HP iQ506 TouchSmart PC (2.16 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T5850 Processor, 4 GB RAM, 500 GB Hard Drive, DVD Drive, Vista Premium)

Priced from: $1,499.99 $1,399.99

There are few purchases that you are likely to spend as much time with as your computer. It is more than a tool, and can impact your way of life and how and where you spend much of your time. So think carefully through the things you plan to do with a computer. The right choice now can save you real money - and a lot of trouble - later.

Our Buyer's Guide helps you make major decisions like those between a desktop or laptop and whether to buy a PC or Macintosh. We also help you work through the major feature issues: how much memory to buy, the size of the hard drive you are likely to need, and your choice of computer processor.

As you perform a rational assessment, consider too if aesthetics and convenience makes a difference to you. A computer can transform a room. New models from various manufacturers combine the guts of the machine (those big rectangular boxes on or under a desk) with the display screen or monitor in beautiful, sleek cases sure to cause a fit of envy among friends and neighbors. These new machines are also extremely easy to connect to peripherals like a digital camera or MP3; no more getting lost in a thicket of wires under your desk.