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Desktop Computer Reviews and Buying Guide:With the recent release of Microsoft's operating system, Windows 7, you may be in the market to either upgrade or buy a new computer. Consumer Reports just came out with an article on buying a Windows 7 PC. We will focus our attention on desktop computers and leave laptops for another review. PC World, CNET, PC Magazine, and consumers have all rated the best desktop computers per their opinions and the usual names appear near the top of the list like Dell, HP, Apple, and Gateway. Compaq and eMachines offer cheaper models, but don't get that great of reviews overall. The good news is that desktop computer prices continue to sag downwards and you can get a really good computer for less than $600. What features should you be looking for in a desktop computer? Keep reading below to see what our buying guide recommends and which models rate the best.
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Best Desktop Computer:Dell has led this field for years and although they have staggered a bit in the marketplace recently, they still have the best online experience for buying a desktop computer. With only Apple and Sony in front of Dell in terms of reliability, Dell produces quality computers and the ability to customize your desktop computer right on their site makes all the difference in the world. After all, what is a personal computer if you can't turn it into exactly what you want. Buying a desktop computer in an electronics store gives you a generic pc that may not be what you want. Dell.com is the best place to start your search for a new desktop computer since they offer base models in different price ranges. The Dell Dimension E520 ($850) was rated the highest in a recent Consumer Reports article based on desktop computers with 1 GB of RAM, 250GB to 320GB hard drives, a DVD Burner, and stereo speakers. The Dimension E520 has an Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 processor and the Intel 3000 video adapter. I have personally owned about 5 Dell computers over the years and have totally impressed with their customer service, support and product reliability. Be sure to search online for Dell coupon codes before buying online since you can often get free items included in he price or checkout discounts when you buy. You can view all the most popular Dell desktop computers on Amazon.com here.
Best Value PC:Want a great computer without breaking your bank account. The Dell Inspiron is an excellent desktop computer that substitutes Intel chips for those from AMD and NVIDIA (video adapter) to get you a cheaper price on a very powerful machine. You still get plenty of RAM, hard drive space, a DVD burner, and speakers on this "value priced" desktop. Most of us use web browsers, email, word processor programs, money management software, and the occasional game on our computer which means we don't need the latest and highest powered components to enjoy our experience. Many surveys have shown that the average computer user never even uses all the features on their desktops, so why pay for expensive components that will go unused. Desktop ratings are still very high for mid-range computers that may not offer all the bells and whistlers of luxury models. Dell offers the "best value" desktop computers.
Budget PC Computer:One name that hasn't come up yet in our article is that of HP (Hewlett Packard). HP bought out Compaq computers a few years back and Compaq continues to sell PC's in stores like Wal-Mart, Best Buy, CompUSA. HP has a recognized name in computing and although their desktop computer models are more expensive, the Compaq line is right in the "budget" price range for saavy shoppers. For less than $500 you can buy a competitent Compaq desktop computer that still offers everything you would need to send email, browse the web, do your finances, and burn DVD's. The processors are a touch slower on these budget desktops, but you can't have everything. Go to HP.com for more details on what Compaq currently offers.
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($1200) with 2.4 GHz Core 2 Duo processor is the desktop computer to purchase if you want reliability and support on your side. It's the #1 seller on Amazon. The speed of the Apple is outstanding, but the 3D-gaming experience is lacking like most of the others that were rated. Apple computers are easier to operate and much of the software runs smoothly compared to a PC, but the price tag on Apples can be a deterence for many. Apple still own about 5% of the desktop computer market but we feel that that share will continue to expand not only through advertising (the recent campaign is doing well), but as consumers realize their iPods are easy to use and great music devices, more may switch their allegiance when it comes to desktop computers. Apple desktop computers have been thought of as an alternative computer, but we feel they will be more mainstream in the coming years. Their partnership with Intel on processors should only enhance the ability of their desktops. You can