With so many factors to consider, deciding which desktop PC to buy can be a real challenge. From components to software to accessories, new PCs offer a bewildering array of choices. For some folks, sifting through the large number of options can be daunting.

Get What You Need

Today, almost any PC on the market can more than adequately handle such standard office chores as word processing and spreadsheets, as well as basic Internet functions like e-mail and general browsing. So for $1000 or less, you can get a PC that will suit most people’s needs.

If you want to edit digital video or manage a large database, however, you may need more than the basics. Typically, you won’t have to spend more than $1500 or $2000 for a system that will suit you today and serve you well for the next few years.

The best way to pay only for what you need is to carefully consider what you want to do with your system now, and try to anticipate what might interest you next year. Specific applications call for certain types of hardware, whether at home or in the office.

When you’re ready to buy a desktop PC, get what you need. Here are some recommendations for the average user’s minimum requirements. You may want to print out this article and keep it with when you shop.

A 2.66-GHz Pentium 4 or Athlon XP 2800+ Processor. For everyday work, word processing, spreadsheets, and e-mail, you don’t need the latest, greatest, and most expensive processor. When current processors of the same clock speed were compared in PC World tests, processors from Advanced Micro Devices performed some tasks faster than Intel’s offerings.

At Least 256MB of Memory. Anything less will slow your work, especially if you plan to use Windows XP. Buy as much as you can afford, up to 512MB.

The Right Windows. Most home and office PC users should find Windows XP Home a perfectly acceptable operating system. You should drop the extra $100 for Windows XP Professional only if you want to take advantage of management features such as Remote Desktop, which lets users control the computer remotely over the Internet.

Be Careful With Integrated AGP Graphics. Before you buy a computer with integrated graphics, ask if it has an AGP slot. If it doesn’t, you won’t be able to upgrade your graphics chip.

Subwoofers Improve Sound. Adding a sound system with a subwoofer (a large speaker that produces very low bass tones) can dramatically improve the sound quality of a home system, even if the speaker set is inexpensive. In the office, however, a booming subwoofer may trigger an uprising among your coworkers.

A Big Monitor. Unless you’re really pinching pennies, consider a large monitor. A 19-inch CRT monitor lets you see your documents with greater definition (or at a higher resolution) than 17-inch or smaller displays. Better yet, get yourself a new 17-inch LCD monitor. It takes up less space on your desk; it’s easier on your eyes; and it only costs about $150 more than a 19-inch CRT. And LCD prices keep falling, so watch for bargains. See “How to Buy a Monitor” for more specifics.

A CD-RW or Recordable DVD Drive. Now that most PC manufacturers have dumped the 1.44MB floppy disk drive, a recordable DVD or CD-RW drive is essential for data storage and transfer. Both allow you to back up important documents (700MB on a CD, 4.7GB on a DVD), share files with colleagues, and create custom audio or video CDs or DVDs. If you need to back up massive amounts of data or entire hard drives, choose the DVD option.

A 60GB or Larger Hard Drive. A 20GB hard drive is fine for simple word processing or Web browsing tasks, but you’ll likely fill that hard drive pretty quickly. In the long run it’s best to buy more storage space than you think you’ll need. Today’s largest hard drives reach 300GB. Unless you’re planning to use your PC as a mini server for your office database or for electronic entertainment, a drive with less capacity than that may be more cost effective.

Connectivity Up Front. Many PCs now offer a pair of USB ports on the front bezel, so you can connect multiple peripherals without having to reach behind the case. If you have lots of gear to plug into the PC, look for systems with up-front FireWire (IEEE 1394) or USB 2.0 ports, or optical audio connectors, depending on your needs.

Graphics Cards for Novice Gamers. If you want to do some gaming, and you’re keeping an eye on the future, get a lower-level GeForce4 MX board with 64MB of RAM–but read the fine print to make sure it will support next-generation DirectX games. See “How to Buy a Graphics Board” for details on specific cards.

Other Shopping Tips

PC shoppers can save money and avoid unnecessary hassle by following these tips:

Don’t Buy Extra Software. Purchase an operating system, an office suite, and an antivirus package. If you really you need more, look for vendors’ software bundles.

Don’t Wait for Price Reductions. If you need a new PC now, don’t wait a few months to see whether prices will drop further and upper-end performance will improve. Decide when you need the system, and go for it.

Look for Above-Average Specs. If longevity is a priority (and if you can afford it), get something close to, but below, the current top of the line. This will extend the useful life of your PC.

Check an LCD Monitor’s Interface. Depending on the brand or model of LCD monitor, it could have one of several different interface connectors–the part that plugs into the PC. Before you buy a monitor, make sure it works with the system you want, or at least that you have a money-back guarantee.

Upgrade at the Time of Purchase. Often, you can get a better deal on a larger hard drive or a better monitor when you first order your computer. Doubling the size of a hard drive may add very little to the cost, and upgrading to a better monitor may add only $80 to $100.

Avoid Gimmicky Keyboards. Many vendors tout fancy keyboards with extra buttons for launching apps. Save some money by choosing the cheapest option unless you have a specific need for a fancier model.

Don’t Overpay on Your Warranty. Because most PC problems tend to crop up in the first year, a one-year warranty should be fine.

Buy From a Trustworthy Source. Above all, reduce your chances of getting a lemon: Buy from a PC maker you trust. Check out PC World’s annual Reliability & Service survey, in which readers report on which PC makers provide the best (and worst) technical support and warranty service.

• The Best Tablet PC
• Turn off your PC without shutting down Windows
• How to Clean Computer Keyboard, Computer Screen, Laptop
• Difference between Laptop and Notebook computer

Top row:  TabletKiosk eo UMPC, Gateway E-295C, , Tablet Kiosk D440, HP Compact Compact 2710p, Fujitsu P1610   middle row:Toshiba M200, Samsung Q1, Lenovo X61, Tablet Kiosk i213.  Bottom Row: Fujitsu Lifebook T4220 , Samsung Q1 Ultra, Toshiba R400, Samsung Q1 Ultra, Lenovo X60

Question: Can you tell me about the about the Dell Tablet PC ?

At this time, the only thing I can tell you about the Dell is that I am looking forward its release.  (I will come back and update my answer to this question after the Dell Tablet PC is released)

Question: How does a product become the TabletPc2 Editors Choice or Favorite? 

“WOW” factor alone does not make a product an “Editors Choice” or a TabletPc2 Favorite”.  It has to function properly and significantly improve the computing experience from the prior Editors Choice Tablet PC.  Price point is also a factor in the editors choice Tablet PC.  

So on those rare occasions when I find a product that has not only “WOW” factor but it fits a specific need better than anything thing else I have seen or used and I feel its a tablet that will appeal to a wide majority of users Its in the running for Editors Choice.

Question: is my personal favorite Tablet PC always the editors choice Tablet PC?

Good question.  The answer is no. 

My favorite Tablet PC is the Tablet PC that best suits my personal needs and that I most enjoy using.  That machine may or may not necessarily the best Table PC  for most people.

Question: Why do I now have an Editors Choice slate and Editors choice Convertible?

The Fujitsu P1510D was the Tablet PC that changed that.  I fell in love with the convenience of having a a small machine and it received my first Editors Choice award for a Convertible Tablet PC.   With that machine I began to see how having a keyboard attached came in handy, especially when I was doing quick trips and didn’t want to carry a separate computer case with me.  

Then along came the Lenovo X60 and the Toshiba R400 at that point I became fond of the convertible form factor.

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Question: Occasionally I see widespread info about a Tablet PC that is not on TabletPc2.com, why is that?

Most likely that is because I do not post unconfirmed rumors and I refuse to knowingly and intentionally undermine all of the time and effort and expense that an manufacturer has put into a launch announcement, just to draw more readers to TabletPc2.com.  

I hold both myself and my site up to the same standards, they are the standards I live by, so It’s a mater of personal and professional integrity.

Question:  How Many Tablets do I have?

The number of Tablets I have around varies on any given day, but currently I have 8 or 9 Tablets and 3 Umpcs here.

Question:   How many Tablets do I actually use.

Since I am fortunate enough to have so many choices, this question is hard to answer.   What I use is dependant on which Tablets are here as well as the situation at hand.   I tend to use what ever Tablet suits my needs on any given day but I would say that there are 4 or 5 here that I use on a regular basis.  

Question:   What about the UMPC?

The Samsung Q1 Ultra running XP is and great if you want it for watching movies and listening to music or for checking email when your out and about.   The Q1 Ultra with built in Verizon EDVO, will make the Samsung a great choice for those who want to always be connected.

TabletKiosk’s eo line of UMPC’s is also a excellent choice for those who want a UMPC that allows everyone from the soccer mom to the busy executive to be productive.  TabletKiosk’s eo Tough tab is built to be tough, lightweight ready for anything.

The UMPC / Ultra Mobile PC form factor is a work in progress.  They are nice to have in addition to your main machine for those times when you want something small and light to take with you.

as time goes on and Microsoft finds a way to fine tune vista to run better on the UMPC platform and when the price of wireless service from company’s like AT and T, Sprint and Verizon drop to a point where more people can afford the service the UMPC is likely to become a be a hot commodity

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Question: Are the rugged Tablet PC’s really rugged?

Yes.  In fact some even say you can put them in the dishwaher with out doing them in.  I wouldnt try washing a Tablet PC in the Dishwasher but If your intrested in a Rugged Tablet PC  take a look at the MobileDemand® xTablet® Rugged Tablet PC.  The Mobile Demand X tablet is the only Rugged Tablet PC in the world with an integrated numeric keypad.

Question: You seem to change machines a lot, have you ever gotten attached to an particular Tablet PC?

Machines come in and out on a regular basis, so I try not to get overly attached to any of them, but it happens.  The TabletKiosk slates, Lenovo X61, Fujitsu T2010 are all machines that I am attached to.   

But the Fujitsu P1510 and Toshiba R400 are the two machines that I had the hardest time parting with. 

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Question:  Which Tablet PC has the best outdoor screen?

A picture is worth a thousand words……

The Fujitsu T2010 Tablet PC in bright California Sunshine and in the shade

With the Fujitsu T2010 Tablet PC you don’t have to give up indoor quality for outdoor viewability.

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Question:What do I think of the Tablets with the 14 inch or larger screens ?

For me they they are to big and to heavy to be mobile.   14- 17 inch screens are Desktop replacement PC’s. Which means they are better suited to sitting on a desktop than being mobile.  They are not great for those who like to “Grab-n-Go” so they are not practical for what I do.

None the less they may suit your needs just fine.  So if you don’t mind the size and the weight of them give them due consideration  For those who simply can’t survive without a large screen and built in optical drives but want the features of a Tablet PC,  the option is there.

Question: Should I choose a Windows Vista or Windows XP? 

From improved handwriting recognition to pen flicks and everything in between the Window Vista OS includes greatly improved Tablet PC features that are definitely worth having.   Just make sure you purchase a machine with at least 2 GB of memory.  

Question: How much memory do I really need?

If your using Windows Vista you need a minimum of 2 gigs.  

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Question:  What happened to the HP TC1100  Tablet PC

Much to users disappointment and dismay,  HP decided to switch to a convertible form factor. The HP I believe that the HP TC 1100 is the most sought after Tablet on the secondary market.       

Question:  Have I ever asked HP why they discontinued the TC1100 or told them how much people want it?

Yes to both questions.  

I have mentioned this to HP more times than I can count, and I will continue to brining it up to HP as along as readers of TabletPC2.com, blogs and other forums keep asking for it.  Just about every Tablet PC MVP I know that has contact with HP gives them this same information.  We all tried or best to convincing HP to market the HP TC 1100 to the consumers as well as business.

As for why they discontinued it, the best answer I have gotten is because it was designed, developed and distributed as business machine and it didn’t do well in that area.  

Had they marketed the TC1100 to the general public I believe we would still have the hybrid Tablet PC as a form factor, but the fact is until recently HP only considered the Tablet PC part of their business division and did not market their Tablets outside that division. 

There are no plans that I am aware of to update or bring back the HP TC 1100 - but I promise I will continue to bring it to HP.   In the mean time check out the new HP Compact 2710P Tablet PC.

Question: A what software do you install in your own machines?

It varies from machine to machine depending on how I am using it it and how long it’s here but in general   Diskeeper Pro Premier , Snagit and AVG free are installed on every machine I use.  While these may not be Tablet PC specific programs, they are the programs I can not imagine being without.

And you will find an assortment of the following on my machines: Bluebeam PDF review, JumpingMinds software, Acronis True Image Suite, Microsoft Experience Pack for Tablet PC, Trillian,  NTI CD&DVD-Maker™ 7 Titanium Suite, , Autodesk Sketchbook Pro 2, Agilix GoBinder , Plan Plus for Windows & Vista, Microsoft Digital Image Suite, Microsoft Office.

My favorite Tablet PC software to demonstrate are Jumping Minds Math Practice and the Ink Crossword
from the Microsoft Experience Pack for Windows Vista.

Question:  If I could only have one Tablet PC which one would I choose?

Thankfully, that is not a decision I have to make.

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Question: Are you really not going to tell us what your personal favorite Tablet PC is?

Again, the reason I don’t like to answer this question because what I like best and what’s good for you are not necessarily the same thing. 

I will tell you this…

I almost always have a Lenovo X60 or X61 in my bag, the Lenovo is a great all around machine for everyone.    Good battery life, wide selection of accessories, durability, reliability and its price point are what make the Lenovo the current Editors choice machine.   I’m still a big fan of the Slate Tablet PC so my TabletKisok machine is usually close by as well.

It’s no secret that I am a big fan fan of the Toshiba R400, its unique styling and features, Integrated Verizon Wireless EVDO and a fabulous screen make the R400 aa great fit for my personal needs.  If There is a R400 here and I am visiting a client where impression is everything or I want to make a statement the R400 is the Tablet Pc that I want to walk in with.   

If I am visiting the Hollywood Bowl or a client who needs outdoor viewability I chose the tablet best suited to them.  Currently that would be the Fujitsu T2010 - it has the best outdoor screen I have ever seen.

And last but not least,  If I had a UMPC with Integrated Verizon EDVO or the Fujitsu P1610 there is no question that it would get plenty of use and be the machine that went with me on quick trips.   

Toshiba R400                Fujitsu T2010                Lenovo X61                    TabletKiosk i440D

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Question: If I could build the perfect Tablet PC what would it be?

Configuring the “Ultimate Tablet PC” is nothing short of impossible, but it would be fun.  

For me, the ultimate Tablet PC would be the design and of the Toshiba R400, with processing power from the AMD 64 processor used in the HP TX1000, The outdoor screen from the Fujitsu T2010 , The screen resolution of the Toshiba R400, the all around practicality and touch screen of the Lenovo X61, the Dual mode from the TabletKiosk i440D allowing me the option of using touch as an input method and Integrated Verizon EDVO at an affordable price.

Now add, 3 or 4 gigs of memory, a a screen that was smudge resistant, an all day battery, Blu Ray DVD RW.  If it were a convertible, an ultra light ultra thin expansion bay and night light like those in the HP 2710P, if it were a slate a combination snap on keyboard/cover,,and to be absolutely perfect, it would all be in a nice tidy in a nice tidy 3 pound or less package.   That would be my ultimate Tablet PC.

Happy Are Those Who Dream Dreams……..

As you can see I am of the opinion that there is no one perfect Tablet PC.  Tablet PC’s continue to evolve and with each generation they get better and better  The road ahead and future of the Tablet PC looks bright.

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What else in my personal arsenal?  What are the accessories that I can’t be without? 
That is another article in itself but here are a few of my favorites.

• A Zip Linq mouse is something I am never without.  And I travel with the Zip Linq’s road warrior kit    Keep your eyes on them, because others love them too and if your not paying attention they have a habit of disappearing……       Click the mouse to order your own.

• A good cleaning cloth, especially important using a machine with touch

• USB Flash Drives and a Portable hard drive I can’t imagine being without them. 
  My personal favorites are my 8 gb DataTraveler Elite from Kingston and my 12 gig Store ‘n’ Go™ USB HD Drive from Verbatim

• My Oakley Thump Pros or Razrwire’s - I never leave the house or go anywhere with out sunglasses - Thanks to Oakley’s electronic eyewear I’m always connected to my music or my cell phone.

• Samsung Nv11 Digital camera - this is the Digital Camera I use to take the photos that you see on on TabletPc2.com

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• Ultimate Ears triple.fi 10 Pro - a travel necessity with out these amazing ear buds would be anunhappy road warrior.click these to order ultimate ears of your own.

• The Penabled Cross Executive Tablet PC Pen.  Order yours by clicking on this one .

• A computer bag with wheel my two favorites are the Targus tolling backpack and the Franklin Covey Jacqueline Wheeled Business Case

• How to Buy a New PC
• Turn off your PC without shutting down Windows
• How to Clean Computer Keyboard, Computer Screen, Laptop
• Difference between Laptop and Notebook computer
• The HP tx1000 Entertainment Tablet PC
• The New Gateway E-295C / C140X Tablet PC
• Fujitsu Lifebook T4220 Tablet PC

Shutting down a PC can get complicated. Sometimes Windows takes an extremely long time to close, and too often the operating system doesn’t shut down at all.

Microsoft says if you turn off your PC without first shutting down Windows, your hard drive could become more fragmented, files could become corrupted, and you could lose data. But according to a PCWorld report, it is safe to turn off a Windows computer without doing a shut down.

We ran 30 iterations of an informal test, turning off a pair of systems running Windows XP without first shutting down Windows. Each time we left documents open in Word, Outlook, and Quicken. And we left our Internet connection up and running.

After we turned each PC back on, we ran Symantec’s Norton Disk Doctor and the Windows disk checker to see if the hard drive had suffered any ill effects. We reopened the applications that we had left running and reconnected to the Internet.

Disk Doctor found no disk errors, and files were intact–at least up to the last time they were saved, but not always to the point of the last edit made. Outlook recovered without a glitch, and so did Quicken.

• How to Buy a New PC
• The Best Tablet PC
• How to Clean Computer Keyboard, Computer Screen, Laptop
• Difference between Laptop and Notebook computer

Simple Guide to clean your Keyboard, Computer Monitor, Scanner, Printer or your Laptop Screen Here’s an overview of how to keep your computer and peripherals clean.

If you are using just a damp cloth to wipe the screen, be sure to dry it off as well to prevent streaking. When cleaning the Computer monitor casing use a soft cloth with your cleaning fluid. Always spray onto the cloth, not the equipment!

If you spill Coke or Coffee in your computer keyboard the first thing to do stop working. Save your data using the mouse instead of key stroke commands, if possible, and quickly turn the keyboard upside down and unplug it. Allow as much of the fluid as possible to drip from the keyboard, and wipe it down with a soft cloth dampened with your specialized computer cleaning fluid or plain water.

Turn the keyboard upside down and shake so loose dust, dirt, and food crumbs will fall out. Spray between the keys with compressed air or vacuum the keyboard. For hard to remove stains such as ink, use a cotton ball with rubbing alcohol or an alcohol saturated wipe.

Conventional wisdom is that you should only clean a screen with a damp cloth, as many screens have an anti-glare coating that you risk damaging if you use a harsh household cleaner. Even traditional window cleaners can damage some coatings and screens, especially on laptop computers.

Scanners
Use a dry microfiber or lint-free cloth moistened with water or a mild glass cleaner on flatbed scanners. (HP says isopropanol- and butoxypropanol-based cleaners like Cinch, Spic And Span, Sparkle, and Glass Plus are okay.) Cleaners with ammonia or isopropyl alcohol may leave streaks. Cleaners with abrasives, acetone, benzene, or carbon tetrachloride may damage the glass. Only a few flatbed scanners let you clean the underside of the glass.

Sheet-fed scanners can be gently vacuumed to remove paper lint. You can also use fax, ADF (automatic document feeder), or scanner-cleaning sheets; run these sheets through a couple of times. With some, you moisten the fuzzy sheet with an included cleaning liquid first. Higher-end sheet-fed scanners and printers let you replace slipping rollers; for the others, wipe the rollers with a cloth soaked in pure rubbing alcohol (clear, not green). If you can reach the scanning elements, clean them with a microfiber cloth; using compressed gas might leave a slight residue.

How to cleaning your Notebook PC
Dust, cigarette ash, pet hair, and other particles can accumulate on or inside your notebook PC. When this happens, they form a layer of grime that can scratch or shorten the life of hardware components by causing overheating. Cleaning your notebook PC can extend its life by getting rid of this potentially damaging buildup. It is recommended to clean your system once a year as part of a regular maintenance program.

Clean the Cooling Vents
Depending on your model, vents can be found on the side, back, and/or bottom of your notebook PC. These vents allow air to flow through the PC and keep it cool. Buildup inside these vents impedes the cooling process. Purchase a can of compressed air (available at most computer retailers) and blow them out.

Clean I/O Ports
The back of your notebook PC has a series of ports. After cleaning the cooling vents, take your compressed air and blow out any debris that may have accumulated in and around these ports.

Clean the Display
LCD screens accumulate smudges and scratches all the time. To clean these, choose a non-abrasive cloth or towel. Plastic and glass cleaners containing ammonia may leave a glare-causing film, so use a computer monitor specific cleaner from a computer store. Spray the cleaner onto the cloth, then wipe the screen with it.

Clean the Keyboard
If you have a small vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment, use it to clear the keyboard of debris. You can also use a can of compressed air to blow out particles that get in between the keys.

Read more instructions for Cleaning the Computer

• How to Buy a New PC
• The Best Tablet PC
• Difference between Laptop and Notebook computer
• Turn off your PC without shutting down Windows

Notebooks and Laptops are portable computers but there is a minor difference between laptops and notebooks.

Laptop: A portable computer small enough to use on one’s lap.

Notebook: A light, portable computer that is generally thinner than a laptop.

Even according to Webopedia, laptop computers are more frequently called notebook computers, though technically laptops are somewhat smaller in size than notebooks.

Source: Notebook Computer | Laptop Computer

• How to Buy a New PC
• The Best Tablet PC
• How to Clean Computer Keyboard, Computer Screen, Laptop
• Turn off your PC without shutting down Windows