How to Choose Your Desktop, Laptop or Tablet PC
Choices, choices! How do you know whether to choose a desktop, laptop, or tablet? It boils down to asking yourself one simple question: How am I going to use this new computer?
With a desktop, you get more power and features that just can’t fit into a laptop-sized package. With a desktop, you tend get more for your money. If space is not an issue and you don't need to lug your PC around with you, then a desktop is your best choice.
If you want the freedom to sit outside, go down to the local coffee shop, or use it for a business trip, a laptop is your best choice. Newer models are equally as good as most desktop PCs with many featuring widescreen LED panels for High Definition DVD viewing. However, all this comes with a price. Laptops will always carry a hefty price tag, with the higher spec models being significantly more expensive than their desktop counterparts.
In the last couple of years, a new category of devices have entered the market. Tablets (iPad, anyone?). These new devices are becoming increasing more powerful and sophisticated.
Not sure what to get? Then ComputerGeeks2Go have selected 2 systems perfect for you on this page. One is a quad-core desktop and the other a quad core laptop. Plus four Tablets. Click on the links for them below to check them out.
Desktops
Step 1: Choose Your Processor Type
The single most important factor in the cost and performance of your computer is the processor. There are two main manufacturers: Intel and AMD. Intel processors are more well known but are slightly more expensive than their AMD equivalent. These days you’ll see dual-core, quad-core and six-core processors being used everywhere making decisions even more complicated. Simply put though, the more cores, the more tasks that can be performed simultaneously.
Next, consider the speed. Processor speeds are measured in gigahertz (GHz) and the higher the number, the faster the processor. Here is the difficult part; you need to consider both the number of cores and processor speed to understand how fast the machine will be. If you only want to check e-mail, manage your personal finances and perform other simple functions, you can save money by going with a dual-core and a slower processor.
However if you plan to have multiple applications open at once, look for a quad-core or greater with a faster processor. For gaming or multimedia applications like photo/video editing, you will want at least quad-core machine and the fastest processor that fits your budget.
ComputerGeeks2Go recommends that you buy the latest quad-core or six-core machines with the fastest processor you can afford. This will prolong the use of your PC and avoid having to replace it every year. Choosing a slower model may seem like a good money-saving tip but it means you need to upgrade sooner.
Step 2: Add a Monitor
Once you've chosen the perfect PC, it's time to add a monitor. The monitor is the most visible part of your computer, so you'll want one that has the screen size you need and the style you want. Monitor pricing has dropped considerably in the past few years.
ComputerGeeks2go recommends getting at least a 20" monitor if you will doing a lot of typing or reading. 
Step 3: Memory
Random Access Memory (RAM) is the working memory in your PC. After the processor, RAM is the next biggest factor in system speed.
As your computer operates, it uses RAM to process programs and information. If you start to fill up available memory, the computer will automatically move the less used parts of memory to your hard drive. This is called paging.
Paging is very slow, so it is better to have more memory to reduce or eliminate paging. The more memory you have, the faster you will be able to load, print, and download your files.
Modern operating systems can use nearly 2 Gigabytes of RAM before doing anything else. To play games or surf the Internet you'll want to start with at least 4 Gigabytes (GB) of RAM. Many budget systems will only have 2 GB RAM. You may be told this is all you need but in reality your machine will slow down with excessive paging.
ComputerGeeks2Go recommends upgrading to 8GB of RAM if you multi-task or work with large files.
Step 4: Graphics
You will see many systems advertise things like 512MB shared system memory. While graphics cards that use shared memory are not bad, be aware that this is using your RAM and you are losing that from your total memory which we discussed in Step 3.
Many modern video games are requiring more and more from graphics cards. As a result, 1GB of memory is becoming increasingly common. If you choose a machine that uses shared graphics memory, look for a video card yourself and upgrade as soon as possible. Most non-budget systems are starting to come with their own graphics cards.
Step 4: Hard Drives
The hard drive provides storage for your computer's programs and frequently-used data. Most hard drives today are rated in gigabytes (GB). A hard drive is permanent storage for your data. Programs, images, music files, and data take up a lot of space on your hard drive, so make sure you start with plenty of room.
You can also invest in an external plug in hard drive. They are cheap and plentiful. So if you do fill up your hard drive don't worry, just go out and buy another one to plug in.
Laptops
Step 1: Choose Your Screen Size
Laptops screen sizes generally fall into two main sizes: 15.6" approximately or 17". They will use either LCDs that use active matrix technology or LED that have brighter and better contrast. ComputerGeeks2Go recommends that you concentrate on size rather than worry about the type of display.
The larger screen will be more comfortable for daily use, but will make your laptop heavier and may drain the battery faster. Smaller, lighter laptops are great for frequent travel, or as a companion to your desktop model. Weight will be crucial if you are toting your laptop around campus or through airports every day.
Step 2: Processors
With advances in processor power and power consumption, laptop processors are sometimes the same as their desktop cousins. It is not uncommon to find quad-cored laptops now-a-days. Mobile versions of some processors are still available on budget laptops and are cut-down versions of their desktop versions. These cut-down versions feature better battery life at the expense of some speed.
ComputerGeeks2Go recommends that you buy the best processor you can afford. The extra expense will pay for itself in your satisfaction with your new computer and will avoid having to replace the machine every couple of years.
Step 3: Battery
This feature is often overlooked. Look for a machine with a longer battery time. It’s not worth buying a budget laptop if you have to plug it in every hour! Also, if you intend to be on the road or away from wall power, consider buying a second battery.
Step 4: Wireless
Most of today’s laptops come with some sort of wireless capability built into them. The more budget laptops will have wireless b/g built in. This will be fine for reading email at home or at your local coffee shop.
However, if you want to stream music or movies, consider looking for a laptop with wireless b/g/n built in. If your laptop doesn't come with built in Wi-Fi capability then don't despair, you can buy a USB Wi-Fi connector or a Wi-Fi card which will slide into the side of your laptop.
ComputerGeeks2Go recommends that if you experience poor Wi-Fi connections with the built in wireless then purchase an external card or connector as these offer superior range.
Step 5: Memory
Random Access Memory (RAM) is the working memory in your laptop. Just like a desktop, RAM is second biggest factor in system speed. As your computer operates, it uses RAM to process programs and information. If you start to fill up available memory the computer will automatically move the less used parts of memory to your hard drive. This is called paging.
Paging is very slow, so it is better to have more memory to reduce or eliminate paging. The more memory you have, the faster you will be able to load, print, and download your files.
Modern operating systems can use nearly 2 Gigabytes of RAM before doing anything else. To play games or surf the Internet you'll want to start with at least 4 Gigabytes (GB) of RAM. Many budget systems will only have 2 GB RAM. You may be told this is all you need but in reality your machine will slow down with excessive paging.
To play games or surf the Internet you'll want to start with at least 4 Gigabytes (GB) of RAM.
ComputerGeeks2Go recommends upgrading to 8GB of RAM if you multi-task or work with large files.
Step 6: Graphics
You will see many systems advertising things like 512MB shared system memory. While these graphics cards aren’t bad, be aware that this is using your RAM and you are losing that from your total memory which we discussed in step 5. If possible look for a graphics card with its own on-board memory.
Many modern video games are requiring more and more from graphics cards, as a result 1GB of memory is becoming increasingly common.
Step 7: Hard Drives
The hard drive provides storage for your laptop’s programs and frequently-used data. Most hard drives today are rated in gigabytes (GB). A hard drive is permanent storage for your data. Programs, images, music files, and data take up a lot of space on your hard drive, so make sure you start with plenty of room.
However, external plug in drives are cheap and plentiful so if you do fill up your hard drive don't worry, just go out and buy another one to plug in.
Tablets
If I say Tablet, a large number will think Apple’s iPad. However, as I write this, there is a revolution taking place in the Tablet market.
The Amazon Kindle Fire and the Barnes & Noble Nook have entered the tablet market at a price less than half the cost of an iPad, bringing Tablets to the masses. But before we all go and buy a Kindle, let’s take a look at what else is available and at what each can and can’t do.
To help understand what we are talking about we need to understand that all tablets run either Apple iOS or Google Android. The iPad runs Apple iOS; all other tablets run on Android.
iOS
iOS is very simple compared to Android. Anyone who has used an iPod, an iPhone or iTunes are already familiar with what iOS offers. The Apple store and iTunes ecosystem is built in. The latest version of iOS also allows multitasking and task switching.
Android
Android is the generic name for the operating system and can be further split up into versions. version 3, known as Honeycomb, is running on most current Android Tablets. Newer Tablets coming out in 2012 will have version 4, known as Ice Cream Sandwich, which significantly enhances the operating system and its usefulness.
If you are not yet confused, then to make it even more confusing, makers of the Kindle Fire and Nook Color have then taken Android and removed all the Google Android bits and replaced them with Amazon and Barnes & Noble applications. Users may never even know they are using Android underneath!
To try and help guide you in the right direction we are going to split this into 4 categories (iPad, Non-Budget Android, Budget Android, Kindle/Nook)
iPad 2 (from $399)
The iPad 2 is the latest version of the iPad from Apple. The cheapest version is wifi only with 16GB of memory. The screen is 9.7 inches, has two built in cameras, one for high definition videos and pictures, and a front facing camera to allow you to chat with friends. It has a huge number of applications available for it.
Non Budget Android Tablets
These devices have similar features and prices to the iPad. The Tablets launching in 2012 promise to have specifications better than the iPAd. Quad-core processors are being launched which promise to bring power and speed not seen before on a Tablet.
2012 could also be the year when Tablet games become reality. Most will launch with Android version 4 Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS). ICS promises to make the operating system work easier and quicker and should provide many enhancements.
If you are considering buying a Tablet from this category then ensure that the Tablet either has, or will be upgraded to, ICS.
Budget Android Tablets
These devices are being sold in major retail stores and other places with prices as low as $79. Beware, they do not have updated operating system versions, have slow hardware, and are missing key things like cameras, microphones, speakers, etc. We recommend staying well away from these devices. They are not worth the money and you will be disappointed.
Kindle Fire / Nook Color (from $199 /$249)
Set to bring Tablets to the masses, these devices are running Android underneath but have all of the Android features removed. You may not even recognize them as Android.
The Kindle fire is $199 and is set to bring low prices to the Tablet market. At $249 the Nook Color is not far behind.
Both are smaller. 7 inches as opposed to the Non-Budget Android Tablets, which normally have a 10 inch screen.
However the Kindle does cut back on its features. It’s removed the SD card so you have no room to expand its storage. It has no camera, no Bluetooth, no HDMI output (to allow you to watch movies on your TV), and only 8GB of storage space. The only applicationss you can buy are from Amazon.
The Nook Color does have a SD card slot to increase storage space. But the other things like the camera, Bluetooth, and HDMI, are still missing.
If you are expecting a cheap tablet which can do the things an iPad will then you will be disappointed. If you want an eBook reader with a few extras in color you will be happy.
How to Choose
If you want a Tablet which will not disappoint, then we recommend either the iPad or any of the non-budget Android tablets. If you have an iPhone or iTouch and like their operation, you will be very happy with an iPad. If you have an Android Smartphone, or don’t like iTunes, then we recommend the Android Tablets.
If you just want the fastest, most powerful Tablet, then look for the new quad core Android Tablets launching now.
Since tablets are launched so frequently, and there are so many choices, please feel free to contact us if you need help and we’ll be happy to give you our latest advice.
If you have questions about what kind of computer, laptop or Tablet to choose, call us at (850) 212-8047 or via Skype, or, you can email us at sales@computergeeks2go.com and we'll be happy to point you in the right direction.
Feel free to print a copy and tack it to your wall or keep it in a handy file. If you need to share it though, we ask that you respect our copyright and give us credit. Also, let us know! If you're reprinting it, we'd love to post a link to your site.
