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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

  • Dell Studio One 19

    There's a decent but not great PC hiding behind the Studio One 19's touchscreen gimmickry.

  • 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.

  • Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard

    The grace of Leopard's interface enhancements makes productivity more pleasurable with a Mac, as more than 300 functional and fun features top off this update.

  • 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.

  • Alienware Area-51 m9750

    Alienware's flagship gaming laptop, the Area-51 m9750, has plenty of appeal for high-end gamers, but the alien head aesthetic seems dated, and newer components are right around the corner.

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Features

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DIYs and How-to

  • 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.

  • Give Windows XP a Vista Look

    Windows Vista won't be available until early next year, but current XP users drooling over Vista's new Aero theme and utilities, such as sidebars and widgets, don't have to wait for Microsoft to ship out its new operating system to upgrade their desktops.

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The Explain Series