12 hours ago


Computer prices can be all over the map. But we’re here to help you select the best computer for your price range, be it a laptop, desktop, or Chromebook. Here are five computers that impressed us.
Samsung ATIV Book 9 Plus NP940X3G-K06US ($1,500)

You may have to pay top dollar for this 14-inch laptop, but it topped its category in our Ratings and is one of the best laptops we tested. It’s powerful, stylish, thin, and a light 4.4 pounds. Battery life was a long 12 hours. Performance was excellent, and it’s got enough oomph for graphically challenging games.
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Performance was excellent on the Surface Pro 3, the third generation in Microsoft’s line of laptop/tablet combos. It’s got a very good 12-inch screen and weighs just 2.4 pounds with the Pro Type keyboard. (Remove the keyboard and it becomes a 1.8-pound tablet, heavy for a tablet, but the display is larger than that of most other tablets.) The unique kickstand adjusts to almost any angle. Battery life was 10 hours. One quibble: the volume from the speakers was judged to be loud enough for only the quietest of environments. You'll need headphones or external speakers to get louder output and better quality sound.
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This is a great price for a speedy 14-inch laptop with excellent performance. Battery life was an impressive 13.5 hours. Weight was just 3.7 pounds, which is light for its size. It comes with some interesting extra features, like gesture control and USB sleep and charge, which lets you use the USB port to charge other devices while the laptop is in sleep mode. All in all, it’s a great package for the money.
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Looking for a great family computer? Consider this HP all-in-one. Performance was excellent, so the kids (and adults!) will be able to play games. The 23-inch touchscreen display is big enough for enjoying movies, and it did well in our tests, though it is prone to glare. There’s a wireless mouse and keyboard to eliminate cord clutter. You can use the included Dragon Assistant for voice commands. The speakers were good, but you might want to add an external set for better sound.
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Intel Core processors are making their way into more Chromebooks, and it shows in the performance scores for this 11.6-inch model, which uses a Core i3. But it also shows in the price, which is higher than has been typical for most Chromebooks until now. It's got less memory than some others. But the 2GB it does have should be sufficient for a Chromebook, which does most of its work from the browser. You might notice some slowdown if you open a large number of tabs in the browser and stream videos while browsing those tabs. With 12 hours of battery life, it will go all day and then some. It's also very light at just 2.6 pounds.
--Donna Tapellini
Check out Consumer Reports' Buying Guide for lots more info on laptops, Chromebooks, and desktops.




Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers on this website. Copyright © 2006-2014 Consumers Union of U.S.

 

I personally hate lap tops, maybe because I am an old fart. I don't know if it's still true but desk tops are better for gaming?

I build my own desktops. My current one is High-end. 28 inch LED screen, Radion 7800 graphics card quad core intell processor 32 gig RAM and two 500 gig hard drives, Creative sound card. back light Merc keyboard and razor laser mouse

 

Thanks `Tadd for being the first to post & share

I wish I had your talent/knowledge to build my own computer, but all that I know how to do is turn one on & many times it doesn't (lol)...

I'm self taught on the computer & they never ceases to amaze me on what they are capable of doing. I'm just thankful to have one & be connected to the `web....I really don't know how anyone can ever get bored `if they have access to the `web 4-Sure...

Look forward to member's posts/comments on this thread & what they believe is the best computer 4 the $ (?)

 

 

Computers to get faster processors, lower prices at CES 2015

What we expect, from new Intel CPUs to hints of Windows 10, in laptops, tablets, hybrids, and desktops at CES.

• by Dan Ackerman
  
  @danackerman
• December 16, 2014 2:10 AM PST

The annual Consumer Electronics Show can sometimes be a major showcase for new laptops, desktops and other Windows PCs, but generally only when a major shift in processors or the Windows operating system is due. In other years, PC makers saved their best stuff for the back-to-school or holiday seasons.With a long-delayed fifth generation of Core i-series chips from Intel due, and Windows 10 starting to filter into the public consciousness, CES 2015 will very likely be a big year for PCs.
A big wave of updates for Intel's Broadwell CPUs

Nearly every PC maker will release new products using the fifth generation of Intel's Core i3/i5/i7 processors, code-named Broadwell. Additionally, many existing product lines will be updated to Broadwell chips. After being pushed back more than once, these new processors are going to be available in shipping products in early 2015, and promise improvements to overall performance (frankly not that important) and battery life (very important).
The first handful of products with Intel's other Broadwell product, the Core M CPU, are already out, but we'll see even more at CES, generally restricted to very thin, very light laptops, hybrids, and tablets being marketed as premium-priced systems.
Higher-resolution screens

Adding genuinely new bullet-point features to laptops is tough, but over the past couple of years we've seen a handful of systems with better-than-1080p displays. Whether 2,560x1,440, 3,200x1,800 or full 4K 3,840x2,160, these higher resolutions are coming to more PCs in 2015, largely targeted at gamers and photo/video professionals.

The slim HP Omen gaming laptop.Sarah Tew/CNETGaming get slicker

From the HP Omen to the Razer Blade, gaming laptops are no longer desktop-hogging monsters. More PC makers will follow this trend at CES, releasing products that fit more gaming power into less space. Additionally, 4K monitors, which are great for high-res PC gaming will drop in price, and we'll see immersive ideas, such as curved monitors and virtual-reality headsets for gaming and movie-watching. Expect at least one or two wild-looking gaming PC prototypes, such as the modular Project Christine.
There's a price war going on

Chromebooks started the current race to the bottom of the price barrel with systems diving below $200. Now, Microsoft and PC makers are following suit with systems such as the $199 HP Stream 11, which offers Windows 8 (plus a year of Office 365) for the same price as many Chrome-OS systems. At CES, look for more low-cost full Windows 8 devices in an attempt to steal back some of Chromebooks' buzz.

An early look at Windows 10.Windows 10 and beyond

While Windows 8 is still going to be on most of the computers showcased at CES, it's Windows 10 that will really be on everyone's mind. By skipping a version number, Microsoft is clearly putting some major distance between Windows 8 and its successor. The company is hosting its own Windows 10 event later in January, so don't expect to see much of the upcoming OS in person, but it'll certainly be talked about extensively behind closed doors.
Many of the new PC products from CES will be announced starting the weekend before the show, so keep checking our ongoing CES coverage for full details.

 

The Best Antivirus for 2015


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• BY NEIL J. RUBENKING
• NOVEMBER 26, 2014

Which of this year's premium antivirus tools is the best to protect your PC? We test them all to help you pick the right one.

8.5KSHARES

VIEW ALL PHOTOS IN GALLERY

CONTENTS

• The Best Antivirus for 2015
• Emsisoft to Malwarebytes
• McAfee to SuperAntiSpyware
• ThreatTrack to Webroot

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Ah, autumn! There's a chill in the air, the leaves are turning colors, and the big antivirus vendors are releasing their 2015 models. The sheer quantity is amazing. If you don't have antivirus protection installed, shame on you—there's something for everyone in the extremely large antivirus field. If you've already seen to setting up protection, see how your choice stacks up to the competition. Since this roundup's last update in September, we've added reviews of eight new and updated for-pay antivirus tools. Most of the same products retain their positions at the top of the heap. Here are the best from the current crop of commercial antivirus products.

NameWebroot SecureAnywhere AntiVirus (2015)Bitdefender Antivirus Plus 2015Kaspersky Anti-Virus (2015)F-Secure Anti-Virus 2015McAfee AntiVirus Plus 2015 Editor RatingLowest Price$19.99Webroot$39.95BitDefender$25.85Amazon$39.99MSRP
$39.99DellTypePersonal, ProfessionalPersonal, ProfessionalBusiness, Personal, ProfessionalBusiness, Personal, ProfessionalBusiness, Personal, ProfessionalOS CompatibilityWindows Vista, Windows XP, Mac OS, Windows 7, Windows 8Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows 7, Windows 8Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows 7, Windows 8Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows 7, Windows 8Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8 Read the ReviewRead the ReviewRead the ReviewRead the ReviewRead the Review

Independent Lab Tests
I spend hours or days with every product performing hands-on testing, but the independent antivirus labs have whole squads of researchers for even more in-depth testing. I follow six major labs that perform ongoing tests and make their results public: AV-Test, AV-Comparatives, Dennis Technology Labs, ICSA Labs, Virus Bulletin, and West Coast Labs.
I take independent testing quite seriously, and I've worked up a rating system to evaluate each product in light of its lab results. I've identified five important categories: detection, cleaning, protection, false positives, and performance. When there's enough data from the labs, I use it to calculate a star rating in each category, and an overall rating.
As you can see in the chart below, Panda, Kaspersky, and Bitdefender get really excellent scores across the board. That's certainly a good sign.
Even the independent labs don't have unlimited resources, so there's a dearth of results for some products. I'll be talking with some of the more flexible labs about the possibility of expanding the collection of products they test.
Best Antivirus Lab Tests Chart
The cloud-based behavioral monitoring of Webroot SecureAnywhere Antivirus (2015)$19.99 at Webroot is wildly different from almost any other product, and it's just not compatible with many test setups. However, in test reports from Dennis Technology Labs and MRG-Effitas earlier this year Webroot earned the best possible rating.
See How We Interpret Antivirus Lab Tests
Hands-On Testing
For every antivirus review, I run a hands-on test of the product's ability to detect and prevent malware attacks. I also check each product's ability to detect and prevent download of the very latest malware. Starting with a feed of links from London-based MRG-Effitas, I sift out those that point directly to a malicious executable online. Using executable file links makes it easy for me to measure success. If a malicious download reaches the desktop, the antivirus failed. If it wipes out the file during download, or blocks access to the URL completely, it succeeded.
The links I use are never more than a day old, sometimes just hours old. That means each product hits a different set of links, but in every case they're extremely recent. I do plug away until I've tested about 100 links, figuring the daily differences will average out. This is definitely more real-world than my standard malware blocking test, which necessarily uses the same samples for as much as a year.
Best Antivirus Malware Blocking Chart
I've been running the URL blocking test for a year, and found a very wide range of scores. At present, McAfee AntiVirus Plus 2015$39.99 at Dell holds the top score, with 85 percent blocked. ESET NOD32 Antivirus 8$39.99 at ESET North Americaand F-Secure Anti-Virus 2015 came close, with 81 and 80 percent respectively. Kaspersky and Bitdefender clearly concentrate their efforts in other protection layers; neither did well in this particular test.
See How We Test Malware Blocking
The Best Products
The antivirus field is huge; I currently track dozens. In a field that big there's room for multiple products to earn the title of Editors' Choice.
Three products share the Editor's Choice honor for best overall antivirus:Bitdefender Antivirus Plus 2015$39.95 at BitDefender, Kaspersky Anti-Virus (2015)$25.85 at Amazon, and Webroot SecureAnywhere Antivirus (2015)$19.99 at Webroot. Long-time Editors' choice Norton Antivirus no longer exists as a product separate from the cross-platform multi-device security service Symantec Norton Security $47.43 at Amazon.
Whatever your antivirus needs, one of the more than two dozen premium tools listed here should do the job. Read the blurbs that begin immediately below or click through the slideshow; the content is the same either way. If you really can't find one that suits your needs and your budget, you might also try reading PCMag's roundup of the best free antivirus apps there are some excellent choices there as well, and they won't cost you a dime.


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Advanced SystemCare Ultimate 7

$49.99
$29.99 at AmazonAdvanced SystemCare Ultimate 7 combines decent antivirus protection with a huge collection of system utilities. Some users may be put off by the advertisements and upsell attempts that come along with the utilities, but they're definitely useful for fixing and optimizing your PC. Read the full review ››



Ashampoo Anti-Virus 2014

$39.99
Ashampoo Anti-Virus 2014 uses licensed antivirus engines from Bitdefender and Emsisoft, but didn't bring along the necessary support system. Skip this product; if you want Bitdefender's go straight to Bitdefender. Read the full review ››



avast! GrimeFighter

$39.99
With its cartoonish minions and colloquial language, you'd never know that avast! GrimeFighter is a sophisticated Linux-based antivirus and optimization tool. It does a good job, but lacks a few features found in its predecessor, Jumpshot. Read the full review ››



Avast Pro Antivirus 2015

$39.99
$39.99 at AvastAvast Pro Antivirus 2015 includes an innovative scan for home router security problems, as well as a hardened browser for financial transactions and a number of other useful tools. Even so, you'll be better off selecting one of our Editors' Choice antivirus products. Read the full review ››



Avira Antivirus Suite (2014)

$44.99
Avira Antivirus Premium 2013 offers slightly better protection than the company's free antivirus, and it comes with full-scale tech support. However, the incremental benefits of choosing the premium edition over the free edition just don't merit the product's cost. Read the full review ››



AVG AntiVirus 2015

$39.99
$31.99 at DellBusinesses that want to use AVG's antivirus technology can't use the free version; they must pay for AVG AntiVirus 2015. However, the same cash outlay could purchase any of our three antivirus Editors Choice products. Read the full review ››



Bitdefender Antivirus Plus 2015

$39.95
$39.95 at BitDefenderHardly any products score better in independent lab tests than Bitdefender Antivirus Plus 2015, and it totally aced our own antiphishing test. On top of that, it offers significant tools to enhance your privacy and system performance. This almost-suite remains an antivirus Editors' Choice.Read the full review ››



BullGuard Antivirus (2014)

$29.95
BullGuard Antivirus (2014) has a slightly quirky new look. The test labs give it good marks, and it's easy to use. A bonus spam filter is nice, but wow, does it ever slow the downloading of email. Read the full review ››



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I'm in the same boat, I build my own desktops.

We do have 3 laptops hanging around our apartment though haha

 

Hi Admin `Mike,
Some people have the talent & abilities to build their own computers & some just know how to turn them on > like me< I wish I had that ability, but I don't & need to learn more about the internals of computers. I'm still trying to learn about the externals of a computer & what all these button's and keys `do > LOL >

Thanks for your post...I am searching for another computer for my g/f, but waiting until January to get one. Her's is in worse shape then mine...

 

I'd rather build my own desktop, but I don't NEED a high dollar desktop. As long as it can run SWTOR decently, I'm good lol. But yes, a desktop ALWAYS has more potential and can create more power than a laptop can handle.

The only reason I have a laptop is for reading and tuning PCMs...

 

Hi John & Member's,
What company/brand do you think makes the best Desktop computer ? ? ?
==================================================

Best Desktops Desktop Computers 2014/2015 (Dec 2014)

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Best Desktops for 2014/2015. A good desktop is essential for a family, college, gaming and work/bussiness. I was looking for a new affordable desktop because my pc had broken down. Good desktops today have features like quad-core processors, fast hard-drives with plenty of GB storage, and awesome sound and graphics cards so that gaming and heavy duty graphic programs can run smoothly, as well as playing HD movies.
The best desktop brands are Apple, HP, Dell, Sony, Acer and Asus.


Factors that determine the performance of a desktop computer

The speed of a desktop is mainly dependent on the quality of the CPU, how many CPU`s (single core, dual core, quad core), the available MEM (more internal memory is better, today desktops should have at least 4 GB) and the harddisk (SSD is much faster than regular HDD). When running programs or games that use a lot of graphic processing the quality of the video-card is very important.

Intel vs AMD

When choosing a desktop computer the CPU is an important factor to consider. The CPU is the heart of the system. There are two main processor manufacturers namely Intel and AMD. The intel processors tend to perform slightly better but are about twice as expensive compared to the AMD processors. The gain in performance can be noticed in high speed gaming frame rate but is hardly noticeable when using the desktop for normal use.
What Speed Do You Need?

The i3 Intel series and its equivalent AMD processors are used in low end desktops for usual computer tasks like surfing the web, email and administrative tasks. These are the cheapest Intel processors with the lowest processing power. The Intel i5 series and equivalent AMD processors have better performance and can be used for light/medium gaming and medium video editing/ graphical programs. the i7 Intel processors and equivalent AMD processors are the most expensive but get you the most processing power, the best gaming experience and the best basis for heavy graphical programs and video editing.
It is difficult to say that the Intel CPU`s are better than the AMD ones because for the same price as one Intel core you can sometimes get more AMD cores which eliminates the performance gain that single Intel processors show in benchmark tests.
On this website you will first find my recommendation for the best desktop 2014 and after that you will find my choices for the best Intel i3, i5 and gaming desktops, Best desktops for the money (under $500) and pc`s of the separate brands.




Contents

• 1 Factors that determine the performance of a desktop computer
• 2 Intel vs AMD
• 3 What Speed Do You Need?
• 4 Best Desktop 2014/2015: Apple iMac 21.5-Inch Desktop
• 5 Best Intel i3 and equivalent Desktops
• 6 Best Intel i5 Desktops
• 7 Best Gaming Desktops 2014/2015
• 8 Best Under $500 Desktops (most are around $300)
• 9 Best Apple desktops 2014/2015
• 10 Top HP Desktops
• 11 Dell
• 12 Acer
• 13 Best Lenovo Desktops
• 14 Best Desktop 2014/2015 News
• 15 Best Desktops on YouTube

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