Desktop and Laptop Buyer's Guide

Desktop and Laptop Buyer’s Guide is for the whole consumer who either needs a computer for the first time or needs upgrade or needs another as second computer. As usually, our Desktop and Laptop Buyer’s Guide is not biased, not filled with links to some other seller, it is fully for an user based cost effective calculation to get the best possible solution.

Desktop and Laptop Buyer’s Guide : Intended Audience

This Desktop and Laptop Buyer’s Guide is intended for any level of user. This website is about computing, not for any specific device or Operating System. If you do not know any terminology, please use the search box within this webpage (top right) for an detailed article on that point.

First, clearly know that; what we usually use are Personal Computer, this is a kind of Minicomputer or Microcomputer. Workstation is fully different. Mainframe Computer is actually the mainstream of computing. Microcomputer has a Microprocessor. The performance of today’s these Microcomputer segment has been improved but far from being perfect. The requirements also changes with time. The technology is never stable and hardware defects are not really rare, specially the drives unlike the Microprocessor has no practical predictability of service. Anyone who buys a computer for later upgrade is actually throwing the money out of the window. There is an unpredictable devaluation of old computers of this segment.

Most Microsoft Windows partner companies actually assembles components produced by another company – like hard disk, chipset, processor, RAM, display – all are from original equipment manufacturers.

Desktop and Laptop Buyer’s Guide

DIY or self assembled computer means to get used yourself with the parts of a computer and way to join them, so assembled is only for those who have a basic understanding of technology, crafts, have a great tolerance level. So ultimately most buys a branded one today. Who wants to work on the move, usually prefers Laptop. From our experience, Laptop is more fault tolerant than usual Made for Windows desktop PC.

It is fully depending on your usage pattern what brand or spec or Operating System you will need. Linux is usually free, an unix like Operating System. Newer Mac OS X are called OS X and is purely based on UNIX Operating System. The partners of Microsoft Windows usually ships with reinstalled version of Microsoft Windows – these are OEM version, usually has no disk to do advanced needed work later. Mac OS X / OS X is kind of OEM – because normally can not run on non Apple manufactured computer. Both Linux distributions and Apple’s OS X is by its operating system’s design is less vulnerable to virus. A Mac of any type is more costly, because of their design, quality of building materials like the body, charger, battery etc. plus practically they has no competitor at that segment. Mac is not actually intended for the general audience, it is basically targeted for the professionals with many small features that a casual user will probably not need. Usually they sports the latest technologies.
Still, you must look all the products from all the computer manufacturers in real life and on official website.

Processor, Graphics card, RAM depends on your need. Linux can run on very low system requirement – it is quite cost effective solution for those who are in tight budget – you can reduce the hardware requirement and the Operating System is free.

Never buy any computer that has an abnormal or unacceptable feature for you. It itself can increase the cost. MacBook Retina 15″ at the time of writing has no built in Optical Drive. It costs more than its 15″ non Retina relative with an Optical Drive. A laptop like from Sony nowadays has a touch screen but no swivel. Both practically can add headache in long term user. One will need an external drive and another will need an extra hand to support the back of lid behind the screen – one can not rely on the hinge for intense work.

It is better to opt for an unibody chassis for the laptops, this design helps to upgrade or completely replace components later after many years by yourself. But unibody design itself costs more, despite the fact – unibody should be the ‘normal’ design.

Unless you specially need desktop for some specific reason, laptop probably is more better option today, because it will not require an UPS, you can move from one room to another even you need not to go outside and it is a space saver. But the cost is more.
 

 
Whatever computer you buy, always buy the extended warranty – it will increase your warranty for 3 years (usually that is the standard) from unacceptable one year. If a laptop creates a problem, the bill can be insane. Nowadays there are dedicated websites which provides third party service, do it yourself tutorial to reduce the cost. Always get a cleaning service for the internal components by either the company’s service center or an expert. The dust and debris collected inside must be cleaned to prolong the life.

For Mac, you will find a kind of fluid and cleaning cloth; as basically Mac and MacBooks all are metal and glass, it needs that fluid to keep it shiny. There is transparent keyboard skin for MacBook Pro, Air etc. It is very very nice thing to use to keep the excellent keyboard free from the things we have at fingertips. These are two mandatory purchases with a MacBook.

Made for Windows Laptop usually supplies one cleaning cloth. Use that with whatever they have have recommended to use.