What Do You Actually Need — and How Much Should You Spend?

Buying a new computer used to be relatively simple.

You bought a computer.

Now you walk into a store — or, more likely, open a website — and you’re confronted with desktops, all-in-ones, laptops, MacBooks, Chromebooks, tablets, 2-in-1s and phones powerful enough to do things that required an entire office full of equipment 25 years ago.

Then somebody starts talking about processors, RAM, storage, graphics cards and cores.

Your eyes glaze over.

Eventually you think, “I’ll just buy the one that looks nice.”

Let’s not do that.

Before you worry about brands, processors or whether something has 16 GB of this and 512 GB of that, answer a much simpler question:

What are you actually going to do with it?

If you mostly check email, shop online, look at Facebook and watch videos, your needs are very different from someone editing video, working with giant spreadsheets or playing demanding games.

And price matters.

There’s no point spending $2,000 on a computer whose most challenging daily assignment will be displaying the Kroger ad.

On the other hand, saving $200 by buying something that drives you crazy every day for the next five years isn’t much of a bargain.

So let’s start with the big decision.

DESKTOP VS. LAPTOP

Do You Need It to Leave the House?

This is the easiest question in the entire buying process.

Do you regularly need your computer somewhere besides the desk where it lives?

If the answer is yes, you probably want a laptop.

If the answer is no, don’t automatically assume you need one.

Desktop computers still have some significant advantages.

DESKTOP COMPUTERS

MORE COMPUTER FOR YOUR MONEY

A traditional desktop has a separate computer, monitor, keyboard and mouse.

It isn’t fashionable.

You can’t take it to Starbucks.

But if your computer lives in the same room 99% of the time anyway, who cares?

THE PROS

You generally get more performance for your money.

A desktop doesn’t have to be tiny, lightweight or run on a battery. Manufacturers have more room for components and cooling, and you aren’t paying extra to make everything portable.

That can make desktops particularly attractive if you’re doing demanding work or simply want a machine that feels fast without spending a fortune.

You can use a bigger screen.

Or two screens.

Or three, if you’ve reached the stage of your life where apparently you’re running NASA from the spare bedroom.

A large monitor can be much more comfortable for work, photo editing, bookkeeping and anyone who simply doesn’t enjoy squinting at a 14-inch screen.

They’re easier to repair and upgrade.

This varies by model, but traditional tower desktops often make it much easier to replace storage, add memory or swap components later.

A problem with the monitor doesn’t necessarily mean there’s anything wrong with the computer itself.

You don’t have a battery to worry about.

Laptop batteries eventually wear out.

A desktop has no interest whatsoever in battery life.

Plug it in. Leave it there. It’s happy.

THE CONS

The obvious one:

It’s staying home.

You’re not carrying a tower, 27-inch monitor, keyboard and mouse into the waiting room at the dentist.

A desktop also takes up more space and usually requires you to buy or already own a monitor, keyboard and mouse.

That can affect the real price.

WHAT ABOUT AN ALL-IN-ONE?

An all-in-one desktop puts the computer components inside the monitor.

They’re neat.

They’re attractive.

They don’t require a tower sitting under the desk.

But they give up some of the traditional desktop’s repair and upgrade advantages.

Think of an all-in-one as the middle ground between a tower and a laptop:

desktop-sized screen, laptop-like compact construction.

WHAT DOES A DESKTOP COST?

This is where desktops can shine.

Basic Windows desktops suitable for web browsing, email, office work and everyday household use are often among the least expensive ways to get a capable full computer.

As you add faster processors, more memory, larger storage and especially gaming-grade graphics, prices can climb dramatically.

And remember to include the monitor in your budget if one isn’t included.

A $600 desktop plus a $200 monitor is an $800 computer.

The arithmetic remains stubbornly undefeated.

LAPTOP COMPUTERS

YOUR COMPUTER GOES WHERE YOU GO

A laptop puts everything into one package:

Computer.

Screen.

Keyboard.

Touchpad.

Speakers.

Battery.

Close the lid and take the whole operation with you.

That’s incredibly convenient.

It’s also why laptops have become the default choice for many people.

THE PROS

Portability.

This is the big one.

Kitchen table this morning.

Office this afternoon.

Couch tonight.

Vacation next week.

One computer goes everywhere.

Everything is included.

You don’t need a separate screen, keyboard or mouse to get started.

You may decide to add those things later, but they’re not required.

It keeps working when the power goes out.

At least until the battery doesn’t.

That can be particularly handy if you’re working when the electricity flickers.

You can turn it into a desktop at home.

Connect a laptop to a larger monitor, keyboard and mouse and you can have a very desktop-like experience at your desk.

Then unplug it and take it with you.

For a lot of people, that’s the best of both worlds.

THE CONS

You usually pay something for portability.

Making a computer small, light, battery-powered and cool enough to sit on your lap involves compromises.

At the same price, a desktop can often give you more performance or more upgrade flexibility.

Repairs can be more complicated.

The screen, keyboard, battery and computer are all part of the same device.

Drop it and you may have damaged your entire computer, not just a $20 keyboard.

Many modern laptops are also much harder to upgrade than traditional desktops.

Screen size is limited.

A giant laptop isn’t particularly portable.

A tiny laptop isn’t particularly giant.

Physics continues to be difficult that way.

WINDOWS PC OR MAC?

NOW WE GET TO THE ARGUMENT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HAVING FOR DECADES

Both desktops and laptops come in different varieties, but for most shoppers the next major choice is Windows PC versus Apple Mac.

Both can be excellent.

Neither is automatically the right answer for everyone.

WINDOWS

MORE CHOICES AT MORE PRICES

Windows computers are made by many companies.

That means you can find an enormous range of:

Sizes.

Features.

Prices.

Cheap computers.

Expensive computers.

Tiny computers.

Giant gaming towers glowing with enough colored lights to guide aircraft onto a runway.

WINDOWS MAKES SENSE IF:

You want the widest selection.

You need specific Windows-only software.

You play a lot of PC games.

You want inexpensive choices.

You want a traditional desktop that’s easy to modify.

You’re already comfortable with Windows and don’t particularly want to learn something different.

THE PRICE ADVANTAGE

Windows gives you the broadest price range.

You can buy inexpensive basic machines and also spend several thousand dollars on powerful professional or gaming systems.

That makes Windows especially useful when the budget is tight because you aren’t limited to a relatively small number of models.

But beware of the absolute cheapest computer on the page.

There is a price below which you’re not getting a tremendous bargain.

You’re getting a future argument.

If you’ll use the computer every day, spending enough to get a machine with decent memory, storage and performance can save years of aggravation.

MAC

SIMPLE LINEUP, HIGHER PRICE OF ENTRY

Apple makes both Mac desktops and MacBook laptops.

The lineup is much smaller than the Windows universe, which can actually make shopping easier.

Apple controls both the hardware and the operating system, and Macs have a reputation for polished integration and strong performance.

They’re particularly popular with people already using iPhones and iPads because Apple devices work together very smoothly.

MAC MAKES SENSE IF:

You already use Apple products and like the ecosystem.

You value long battery life in a laptop.

You do creative work and prefer Mac software.

You want fewer hardware choices rather than 900 nearly identical laptops to compare.

You simply prefer macOS.

That’s a perfectly legitimate reason.

You’re the one using the thing.

THE BIGGEST CON?

Price.

There generally isn’t a super-cheap new Mac category comparable to the bottom end of the Windows market.

Apple’s least expensive computers can offer very good performance, but if your entire computer budget is extremely limited, Windows or a Chromebook gives you more options.

You also need to pay attention to storage when ordering a Mac because adding more storage can increase the price substantially, and upgrading it later may not be practical.

SO WHICH IS BETTER: MAC OR PC?

Wrong question.

Ask:

Which one works better for me?

If your job requires Windows software, buy Windows.

If everything you own is Apple and you love how the devices work together, a Mac may be worth the extra expense.

If you’re switching platforms because someone on Facebook announced that one is vastly superior to the other, perhaps don’t base a $1,000 purchase on Gary’s comment underneath a meme.

WAIT — DO YOU EVEN NEED A WINDOWS PC OR MAC?

FOR SOME PEOPLE, THE ANSWER IS NO

This is where computer shopping has changed dramatically.

If your typical day consists of:

Email.

Facebook.

Web browsing.

Online shopping.

Streaming Netflix.

Video calls.

Reading the news.

You may not need a traditional computer at all.

CHROMEBOOKS

CHEAP, SIMPLE AND SURPRISINGLY USEFUL

A Chromebook looks like a laptop, but instead of Windows or macOS it runs Google’s ChromeOS.

Chromebooks are built heavily around web-based computing and Google services.

They’re generally simple, start quickly and are often less expensive than traditional laptops.

A CHROMEBOOK MAY BE PERFECT IF:

You mostly live in a web browser.

You use Gmail, Google Docs and other web services.

You want something inexpensive and simple.

You’re buying a basic machine for a student or casual household use.

You don’t need specialized Windows or Mac programs.

A CHROMEBOOK MAY BE A TERRIBLE IDEA IF:

You have a particular Windows program you absolutely must run.

You need professional software that isn’t available for ChromeOS.

You’re buying it because it’s cheap without first checking whether it does what you need.

This is important.

A Chromebook is not simply a cheap Windows laptop.

It’s a different type of computer.

If everything you do works on it, fantastic.

If one critical thing doesn’t, the bargain disappears rather quickly.

TABLETS

SOMETIMES A COMPUTER IS MORE COMPUTER THAN YOU NEED

Tablets occupy an interesting space between phones and laptops.

An iPad or Android tablet can handle an enormous amount of everyday computing:

Email.

Web browsing.

Streaming.

Reading.

Video calls.

Social media.

Games.

Online shopping.

Light office work.

Add a keyboard and some tablets begin looking suspiciously like laptops.

TABLET ADVANTAGES

They’re light.

They’re easy to carry.

Battery life is generally good.

They’re great for consuming content.

And the touchscreen makes them easy to use for people who don’t enjoy traditional computers.

TABLET DISADVANTAGES

The moment you start doing lots of typing, juggling many files or using complex desktop software, you may begin wishing you had bought a laptop.

A keyboard case can help.

But watch the price.

A premium tablet plus a keyboard, extra storage and accessories can creep into laptop territory remarkably quickly.

At that point, compare the whole package, not just the price printed next to the tablet.

AND THEN THERE’S YOUR PHONE

THE COMPUTER YOU ALREADY OWN

For an increasing number of people, the most-used computer in the house fits in a pocket.

Think about what you already do on your phone:

Pay bills.

Bank.

Shop.

Email.

Take and edit pictures.

Navigate.

Watch television.

Video chat.

Use social media.

Buy airline tickets.

Order dinner.

Your phone is absolutely a computer.

The question is whether it’s enough computer.

A PHONE MAY BE ALL YOU NEED IF:

Your computing needs are basic.

You rarely type anything long.

You don’t manage complicated files.

You don’t need a large screen.

You’re perfectly comfortable doing everything through apps.

There is no rule saying every household must own a traditional PC.

HOW TO DECIDE

ASK THESE QUESTIONS BEFORE YOU SPEND A DIME

1. WHERE WILL I USE IT?

Always at a desk?

Consider a desktop.

All over the house or away from home?

Laptop, Chromebook or tablet.

2. WHAT PROGRAMS DO I ABSOLUTELY NEED?

Not what you might someday use.

What do you actually use?

If you depend on a specific piece of Windows or Mac software, that can make your decision immediately.

3. HOW MUCH TYPING DO I DO?

Writing reports, books or long emails on a phone gets old quickly.

Heavy typists will usually appreciate a real keyboard.

4. HOW BIG A SCREEN DO I WANT?

If your eyes appreciate a 27-inch monitor, don’t force yourself onto a tiny laptop screen just because laptops are popular.

5. HOW MUCH POWER DO I NEED?

Email and Facebook require relatively little.

Video editing, serious photo work, engineering software and demanding games can require dramatically more.

Don’t pay for power you won’t use.

But don’t buy a bargain-basement computer for demanding work and spend the next four years furious with it.

6. WHAT’S MY REAL BUDGET?

Not just the computer.

Include everything you’ll need.

Desktop plus monitor.

Tablet plus keyboard.

Laptop plus docking station.

Mac plus additional storage.

Cheap devices can become less cheap once you add everything required to make them useful.

THE SIMPLE VERSION

If your computer never leaves the desk and you want the most performance for your money, look at desktops.

If you need a full computer you can take anywhere, look at laptops.

If you’re already deep into the Apple world and don’t mind paying more upfront, consider a Mac or MacBook.

If your needs are mostly web-based and price is a major concern, look seriously at a Chromebook.

If you mostly browse, watch, read, email and use apps, a tablet may be plenty.

And if you already do everything happily on your phone?

Maybe you don’t need to buy anything at all.

That’s the best bargain on this entire list.

BUY FOR THE LIFE YOU ACTUALLY HAVE

The biggest mistake in computer shopping is buying for some imaginary future version of yourself.

You don’t need a $2,500 editing workstation because there’s a possibility you might someday make a YouTube video.

You don’t need the cheapest Chromebook available if you spend eight hours a day working in specialized Windows software.

And you don’t need a laptop simply because everybody buys laptops if the thing is going to spend its entire natural life sitting on the same desk.

Start with what you actually do.

Decide where you need to do it.

Then figure out how much you’re comfortable spending.

The best computer isn’t the fastest, the newest or the most expensive.

It’s the one that does what you need without making you swear at it before breakfast.