We’ve scoured the Internet for the best budget laptops, desktops and tablet PCs that’ll give you the best style and substance for your dollar. These budget computers will put a smile on your face, and still leave you with some leftover greenbacks.
Tag Archive: Desktops
Which Gadgets Are Selling: For Some Technology, Analysts Say, It’s Buyer Beware
What’s hot? What’s not? And what was the last gadget you actually bought? It’s quite the challenge to keep pace with technology’s latest and greatest trends, especially with disposable income tighter than ever for so many. Which made us wonder: Despite all the flashy ads and splashy headlines, which types of consumer electronics are actually selling? According to the top technology insiders we spoke with, the results may shock. Planning on buying a new PC or iPod this year? Surprise: Here’s why you might just be the odd man out…
The Best Laptop, Desktop and Tablet PCs Under $500
If your old computer whistles to life like a 19th century steam engine, chugs every time you load a Hulu video, and crashes when you try to run a simple virus scan, it’s time to put the junker out to pasture. Thankfully, like a farmer’s market bursting with wholesome goodness after the fall harvest, the PC market is overflowing with ideal replacements. Better yet, with a flood of next-gen hardware hitting the streets in conjunction with the launch of Microsoft’s new operating system, Windows 7, the budget end of the spectrum is suddenly ripe with value. Unless you need a high-performance machine you can push to the very extreme, you’ll find plenty of amazing systems under $500. Here are a few of our favorites.
Best Windows 7 Laptops, Desktops, and DIY Home or Business PCs
Suddenly as of late, I’ve been getting a raft of questions about which particular laptop and PC models stand out for use with Windows 7. It must be shopping time, and my guess is that a bunch of you are tired of the aging desktop and notebook products you are using and are now on the hunt for something new. Here, I’ll walk you through the products that I think stand out in this regard, from low-cost netbooks to business laptops, desktops, and the sweetest DIY options out there. And away we go…
Buying Upgrades: When to Save or Spend on HDTVs, PCs, Digital Cameras and More
A pair of white gold cufflinks, a fine Swiss watch, and a set of stainless cutlery will last a century. An HDTV, a laptop, and an iPod will not – which makes knowing when to break out the high-limit American Express and invest in something nice, and when to make a trip to Wal-mart and buy the cheapest box on the shelf, a tricky game.
On one hand, everyone would like to own a Dell Adamo, a Sonos music system, and a 50-inch Pioneer Kuro. But then again, most of us would love mansions and Ferraris, too. So unless you’re reading from a teak deck on your sailboat in the French Riviera, it might be wise to figure out where to spend and where to save.
HP Rolls Out Bevy of New Notebooks…and an All-in-One Desktop
Computer maker Hewlett-Packard—who, let’s not forget, has unseated Dell as the top PC manufacturer on the planet—has taken the wraps of several new computers for the important end-of-year buying season, including new thing-and-light notebook computers, a stylish new netbook, and a new all-in-one PC designed for general-purpose computing in the home. And—as one might expect for a bunch of PCs due to launch in late October—the bulk will be pre-installed with Windows 7.
310 Million PCs Expected To Ship This Year
The demand for PCs show no sign of abating, and thanks to emerging countries buying more of them, a continued double-digit increase in sales is likely to continue until 2010, followed by single digits until 2012.
Those predictions come from IDC’s latest Worldwide Quarterly PC Tracker, which says demand will grow 15.2% this year with 310 million PCs shipping.
There’s been a change is the strength of markets, however, according to the analyst company, with Asia/Pacific (not including Japan) passing the US as the biggest PC market, with the Rest of World region, comprising Latin America, Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa, and Canada, coming up fast, and expected to take second place by the end of the year.
Hoojum Nanode
Hoojum designs, known for visually striking small form factor PC designs has gone one step further with the release of the Nanonde in conjunction with VIA and Mini-ITX.com.
Crafted from high-grade aluminum and precision cut with a unique combination process of high pressure water and garnet, a hardened semi-precious stone, the Nanode sports an elegant ceramic matte finish that complements any living or working environment. The system’s charm and appeal are enhanced by its quiet operation and small size, approximately the same of a jewelry box, ensuring it can fit into even the most space-constrained environment.
Hoojum Cubit P4 SFF
The CubitP4 is the latest small form factor PC from UK design firm Hoojum. It is finished in gleaming mirror chrome and is all power under the hood.
From Hoojum’s Website:
“It has all the functionality of the fastest, most powerful “tower” PCs, in a sleek, unique and solidly built unit. Whether you’re using complex design programs or playing the most demanding games, the Cubit P4 will make your computing experience effortless. But this is no monster to hide under your desk: we want you to show it off. We think computers should be seen more and heard less. So it’s beautiful – and quiet
