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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.

Apple iMac 27-inch (Core 2 Duo 3.06GHz)

Behind its expansive display, Apple has packed one of the fastest all-in-ones available, and added a few useful extras to sweeten the deal.

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Reviews

Gigabyte Booktop M1022M

The Booktop may be on the costly side, thanks to the bundled docking station, but it still falls below "premium" netbook costs. Plus the excellent battery life and ability to switch from a desk-bound PC to a portable mini-laptop captured our attention.
Asus M60J

Core i7 is here in mobile form. Some vendors will be attempting to rush these laptops out as close to the Windows 7 launch as possible. Keep an eye out — looks like the season to upgrade is well and truly upon us.
BenQ nScreen i91

BenQ's nettop looks affordable on the surface, but you're still paying a premium for a low-powered desktop machine.
HP Pavilion DV2 1001AU

For a 12-inch laptop we'd expect more performance and features than we're getting, but there are obviously compromises to be made in making ultrathin affordable.
Asus Eee Box B206

For undemanding users who aren't into HD video, Asus' Eee Box B206 is worth a look; however, it's not powerful enough to take on other media-centre PCs.
Apple Mac Pro (2009)

Apple's new eight-core Mac Pro demonstrates marked improvements over the older model in high-intensity digital media and multitasking scenarios.
Apple iMac 24-inch (2009)

Apple made a number of changes to the 24-inch iMac, but making it available at this price is the most impressive. The rest of the updates are welcome, and Apple's multitasking capability remains unmatched.
Apple MacBook Pro (2.66GHz, 17-inch)

A little late to the party, Apple's redesigned 17-inch MacBook Pro joins the 15-inch model with a redesigned aluminium body, new trackpad with expanded functionality, and a dual graphics set-up for either longer battery life or better performance.

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Features

Green downloads: Eco-minded apps

We admit that as it's St Patrick's Day, we've got green downloads on the brain, but if your taste runs more to a green environment than Guinness, check out this sampling of energy-saving applications.
The best mobile processor is...

Today's notebooks come with a vast range of processors, but will they give you the best performance? Our comprehensive review benchmarks 19 of the latest mobile processors, giving you an insight into the best chips on the market.
Format wars: the tech that should have won

Did you love Laserdisc? Were you bonkers over Betamax? Do you cry yourself to sleep because BeOS never hit the big time? Fret no more -- superdork Captain Tech is here to travel back in time and save the format losers that should have triumphed.
Wireless glossary

3G, GPRS, TransFlash, RS-MMC. Don't know what they mean? Check out our glossary of wireless terms.

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News

Australian pricing for new Macs

Apple has revealed Australian pricing details for the new hardware line-up it announced overnight in the US, with the vendor's new low-end MacBook laptop starting at AU$1299.
Intel's new Core i7, Core i5 desktop chips bring faster CPUs to the mainstream

Intel's new Core i5 and i7 CPUs, released today, look to bring performance to the masses just in time for Microsoft's Windows 7 launch.
Chrome OS for the clueless: What it means for real people

Google's new operating system is certainly something to get excited about, but don't put a new laptop purchase on hold because you want a Chrome netbook.
Intel rebranding bids farewell to Centrino

New labels aim to simplify consumer choice by grouping the various chips according to their performance brackets.

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DIYs and How-to

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.
Xbox Live: FAQ about gaming online

This resource rounds up answers to all the questions we are frequently asked about gaming online with Xbox Live, from getting connected to games, membership, points and more.
Camera phone buying guide

Digital cameras have become an inseparable component of mobile phone technology. With the quality of these cameras continually improving, CNET.com.au is here to guide you through the various pitfalls of separating the gems from the junk.
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.

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Downloads

IntelliGolf for the Visor

Golf in a convenient Springboard module.
Selkie Email Rescue

Recover e-mails and attachments from crashed Windows systems.
Selkie Music Mover

Recover MP3, MP4, WMA audio files from crashed Windows systems.
Selkie Photo Recovery

Recover photos, pictures, and graphics from crashed Windows systems.

Get (laptop) smart before you buy

Win the numbers game and get the laptop that's perfect your needs as well as your budget!
Microsoft Windows® 7. Your PC, simplified.

Windows® 7 has been designed to be more reliable, more responsive, and to make the things you do every day easier.
Whereis® maps

If you’d like to get to know more of Australia, and do it safely, then check out Whereis® maps.