Which computer is right for you?

Okay, so you're in charge of deciding what computer to buy for your family.  Or maybe your child needs a new laptop for school and you can't decide what to get them.  Here we will discuss the pros and cons of what model of computer to get.  Basically you can get a Windows computer or a Mac.  Netbooks running Linux may be great for geeks, but for normal users they might be confusing or intimidating.  Or the screen might just be too small to use.

The main question you need to ask yourself is, "What will this computer be used for?"  90% of people simply use their computers for communication.  Internet, IMing, email, video chatting, sharing pictures all fall under this category  This isn't a statistic I just made up, it comes from over a decade of running a technology consulting company.

Okay, so now that you figured out what you want to accomplish, you need to figure out what type of computer do you want?  Desktop or laptop?  Desktops are typically more powerful machines, they can hold more data, process more information, and generate more heat than their laptop counterparts.  They also can handle larger monitors, up to 30" at this point and even multiple monitors. Historically laptops have been a lot slower than desktops, but that doesn't mean much these days.  Most laptops can have dual core processors, 500GB hard drives, 4GB of ram, good video cards, more than enough power for casual users.  A nice laptop will last you for years.

I personally recommend laptops over desktops at this point unless you are a heavy user.  Heavy users are usually people who render video or 3D projects and need the extra resources available to them a desktop computer can provide them.  Laptops are more portable, you can check your email sitting on the back patio or carry your computer around the house with you.  Desktops leave you tied to a desk.

This is going to be a series of articles about technology and helping you pick the appropriate computer for you to use.