| The desktop computer has become just another | | | | is usually less expensive. All-in-one |
| appliance you use every day. Replacement | | | | computers, such as the Apple iMac, have no |
| sales--not first-time purchases--now drive | | | | tower; everything but the keyboard and mouse |
| the computer market. Fully loaded desktops | | | | is built into a small case that supports the |
| selling for less than $800 are common, even | | | | monitor. Apple's Power Mac line of computers |
| among established brands. | | | | has a tower. Apple's newest model, the Mac |
| | | | Mini, has a space-saving design that puts |
| WHAT'S AVAILABLE | | | | everything but the monitor, keyboard, and |
| | | | mouse in a case about the size of a hardcover |
| There are dozens of companies vying to put a | | | | book. An "entertainment PC"--one with a TV |
| new desktop in your home. Dell, eMachines, | | | | tuner built in--comes in a case that is more |
| Gateway, Hewlett-Packard (which merged with | | | | like an audio or video component, made to fit |
| Compaq in 2002), IBM, and Sony all make | | | | in with other home-entertainment devices. |
| machines that use Microsoft's dominant | | | | |
| Windows operating system. eMachines, recently | | | | A mouse, a small device that fits in your |
| merged with Gateway, specializes in | | | | hand and has a "tail" of wire that connects |
| budget-priced Windows models. Apple is the | | | | to the computer, moves the cursor (the |
| sole maker of Macintosh models. Small | | | | pointer on the screen) via a rolling ball or |
| mail-order and store brands cater to | | | | a light sensor on its underside. Alternatives |
| budget-minded buyers. | | | | include a trackball, which is rolled with the |
| | | | fingers or palm in the direction you want the |
| Price range: $400 to $3,000. | | | | cursor to go; a pad, which lets you move the |
| | | | cursor by sliding a finger; a tablet, which |
| IMPORTANT FEATURES | | | | uses a penlike stylus for input; and a |
| | | | joystick, used to play computer games. |
| The processor houses the "brains" of a | | | | |
| computer. Its clock speed, measured in | | | | Most computers come with a standard keyboard, |
| gigahertz (GHz), determines how fast the chip | | | | although you can also buy one separately. |
| can process information. In general, the | | | | Many keyboards have CD (or DVD) controls to |
| higher the clock speed, the faster the | | | | pause playback, change tracks, and so on. |
| computer. But not always, since different | | | | Many also have keys to facilitate getting |
| chip families attain different efficiencies. | | | | online, starting a search, launching |
| Manufacturers of Windows machines generally | | | | programs, or retrieving e-mail. There are |
| use 1.6- to 3.8-GHz processors with one of | | | | also wireless keyboards that let you move |
| the following names: Intel's Pentium or | | | | about as you type. |
| Celeron, or AMD's Athlon or Sempron. Celeron | | | | |
| and Sempron are lower-priced processors that | | | | Multimedia computers for home use feature a |
| equal higher-priced chips in many respects. | | | | high-fidelity sound system that amplifies |
| Intel now assigns "processor numbers" to its | | | | music from CDs or downloaded music files, |
| chips, de-emphasizing clock speed. Apple's | | | | synthesized music, game sounds, and DVD-movie |
| Macintosh machines use 1.25- to 2.5-GHz | | | | soundtracks. Speaker systems with a subwoofer |
| PowerPC G4 or G5 processors, which are | | | | have deeper, more powerful bass. |
| manufactured by IBM. Apple has announced that | | | | Surround-sound systems can turn a PC into a |
| they will begin a transition to Intel | | | | home theater. Some computers come with a |
| processors in 2006.The system architecture of | | | | microphone for recording, or one can be |
| some families of chips allows them to be as | | | | added. |
| fast as or faster than others with higher | | | | |
| clock speeds, so speed comparison by the | | | | PCs come with a modem to allow a dial-up |
| numbers can be misleading. | | | | Internet connection. Parallel and serial |
| | | | ports are the traditional connections for |
| All name-brand computers sold today have at | | | | printers and scanners. Universal Serial Bus |
| least 256 megabytes (MB) of RAM, or random | | | | (USB) ports, seen on all new computers, are |
| access memory, the memory the computer uses | | | | designed to replace parallel and serial |
| while in operation. Video RAM, also measured | | | | ports. FireWire or IEEE 1394 ports are used |
| in megabytes, is secondary RAM essential for | | | | to capture video from digital camcorders and |
| smooth video imaging and game play. | | | | other electronic equipment. An Ethernet port |
| | | | or wireless network card lets you link |
| The hard drive is your computer's long-term | | | | several computers in the household to share |
| data storage system. Given the disk-space | | | | files, a printer, or a broadband Internet |
| requirements of today's multimedia games, | | | | connection. An S-video output jack lets you |
| digital photos, and video files, bigger is | | | | run a video cable from the computer to a |
| better. You'll find hard drives ranging in | | | | television, which lets you use the computer's |
| size from 40 to 300 gigabytes (GB). | | | | DVD drive to view a movie on a TV instead of |
| | | | on the computer monitor. |
| A CD-ROM drive has been standard on most | | | | |
| desktops for many years. Commonly supplied | | | | HOW TO CHOOSE |
| now is a CD-RW (CD-rewriteable) drive, also | | | | |
| known as a "burner" that lets you create | | | | First, decide whether to upgrade your current |
| backup files or make music compilations on a | | | | computer. Upgrading, rather than replacing |
| compact disc. A DVD-ROM drive brings | | | | it, may make sense if your additional needs |
| full-length movies or action-packed | | | | are modest--a second hard drive, say, because |
| multimedia games with full-motion video to | | | | you're running out of room for digital |
| the desktop. It complements the CD-RW drive | | | | photos. Adding memory or a CD burner is |
| on midline and higher-end systems, allowing | | | | usually more cost-effective than buying a |
| you to copy CDs directly between the two | | | | whole new machine. If your PC has become |
| drives. A DVD writer will also play CDs and | | | | unreliable, your want list is more demanding, |
| CD-ROMs. Combo drives combine CD-writing and | | | | or if there's software you must run that your |
| DVD-playing in a single drive, saving space. | | | | system is not up to, a new PC is the logical |
| The newest in this family, rapidly becoming a | | | | answer. |
| common choice, is the DVD-writer, which lets | | | | |
| you transfer home-video footage to a DVD | | | | Consider a laptop. A desktop computer |
| disk, or store as much data as six CDs. There | | | | typically costs hundreds less and is easier |
| are three competing, incompatible DVD | | | | to upgrade, expand, and repair. It usually |
| formats--DVD-RW, DVD+RW, and DVD-RAM--as well | | | | offers better ergonomics, such as a more |
| as drives that can create dual-layer DVDs | | | | comfortable keyboard, bigger display, and |
| that store twice as much. Some drives can | | | | enhanced audio. But a laptop merits |
| write in more than one format, but all can | | | | consideration if portability and compactness |
| create a disk that will play on standalone | | | | are priorities. |
| DVD players. | | | | |
| | | | Pick the right type of desktop. Most |
| Fast disappearing is the diskette drive, | | | | manufacturers offer several lines at |
| where 3.5-inch diskettes are inserted. Apple | | | | different price points. Budget computers are |
| Macintoshes and a growing number of PCs don't | | | | the least expensive, yet they are suitable |
| have a diskette drive built in, because it | | | | for routine work. Workhorse computers cost a |
| only allows you to read or store relatively | | | | few hundred dollars more, but are faster, |
| small amounts of data. Many people use a | | | | more versatile, and upgradable. All-in-one |
| CD-RW as a large "diskette" drive to | | | | models have most of the components in a |
| transport files. Many PCs now come with a | | | | single case. And entertainment or media PCs |
| digital camera memory-card reader that can | | | | include TV tuners and software that give them |
| also serve for file transfer. You can also | | | | the functions of a DVR. They usually provide |
| get external drives or use a USB memory | | | | a remote control for easy operation. |
| module that holds much more than a diskette. | | | | |
| | | | Choose by brand. Our surveys have |
| The computer's cathode ray tube (CRT) or | | | | consistently shown notable differences in |
| flat-panel liquid crystal display (LCD) | | | | reliability and technical support among |
| monitor contains the screen and displays the | | | | computer brands. And some brands are |
| images sent from the graphics board--internal | | | | generally more expensive than others. Those |
| circuitry that processes the images. Monitors | | | | factors could help you decide which of two |
| come in sizes (measured diagonally) ranging | | | | similarly equipped computers is the better |
| from 15 to 21 inches and larger. | | | | buy. |
| Seventeen-inch monitors are the most common. | | | | |
| Apple's eMac and iMac come with built-in | | | | Choose between preconfigured and custom |
| monitors. Its Mac Mini comes without a | | | | built. You can buy a PC off the shelf in a |
| monitor. LCD displays are now the most | | | | store or via the Web, configured with |
| popular, taking less space and using less | | | | features and options the manufacturer pitches |
| power than CRTs. Better LCD displays can use | | | | to average consumers. Or consider purchasing |
| a Digital Video Interface (DVI) connection, | | | | a desktop that you configure to order, either |
| found on many newer PCs. | | | | online or in a store. When you configure a |
| | | | computer to order online, onscreen menus |
| The critical components of a desktop computer | | | | typically show you all the options and let |
| are usually housed in a case called a tower. | | | | you see how a change in one option affects |
| A minitower is the typical configuration. | | | | the overall price. |
| More expensive machines have a midtower, | | | | |
| which has extra room for upgrades. A | | | | Copyright © 2002-2006 Consumers Union of |
| microtower is a space-saving alternative that | | | | U.S., Inc. |