Guide to PC Categories

There are hundreds of notebooks, netbooks and desktop computer models and configurations to choose from, which can make shopping for a PC overwhelming. Choosing the right class of PCs depends on your budget, what applications you need to run and where you plan on using your computer.

To simplify your shopping experience, you should first limit your search to one category of PCs. This guide will help you understand the different classes of PCs available at your local retailers and online.

All in One PCs

All-in-one PCs combine the monitor and the rest of the computer’s components in one package. They are easy to set up and take up very little space in your home. Some of them can even be mounted on the wall. Some users are drawn to all-in-one PCs because of their sleek designs and ease-of-use. All-in-one PCs are great for people that want to avoid clutter. Unlike traditional desktop PCs, all-in-one PCs are not designed to be tinkered with as much. This doesn’t concern most users, but some do-it-yourself types prefer the flexibility of desktop PCs.

Desktop PCs

Every year, fewer and fewer people buy desktop PCs, but they offer some of the best raw computing performance for your money. Desktop PCs typically come with larger hard drives, faster processors and better components compared to similarly priced laptops. The biggest limitation of a desktop PC is that it is not portable. They can be difficult to move between rooms or locations because of their size. Some desktop PCs come with multiple hard drives, optical drives and advanced graphics cards. Over time, many desktop PC users upgrade components, by purchasing larger displays, extra memory and add other capabilities to their computers.

Affordable Notebook PCs

Retailers and PC manufacturers are now selling entry-level notebooks for around $400 that are designed to meet the needs of basic home computer users. These are good option for people on a tight budget that want a large screen and spend most of their time browsing the Internet, writing e-mails and or using productivity applications such as Microsoft Office. They generally don’t have the best battery life, but this isn’t an issue as you don’t plan on taking it out of your house all the time. While some users will be perfectly satisfied with value focused notebook PCs, it’s a good idea to look at a more robust system if you plan on editing movies, running a lot of applications at once or playing the newest video games.

Mainstream Notebook PCs

Mainstream notebook PCs deliver a blend of performance, easy-to-read displays and entertainment options without breaking the bank. They typically have 14-inch or 15-inch displays, a DVD burner, mid-range processor and a large hard drive. They will satisfy the needs of the vast majority of home users for an affordable amount. Because of their mass popularity, mainstream notebooks are an excellent value. They have plenty of ports for connecting peripherals, such as digital cameras and external monitors. Mainstream notebook PCs currently start at about $550.

Though they cost a couple of hundred dollars more than entry-level notebook PCs, they are well worth it because of the significant upgrade you’re receiving. Their components are generally of a higher quality and are more durable compared to budget notebooks.

Entertainment Notebook PCs

Entertainment notebooks are geared towards people who want to use their computers to watch movies, store large multimedia libraries, edit HD content and play the latest video games. They typically have large displays and can easily be hooked up to home theater systems and televisions. Some entertainment notebooks come with premium options like Blu-Ray disc players and TV tuners. Most entertainment notebook PCs are larger than what you may be used to and may be too heavy to carry around easily. But if you’re serious about movies, music, photography and games and entertainment notebook may be for you.

Entertainment notebook PCs start at about $700 and can range up to over $2,500 depending on options and features you choose.

Netbooks

Netbooks are a relatively new category of PCs and are gaining in popularity because of their affordability and portability. Starting at around $300, a netbook can help you stay in touch with friends, access e-mail and run simple programs for word processing and other similar tasks. Netbooks typically have displays that measure 10.1 inches diagonally and weigh between two and four pounds. With six-cell batteries, netbooks can run for six hours or more on a single charge. However, netbooks are not the best tools for multitasking or working with large multimedia files. They are perfect for basic computing tasks or as “companion PCs” to complement a more powerful computer.

Thin and Light Notebooks

Thin and light notebooks are designed for people who have to carry their computers around all day. Weighing between three and five pounds, they offer much more power than netbooks and are equipped with 12-inch to 13-inch displays. These computers are powerful enough to use as primary computers. Some thin and light notebook users connect their computers to docking stations and external monitors when using them at home or in the office.

Thin and light notebooks have full-sized or nearly full-sized keyboards, faster processors and larger displays compared to netbooks. Thin and light notebooks are becoming more and more affordable, but some will still find them to be too pricey because the computers use expensive compact components.

Tablet PCs

Tablet PCs are unique in that they allow users to write directly onto their screens with a special stylus. This feature can be extremely useful for students and professionals who need to take a lot of notes. You can also draw charts, illustrations or diagrams on a Tablet PC, which can often be more effective than using text alone. Many users enjoy reading text on their Tablet PCs because they can rotate them and read in portrait mode, which closely approximates the experience of reading a magazine.

The majority of Tablet PCs are “convertible,” which means they look and function just like a traditional notebook PC when users prefer, but also swivel into tablet mode when needed.