Desktops & All-In-One Computers

Desktops and All-In-One Computers

Desktop Computers

A desktop computer typically consists of several units that are connected together using external wires and are designed to be installed in one permanent location. The 4 key units included are usually a processor (or tower) which can sit on, or under, the desk, a display monitor, a keyboard and a mouse.

There are other important features in a modern desktop such as a modem, CD/DVD drive and a multi Gigabyte magnetic storage drive are a few, but these tend to be built into the key units rather than separate.

All-In-One PCs

An All-In-One computer integrates the processor into the same unit as the monitor, so that instead of having multiple units to connect you have the monitor, the keyboard and mouse. This creates a computer that is more compact and can be moved between locations relatively easily. These are often best for offices to save on space and reduce the number of wires trailing along the desk.

Unlike tower desktops, these are harder to upgrade and customise.

Features

Choosing the right computer will depend on its primary use and the features you need. Look out for speed (dual-core processors are faster than single core for example, but quad core is faster again), capacity, storage, and internet access.

Brands

Alienware PCs are desktops that are primarily recognised for their gaming potential, providing users with an immersive gaming experience using NVIDIA graphics cards.

There is a wide range of desktop and all-in-one PCs available from household names, such as Dell, Hewlett-Packard, Acer and Packard Bell. These are all great choices for home and office use, including internet browsing capability and a preinstalled Windows operating system.

Other popular computers include Apple desktops which run on MacOS. Apple all-in-one PCs are popular choices as they offer a powerful performance in a compact design. Within the market of desktop and all-in-one PCs for home and office use, OS X, after the various Windows operating systems, is the second most widely used operating system.