People certainly aren’t camping out outside tents in the rain for the latest and greatest desktop these days, but PCs are far from dead. Simply put, there are certain functions that mobile devices and laptops can’t do or can’t do as well as a desktop computer.
Not to mention, you can’t beat the price. A cheap desktop will be miles ahead of a cheap laptop. It’s expensive to do the little things. The small size is what attracts some people when they choose a new computer, but these days the big honking towers aren’t your only option.
Desktop Computer Styles
There are many more variations and options in the desktop form factor, which is great in some ways, but also makes the buying process much more complicated. You can find computers in each of these categories at a variety of price points, so the most important thing to consider is how you plan to use your desktop.
Tower
The classic desktop form factor, towers have stuck around for good reason. It’s hard to pack a lot of power into smaller devices like a laptop or tablet at a reasonable price. The power-to-price ratio of tower computers is practically unbeatable.
There is also a lot more flexibility with a tower. There is more room to upgrade and expand the system when newer technology comes along, whereas with smaller devices you may just have to buy a whole new system.
However, towers take up quite a bit of space and if space is at a premium in your home, a tower might be out of the question. They also require a separate monitor, keyboard, and mouse. There are some cases where those accessories are included, or you can get a discount if you buy them at the same time as the computer, but plan to buy them when you’re filling out your budget.
All in one
All-in-one computers offer a space-saving and simple setup. These are, in essence, a cross between a desktop and a laptop. They feature a large monitor with all the necessary components built into the back or base.
The small design gives you much more flexibility with placement and keeps your work area uncluttered. Plus, because everything is all-in-one, setup usually just involves plugging it in. However, you still need a separate keyboard and mouse.
Because these computers are smaller, they aren’t as powerful as a tower, and you can’t customize or expand them (although this also makes them a lot simpler). There’s also the problem that if the monitor breaks, you need a whole new computer.
Mini PC and Stick
These computers use mobile components to keep them small (like all-in-ones). As such they are not very powerful, but they are extremely portable. Mini PCs are small enough to hide behind a monitor or TV, and stick PCs are slightly larger than a USB stick. Due to the small size, they are not very powerful and internal expansion is limited to impossible.
While you won’t be able to do advanced gaming or media editing, they work great for everyday tasks, browsing the internet, and viewing media. Setup is extremely easy and they are highly versatile as you can use them as a home office during the day and then connect them to a TV for a home theater at night.
The different operating systems
The question of which operating system (OS) to choose doesn’t come up as often with desktop computers as it does with tablets and smartphones, but it’s still something to consider.
windows 10
This is definitely the most common desktop operating system, so you’ll have a huge selection of compatible third-party hardware and software. It’s designed around a touchscreen interface, though it still works great with the classic mouse and keyboard, so if you don’t buy a touchscreen monitor, you won’t have a problem.
mac OS Sierra
If you’re from a family of Apple lovers, Mac might be for you. Sierra is only found on Mac computers, so it’s limited in its hardware, but these are well-made computers that historically have fewer problems with viruses. A Mac will also pair seamlessly with your other Apple devices and programs.
chrome operating system
If you’re just looking for simple, no-frills computing, Chrome OS will be your friend. The operating system runs custom applications and cloud-based programs unlike other operating systems that run software. It’s not suitable for demanding tasks like gaming, but it’s great for email, file sharing, and browsing. You’ll always need to be connected to the Internet, but that’s usually not a problem with desktop computers.
Types of desktop computers
Not everyone will use a desktop for the same reasons, and how you use it will influence the type of computer you buy. After all, you don’t need a complex, high-powered machine just to check your email.
commercial PCs
These PCs are plain, simple machines that don’t allow for advanced computing, but are easy to repair and upgrade. They also often offer additional security, software and hardware certification programs, software support, and some even have on-site technical support.
Work stations
These are specialized PCs that feature multi-core processors and intense graphics. They’re perfect for scientific calculations, media creation, and other high-powered tasks that wouldn’t be remotely possible on a laptop.
gaming pc
These are (as the name suggests) made for gaming. They feature specialized graphics cards, extremely fast multi-core processors, and many have flashy design elements, though they generally cost more. Upgradability is a must as newer and more immersive games are released.
learn the lingo
There’s a lot of terminology you need to know before you buy a PC so you really know what you’re buying. This PCWorld list gives more details, but here’s a quick breakdown of the terms you need to know and understand.
Processor (CPU)
This is the brain of your computer. Processor speed is measured in gigahertz (GHz), and in general, the higher the clock speed, the better the performance and the higher the price. The more cores a processor has, the better the performance too. Desktop computers have an Intel or AMD processor.
Memory
Random Access Memory (RAM) determines how good your computer is at multitasking. The higher the RAM, the better, especially for high-powered tasks like gaming. For simple tasks like email and web browsing, 2 GB is fine, but for anything more advanced than that, look for a computer with 4 GB or more.
Internal storage
The amount of storage your desktop has determines how much stuff you can keep on your computer. Desktop computers almost always have more storage than laptops and for a fraction of the cost. It’s also easy to upgrade your hard drive for more storage or upgrade to a solid state drive.
Wait for the best price, but don’t expect too much
Once you’ve decided which computer you want (and read a lot of reviews to make sure it’s really up to the task), it’s time to buy. This can be tricky with a desktop computer because it can be quite expensive and technology is always evolving.
While it can be tempting to just buy the computer when it’s ready, you might miss out on a great deal or the latest technology. Shop regularly over a period of time instead of spending a whole day looking around. You are more likely to nab a deal that way. Also check the launch dates of the new models. Chances are you’re getting a good deal on an older model, or maybe you just want the latest technology.
Waiting for a sale also means you can upgrade your computer’s specs with the money you save, which means your computer is a bit more “future-proof” than if it were just the cheapest you can find.
However, this is a balancing act. If you spend too much time waiting for the perfect deal or the latest model, you’ll never end up buying your desktop. So be patient and wait for the sales, but once you find the model you want in an acceptable price range, go ahead and buy it.
