Dell Studio xps 7100
"If you're looking for a home computer that goes beyond your expectations, we strongly consider you take a look at the Dell Studio XPS 7100. This desktop computer gives you a winning combination of storage, processor speed and connectivity. With storage space of nearly 1.5TB and a processing speed of 2.5 GHz, you will be covered whether you want to surf the web at breakneck speeds or organize thousands of family photos. There are plenty of reasons this computer trounces the competition and earns the "TopTenREVIEWS Gold Award", but the most important could be that you won't outgrow this machine anytime soon.
Dell is a trusted name when it comes to computers, and for good reason. They offer a wide variety of customization options so you can get the exact computer you need for the price you're willing to spend. The Dell Studio XPS 7100 is also exceptionally customizable. With a Dell, you know you'll get a quality product for your money. And there is always the option to update the hardware later as needed"
Dell is a trusted name when it comes to computers, and for good reason. They offer a wide variety of customization options so you can get the exact computer you need for the price you're willing to spend. The Dell Studio XPS 7100 is also exceptionally customizable. With a Dell, you know you'll get a quality product for your money. And there is always the option to update the hardware later as needed"
Acer Predator g3
"There are a lot of factors that make up a good home computer. While there's not one single computer that's best for everyone, some systems just have the right combination of powerful hardware and easy-to-use features. With the Acer Predator G3, you get a lot of storage space, plenty of RAM, and a speedy processor. "TopTenREVIEWS Silver Award" winner comes with wireless already installed. The one downside we can see to this particular desktop computer is that it doesn't come with a Blu-ray player. This can be easily fixed but will cost a little bit extra.
Acer is making a new name for itself in the computer industry. Even 10 years ago you might not have thought them a big contender in desktop computers, but the 2008 merger with Gateway and Packard Bell has changed things. Acer is now globally known as one of the big PC providers and is constantly expanding its presence."
Acer is making a new name for itself in the computer industry. Even 10 years ago you might not have thought them a big contender in desktop computers, but the 2008 merger with Gateway and Packard Bell has changed things. Acer is now globally known as one of the big PC providers and is constantly expanding its presence."
Dell xps 8300
"The Dell XPS 8300 combines some of the best features for processing and storage. With nearly 1TB of storage and a processing speed of 2.9 GHz you will be able to complete any task you need, whether it shopping online or downloading books for your eReader. There is no doubt as to why this computer earned the."
Dell Studio xps 9100
"A reliable home computer that can do everything you need it to can make home life that much easier. The Dell Studio XPS 9100 offers you a variety of features to make your job easier. With storage of almost 1TB and 6GB of RAM, you won't have any problems running your applications and saving all of your important documents. Though it is lacking a Blu-ray player and it isn't wireless enabled, this particular desktop computer is perfect for any home use."
Gateway Dx4850
"Sometimes when you go to purchase a new computer, all of the technical jargon gets in the way of actually determining which home computer will suit your needs. The Gateway DX4850 offers a lot in the way of entertainment. It comes with a Blu-ray player and has wireless enabled from the get go. While these are great positives, there is a lack of product support and the video card is low end. This desktop computer will get all of the everyday tasks done but might not be suitable for projects that are more graphics intensive."
Gateway sx2855
"What really sets the Gateway SX2855 apart is the size. There are two different sizes to choose from. We really liked the smaller size because it is easy to find a place for a machine that is roughly half the width of the other products in the lineup. Though the size can be a determining factor, make sure that you won't be needing much help and support because this is where Gateway is found lacking. As you decide on the right home computer for you and your family, you'll want to make sure the one you select can run all of your applications smoothly. So you want to know about a computer's processor, memory and storage space. First, the random access memory. The more RAM you have the more applications you can run at the same time without slowing down your computer. The Gateway SX2855 has 6GB of memory, which is plenty to run the day-to-day programs. The storage capacity is 1TB. Something that did concern us was the CPU speed. The processor is an Intel Pentium G620 with a speed of 2.6 GHz. We would have liked to have something a little faster so that your desktop computer will keep running smoothly even if you have a lot going on.
The features included with the Gateway SX2855 desktop computer are fairly comprehensive. We liked the fact that it comes with Windows 7 Home Premium, always a bonus when you don't have to pay extra for the operating system. This home computer also comes with wireless already enabled. And while the nine USB ports are great, we wanted more when it comes to the optical drive. The DVD player is useful, but since Blu-rays are now taking control of the media business, we would have preferred it to have a Blu-ray player.
The Gateway SX2855 is unique from the other home computers for one major reason. It comes in two different sizes. The size we looked at for this review is only 13.86 x 10.08 x 3.94 inches and weighs 18.3 pounds. This is roughly half the width and half a foot shorter than the other products we looked at. This is the perfect computer if you don't have a lot of space available. The other size is larger and comes with the same features and performance capabilities.
The support for the Gateway SX2855 is where the home computer is lacking most. We feel that it is vital for you to be able to contact the manufacturer if you have any questions or concerns regarding your computer. The support offered by Gateway is limited to an email address and phone support. The problem is that the phone support costs extra if you need to call them."
The features included with the Gateway SX2855 desktop computer are fairly comprehensive. We liked the fact that it comes with Windows 7 Home Premium, always a bonus when you don't have to pay extra for the operating system. This home computer also comes with wireless already enabled. And while the nine USB ports are great, we wanted more when it comes to the optical drive. The DVD player is useful, but since Blu-rays are now taking control of the media business, we would have preferred it to have a Blu-ray player.
The Gateway SX2855 is unique from the other home computers for one major reason. It comes in two different sizes. The size we looked at for this review is only 13.86 x 10.08 x 3.94 inches and weighs 18.3 pounds. This is roughly half the width and half a foot shorter than the other products we looked at. This is the perfect computer if you don't have a lot of space available. The other size is larger and comes with the same features and performance capabilities.
The support for the Gateway SX2855 is where the home computer is lacking most. We feel that it is vital for you to be able to contact the manufacturer if you have any questions or concerns regarding your computer. The support offered by Gateway is limited to an email address and phone support. The problem is that the phone support costs extra if you need to call them."
acer aspire m3 am3410-ur21p
"The Acer Aspire M3 has several factors really going for it. The 3.1 GHz CPU speed for a home computer is phenomenal and the 1TB of storage is not too shabby. While these two specifications are pretty enticing, you might want to keep in mind that there are some support options lacking and it only comes with 4GB of RAM. You can always upgrade the different aspects of the machine, but it does cost extra.
How do you decide if a home computer will suit your needs? The first aspect to look at is the performance, and this mostly comes down to the RAM, storage and processor. Having a large amount of RAM means that you can run multiple applications without slowing your machine down. The Acer Aspire M3 has 4GB, which is good for running applications such as Microsoft Word or an internet browser, but if you want to run something more complex, like a graphics-intensive video game or a complex video editing application, you may find the computer slowing down. The storage capacity is 1TB, which isn't as much as we've seen on other computers but is still good. The processor is an AMD Athlon II X4. It has the highest processing speed of any of the desktop computers we looked at. The CPU speed is 3.1 GHz. For an all-purpose computer, this is perfect for the various applications you may need to keep your life on track and organized.
The features available on the Acer Aspire M3 are pretty good. It comes with Windows 7 Home Premium, which is the operating system that a lot of people feel comfortable using. We were also impressed with the fact that it comes with wireless already enabled so if you don't want to deal with yet another cable, you don't have to worry about it. There is a memory card reader located on the front of the tower as well as a total of ten USB ports. It does come with a DVD player, but we would have liked to see a Blu-ray player included with this home computer.
Acer's support for the Aspire M3doesn't have everything we like to see for customer help resources. Part of the issue we have is that the phone support costs extra. We feel that with complex electronics, having someone you can talk to is essential to help you through any concerns that you have with your product. Though the phone support isn't free they do offer a live chat and email address so you can contact them if you have something that comes up."
How do you decide if a home computer will suit your needs? The first aspect to look at is the performance, and this mostly comes down to the RAM, storage and processor. Having a large amount of RAM means that you can run multiple applications without slowing your machine down. The Acer Aspire M3 has 4GB, which is good for running applications such as Microsoft Word or an internet browser, but if you want to run something more complex, like a graphics-intensive video game or a complex video editing application, you may find the computer slowing down. The storage capacity is 1TB, which isn't as much as we've seen on other computers but is still good. The processor is an AMD Athlon II X4. It has the highest processing speed of any of the desktop computers we looked at. The CPU speed is 3.1 GHz. For an all-purpose computer, this is perfect for the various applications you may need to keep your life on track and organized.
The features available on the Acer Aspire M3 are pretty good. It comes with Windows 7 Home Premium, which is the operating system that a lot of people feel comfortable using. We were also impressed with the fact that it comes with wireless already enabled so if you don't want to deal with yet another cable, you don't have to worry about it. There is a memory card reader located on the front of the tower as well as a total of ten USB ports. It does come with a DVD player, but we would have liked to see a Blu-ray player included with this home computer.
Acer's support for the Aspire M3doesn't have everything we like to see for customer help resources. Part of the issue we have is that the phone support costs extra. We feel that with complex electronics, having someone you can talk to is essential to help you through any concerns that you have with your product. Though the phone support isn't free they do offer a live chat and email address so you can contact them if you have something that comes up."
apple iMac
"There are plenty of reasons to take a look at the iMac, especially if you prefer the Apple OS to using Windows. The downside to this particular home computer is that it doesn't have the RAM or the storage that you get with other machines. There are also a limited number of USB ports, though the Bluetooth mouse and keyboard won't occupy any USB slots. Overall, the Mac has several strong advantages when it comes to the operating system but has some disadvantages to take into consideration.
There are plenty of reasons why people prefer a Mac over the competition, but if we are looking at strictly numbers you may be surprised. The performance of the iMac isn't quite as good as we expected for the amount you pay. There are 4GB of RAM, which isn't anything to sneeze at, but if you are planning on running multiple applications or complex ones then you might see your home computer slow down. The storage capacity on this machine is also less than we would expect, only 500GB. The majority of the other products we reviewed have a full terabyte or even 1.5TB. The processor is an Intel Core i5 with a CPU speed of 2.5 GHz. This isn't slow, but it isn't the fastest. You can improve the speed by getting a more expensive model.
The features of the iMac are unique compared to the other home computers we looked at. The first big difference from a Windows-based computer is the different operating system. Apple's OS X has received incredible acclaim for its user-friendly interface and sleek design. If you switch from a Windows computer, there will be a learning curve – but it's sure to be a short one.
It comes with wireless capabilities, but it doesn't have a memory card reader which means you will have to purchase a portable memory card reader if you want to get the photos from your camera to your hard drive. The other downside is that there are only four USB ports. The mouse and keyboard are actually connected through Bluetooth, which is nice since that would leave you with only two.
The computer is more expensive than any of the others we looked at, but it does come with the monitor built in so that removes an additional cost. The actual dimensions of the iMac are 17.75 x 20.80 x 7.42 inches, and it weighs 20.5 pounds. As you would expect with any Apple product, this computer is sleek and classy. It doesn't take up much space when you consider you won't have a tower to deal with.
The support offered by Apple for their iMac is pretty good. We were impressed with their live chat, email and user forums, but we would have liked to have free phone support. When you have questions about your computer, it is preferable to have a way to contact support without needing the internet to do it. This isn't a big thing since the interest is widely available, but it is something to think about."
There are plenty of reasons why people prefer a Mac over the competition, but if we are looking at strictly numbers you may be surprised. The performance of the iMac isn't quite as good as we expected for the amount you pay. There are 4GB of RAM, which isn't anything to sneeze at, but if you are planning on running multiple applications or complex ones then you might see your home computer slow down. The storage capacity on this machine is also less than we would expect, only 500GB. The majority of the other products we reviewed have a full terabyte or even 1.5TB. The processor is an Intel Core i5 with a CPU speed of 2.5 GHz. This isn't slow, but it isn't the fastest. You can improve the speed by getting a more expensive model.
The features of the iMac are unique compared to the other home computers we looked at. The first big difference from a Windows-based computer is the different operating system. Apple's OS X has received incredible acclaim for its user-friendly interface and sleek design. If you switch from a Windows computer, there will be a learning curve – but it's sure to be a short one.
It comes with wireless capabilities, but it doesn't have a memory card reader which means you will have to purchase a portable memory card reader if you want to get the photos from your camera to your hard drive. The other downside is that there are only four USB ports. The mouse and keyboard are actually connected through Bluetooth, which is nice since that would leave you with only two.
The computer is more expensive than any of the others we looked at, but it does come with the monitor built in so that removes an additional cost. The actual dimensions of the iMac are 17.75 x 20.80 x 7.42 inches, and it weighs 20.5 pounds. As you would expect with any Apple product, this computer is sleek and classy. It doesn't take up much space when you consider you won't have a tower to deal with.
The support offered by Apple for their iMac is pretty good. We were impressed with their live chat, email and user forums, but we would have liked to have free phone support. When you have questions about your computer, it is preferable to have a way to contact support without needing the internet to do it. This isn't a big thing since the interest is widely available, but it is something to think about."
Asus essentio cm5675
"As a quick overview, the Asus Essentio CM5675 has a few impressive specs – it has 8GB of RAM and 1TB of storage – but it's lacking when it comes to features. We would have liked to see a Blu-ray player or even wireless capabilities. It is also lacking when it comes to the warranty included with the product. To get to the nitty-gritty details of the Asus Essentio CM5675 we will first look at the processor. The processor is an Intel Core i5 with a processing speed of 2.8 GHz. This speed is good enough to keep your computer running smoothly even if you are using multiple applications at the same time. We've already mentioned we are really impressed with the available RAM. This is what the computer uses as a temporary memory for the applications. The more RAM you have, the more you can do on your computer. This home computer has 8GB, which ties the highest we've seen on any of the products we reviewed. The storage capacity of the computer is 1TB.
The feature set is where the Asus Essentio CM5675 is really lacking. The positives include that there are 10 USB ports and it comes with Windows 7 Home Premium already installed. The downsides are that it only has a DVD player and not a Blu-ray player, something we feel is becoming more important with the advancements in media technology. The biggest drawback is the fact that there is no wireless available.
The dimensions of the Asus Essentio CM5675 are what you might expect to see on a desktop tower. It is 16.1 x 15.9 x 6.7 inches and weighs 24 pounds. The look of the home computer is very monochromatic. The case looks nice and doesn't stand out, which may be exactly what you are looking for. We did like the indent in the top which makes it easy to hold your music player.
The support offered by the manufacturer is pretty comprehensive. What impressed us the most is that none of the services cost anything extra. They offer phone support, live chat and email. What we were concerned about is that they only have a 90-day limited warranty, which is significantly less than what is found on other home computers. Granted, any limited warranty has lots of restrictions, but we prefer to have at least a year on something as complex as a computer."
The feature set is where the Asus Essentio CM5675 is really lacking. The positives include that there are 10 USB ports and it comes with Windows 7 Home Premium already installed. The downsides are that it only has a DVD player and not a Blu-ray player, something we feel is becoming more important with the advancements in media technology. The biggest drawback is the fact that there is no wireless available.
The dimensions of the Asus Essentio CM5675 are what you might expect to see on a desktop tower. It is 16.1 x 15.9 x 6.7 inches and weighs 24 pounds. The look of the home computer is very monochromatic. The case looks nice and doesn't stand out, which may be exactly what you are looking for. We did like the indent in the top which makes it easy to hold your music player.
The support offered by the manufacturer is pretty comprehensive. What impressed us the most is that none of the services cost anything extra. They offer phone support, live chat and email. What we were concerned about is that they only have a 90-day limited warranty, which is significantly less than what is found on other home computers. Granted, any limited warranty has lots of restrictions, but we prefer to have at least a year on something as complex as a computer."
hp pavilion slimline s5z
"The HP Pavilion Slimline s5z has a few things going for it, like the quick processing speed, but there are some disadvantages as well, such as the limited free support options and no Blu-ray player. This particular desktop computer would certainly prove useful, but it doesn't have anything special about it. There are a couple of great features when it comes to the specifications of this computer. The first is that it comes with a 1.5TB hard drive. This gives you plenty of space for all of your documents and images. We also loved the fact that the AMD Athlon X4 645 processor has a speed of 3.1 GHz. What we would have liked to see is more RAM. The 6GB is good, but not as high as we like to see, especially if you want to run multiple applications. The clock speed is also less than what we typically saw on other home computers. It isn't bad, 1066 MHz, but it is less.
The operating system of the HP Pavilion Slimline s5z is Windows 7 Home Premium. We were pleased that there is an option to add a wireless adapter, but we wish it came wireless ready. The tower is set up to read memory cards so you won't have to purchase an external device, which we found useful. It also comes with a DVD writer, but we feel that a Blu-ray player would have been more useful. USB ports are used to connect everything from a mouse to your MP3 player so it is important that you have enough to do connect everything you need to. This home computer only has six, which isn't too bad, but we would have liked to see more.
The support is where the HP Pavilion Slimline s5z lacked the most. We don't like it when it costs extra to get the help you might need when your computer is having problems. HP offers email, phone and live support for free if you happen to be under warranty; otherwise you have to pay extra. We were pleased that the user forums are free no matter your warranty status. Though we don't like the fact that you have to pay extra, the warranty does last for two years. A one-year warranty seems to be the standard for other home computers. And if the two-year warranty isn't long enough, you can always purchase a longer warranty if you want the extra protection and free support."
The operating system of the HP Pavilion Slimline s5z is Windows 7 Home Premium. We were pleased that there is an option to add a wireless adapter, but we wish it came wireless ready. The tower is set up to read memory cards so you won't have to purchase an external device, which we found useful. It also comes with a DVD writer, but we feel that a Blu-ray player would have been more useful. USB ports are used to connect everything from a mouse to your MP3 player so it is important that you have enough to do connect everything you need to. This home computer only has six, which isn't too bad, but we would have liked to see more.
The support is where the HP Pavilion Slimline s5z lacked the most. We don't like it when it costs extra to get the help you might need when your computer is having problems. HP offers email, phone and live support for free if you happen to be under warranty; otherwise you have to pay extra. We were pleased that the user forums are free no matter your warranty status. Though we don't like the fact that you have to pay extra, the warranty does last for two years. A one-year warranty seems to be the standard for other home computers. And if the two-year warranty isn't long enough, you can always purchase a longer warranty if you want the extra protection and free support."