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Desktop digest: 13 things you need to know to buy the perfect desktop

Despite the laptop gaining strength as the PC du jour in recent times, the desktop still has a place in the home. Here are our top 25 things to consider before buying or building your own desktop.

Laptop lowdown: 25 things you need to know to buy the perfect notebook

In the market for a new notebook? Check out our list of 25 things you need to consider before you hit the shops.

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Reviews

  • Lenovo ThinkPad T400

    Lenovo's ThinkPad T400 is another fine entry into its portfolio, but be prepared to spend extra to get the features you need.

  • Microsoft Windows 7 (Home Premium)

    Windows 7 is more than what Vista should have been — it's where Microsoft needed to go. How much damage Vista did and whether Windows 7 is enough for people to finally abandon Windows XP are questions that nobody has the answers to right now.

  • Microsoft Windows 7 (Professional)

    Windows 7 looks like the operating system that we've all been waiting for. Despite its imperfections, it shows a lot of promise for the future while presenting a stable platform that can compete comfortably with OS X.

  • Microsoft Windows 7 (Ultimate)

    Windows 7 looks like the operating system that we've all been waiting for. Despite its imperfections, it shows a lot of promise for the future while presenting a stable platform that can compete comfortably with OS X.

  • Apple MacBook (June 2009)

    For AU$1599, it's hard to beat this MacBook's nearly Pro-level specs if you're in the market for a budget Apple laptop.

  • Asus GeForce EN8800GT (512MB)

    Asus and Nvidia have teamed up for a compelling midrange 3D graphics card with this EN8800 GT. If you can find this card for a good price, we recommend it, especially if you intend to use two of them.

  • Apple iMac (20-inch, 2.4GHz)

    With its super-elegant new design and a strong configuration, Apple's new iMac competes with the PC desktop market better than perhaps any previous Mac to date.

  • Microsoft Expression Web

    Microsoft Expression Web is a solid Web site layout program that replaces FrontPage and offers tools for dynamic designs, although we'd like more help for newbies.

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Features

  • MacBook Pro vs. the PC competition

    Mac or PC? The war rages on. We've thrown the most recent 13-inch MacBook Pro and the closest PC to a Mac we've seen, the Asus U80V, into the ring for an all out brawl.

  • Desktop shopping checklist

    Home PCs still have their place in the sun, thanks to falling prices and ease of upgradeability.

  • Five things to consider if you want to buy a laptop in 2007

    Buying a laptop is a hard decision at the best of times, but with the release of Vista and the pending release of new mobile technology the task is that much more difficult. We help you sort through it all.

  • Upgrading to Vista: 5 burning questions

    With the specter of Windows Vista looming, there are surprisingly still many questions on the minds of the average consumer. We decided answer the top five questions about the new operating system.

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DIYs and How-to

  • Speed up Vista

    Whether you upgrade an older PC to Windows Vista or have bought a new PC with Vista installed, you might think the operating system doesn't run as quickly as it should.

  • Top 10 FAQs for Notebooks

    Buying a laptop can be a daunting experience -- lucky CNET is here to help you through!

  • DIY: Desktop buying guide

    What you need to know -- from finding the type of PC that fits your lifestyle to catching up on all of the latest trends.

  • Notebook shopping checklist

    Processors, memory, hard drives, screens, graphics cards, optical drives, connectivity. What should you be looking out for?

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Downloads

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The Explain Series