you're trying to save every penny possible, don't buy a single-core computer because dual-core processors are widely and inexpensively available. Those dual cores provide all the power most computer users need. Video editors, gamers, and other power users will need a quad-core or even six-core processor.
Get the Ports You Need
Familiarize yourself with the types of ports you'll need on your computer and what each type does. Here's a quick buying guide to the most common computer ports and plugs:
SD - Cameras, e-readers, and even tablets store files and data on SD cards, so having a built-in SD card reader offers huge convenience.
HDMI - HDMI presents a convenient way to play audio and video between your computer and a TV or monitor.
USB - Common peripherals like keyboards, mice, and printers connect using USB cables. The standard USB port these days is USB 3.0, though plenty of devices support older USB ports.
Thunderbolt - Thunderbolt is a newer port type found predominantly on contemporary Apple computers. It can transfer data and even support monitor connections too.
Review the Package and Check Your Budget
Once you've made decisions about all the factors in this computer buying guide, review your final choices. Check your options against your budget by browsing our Computer section. When everything lines up, congratulations on your new computer!
If you're thinking of buying a laptop or tablet computer, we have computer buying guides just for them, too.
