Desktop Drives
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 5 inch Drive Tray for Desktop Cases  US $5.00
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Consumer Reports - Desktop Computers
The desktop computer has become another appliance you use every day. Replacement sales - not purchases for the first time - now drive the computer market. Fully loaded desktops selling for less than $ 800 are common, even among the established brands.
WHAT'S AVAILABLE
There are dozens of companies vying to bring a new office in your home. Dell, eMachines, Gateway, Hewlett-Packard (which merged with Compaq in 2002), IBM, Sony and all machines that use Microsoft's dominant Windows operating system. eMachines recently merged with Gateway, specializing in models of Windows cheaply. Apple is the exclusive manufacturer of Macintosh models. Small postal and store brands meet the budget-conscious buyers.
Price: $ 400 to $ 3000.
IMPORTANT FEATURES
The processor houses the "brains" of a computer. Its clock speed, measured in gigahertz (GHz), determines the speed of the chip can process information. In general, the higher clock speed, the faster the computer. But not always, since different chip families attain different efficiencies. Manufacturers of windows machines typically use processors from 1.6 to 3.8 GHz with the following names: Intel Pentium or Celeron or AMD Athlon or Sempron. And Celeron Sempron processors are cheap as chips equal more expensive in many ways. Intel attributes now "the number of processors" in its chips, the emphasis on clock speed. Apple Macintosh use machines from 1.25 to 2.5 GHz PowerPC G4 or G5, which are manufactured by IBM. Apple announced they would begin a transition to Intel processors in system architecture 2006.The some families of chips allows them to be as fast or faster than others with higher clock speeds, so the speed comparison by the numbers can be misleading.
All computers sold today are brand at least 256 megabytes (MB) of RAM or random access memory, the memory of the computer used during operation. Video RAM, also measured in megabytes, RAM is essential for secondary smooth video imaging and gaming
The hard drive is your long-term computer data storage system. Given the space requirements of multimedia games today digital photos, and video files, bigger is better. You will find hard drives ranging in size from 40 to 300 gigabytes (GB).
A reader CD-ROM has been the norm on most workstations for many years. Is now commonly supplied CD-RW (CD-rewriteable), also known as a "burner" that allows you to create backup files or make music compilations on CD. A DVD-ROM provides full length films or action-packed multimedia games with full-motion video on the desktop. It complements the CD-RW on high-end systems and the midline This allows you to copy CDs directly between the two discs. A DVD will also play CDs and CD-ROM. Combo drives combine CD burning and DVD playing in one disk space savings. The latest in this family, and is quickly becoming a common choice is the DVR, which lets you transfer images from home video on a DVD, or store as much data as six CDs. There are three competing, incompatible DVD formats - DVD-RW, DVD + RW and DVD-RAM - so that readers can create dual-layer DVDs that store twice. Some readers may write more than one format, but all can create a disc that will play on a standalone DVD player.
Fast disappearing is the floppy drive, 3.5-inch diskettes that are inserted. Apple Macintosh and a growing number of computers have no floppy disk drive, because it only allows you to read or store relatively small amounts of data. Many people use a CD-RW as a large "Floppy" drive to carry files. Many PCs now come with a memory card reader digital camera that can also used for file transfer. You can also get external drives or use a USB memory module that contains much more than a floppy.
The computer cathode ray tube (CRT) or flat-screen liquid crystal display (LCD) contains the screen and displays the images sent by the graphics card - internal circuit that processes the images. Monitors come in sizes (measured diagonally) from 15 to 21 inches and larger. Seventeen-inch monitors are the most common. Apple eMac and iMac comes with built-in monitors. Its Mac Mini comes without a monitor. LCDs are now the most popular, taking up less space and using less energy than CRTs. Better LCD displays can use a Digital Video Interface (DVI), found on many newer computers.
Critical components of a desktop computer are usually housed in a tower called. A mini-tower is the typical configuration. machines midtower are more expensive, which has more room for improvement. A Microtower an alternative low profile that is generally less expensive. All-in-one computer, such as the Apple iMac, have no tower, everything but the keyboard and mouse is built into a small box that supports the monitor. Apple Power Mac line of computers has a tower. new model of Apple, the Mac Mini, a compact design that does everything but the monitor, keyboard and mouse in a case the size of a hardcover book. An "entertainment PC" - one with an integrated TV tuner - comes in a case that looks more like a camera audio or video, made to fit the home entertainment devices.
A mouse, a small device that fits in your hand and a "tail" wire that connects to the computer, move the cursor (the pointer on the screen) by a rolling ball or a light sensor on its face lower. The alternatives include a trackball, which is rolled with the fingers or hand in the direction you want the cursor moves, a buffer, so you moves the cursor by dragging a finger, a tablet, which uses a stylus for entering penlike and a joystick, used for playing computer games.
Most computers come with a standard keyboard, although you can also buy one separately. Many keyboards have CD (or DVD) for playback controls pause, change tracks, and so on. Many also have keys to facilitate online, from a research, launch programs or collect e-mail. There are also wireless keyboards that let you move while you type.
multimedia computers for the home have a system of high-fidelity sound that enhances the music from CDs or downloaded music files, synthesized music, game sounds, and soundtracks DVD-Video. loudspeaker systems with a subwoofer deeper, fuller bass. surround-sound systems can turn a PC into a home theater system. Some computers come with a microphone for recording, or can be added.
PCs come with a modem to enable a dial-up Internet connection. Parallel and serial ports are the traditional links to printers and scanners. Universal Serial Bus (USB), view all new computers, are designed to replace serial and parallel ports. FireWire or IEEE 1394 ports are used to capture video from digital camcorders and other electronic devices. An Ethernet port or wireless network adapter lets you connect multiple computers at home to share files, a printer or a connection Broadband Internet. Output jack S-video lets you run a video cable from the computer to a TV, allowing you to use the DVD player to view a movie on a TV rather than on the computer screen.
HOW TO CHOOSE
First, decide to upgrade your current computer. Upgrading rather than replacing it, can make sense if your additional needs are modest - A second hard drive, for example, because you're running out of space for digital photos. Adding memory or a CD burner is generally more profitable than buying a new machine. If your PC is more credible, your list is more demanding, or if there is software that you must run your system is not a new PC is the logical answer.
Consider a laptop. A desktop computer typically costs least hundreds and it is easier to upgrade, expand, and repair. It usually offers better ergonomics, a more comfortable keyboard, larger screen and enhanced audio. But a substantive review notebook if portability and compactness are priorities.
Choose the right type office. Most manufacturers offer several lines at different prices. Budget computers are cheaper, but they are suitable for routine work. Workhorse computers cost a few hundred dollars more, but are faster, more versatile and scalable. All-in-one models have most components in a single case. And PC entertainment or media include TV tuners and software features that give them a DVR. They usually provide a remote control for operation easy.
Choose by brand. Our surveys have consistently shown significant differences in terms of reliability and technical support between computer brands. And some brands are generally more expensive than others. These factors may help you decide which of two similarly equipped computers is the best buy.
Choose between preconfigured and custom. You can buy a PC on the shelf in a store or via the web, configured with features and options the manufacturer sites the average consumer. Or consider purchasing a desktop that you configure to order, online or in a store. When you configure a computer to order online, onscreen menus typically show you all the options and let you see how a change in an option affects the overall price.
Copyright © 2002-2006 Consumers Union of U.S., Inc.
For the latest information about this and many other products and services, visit www.ConsumerReports.org.
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