External hard drive buying guide: desktop, portable, and thumb drives

• March 31, 2014

There are lots of external hard drives out there and it can be hard for a novice to figure it all out. Different storage amounts, software features, shapes, and sizes make it quite complicated. Let’s find out what works for you!

What should you look for when buying a laptop? Part 2: technical specs

• March 3, 2014

This is Part 2 of our two-part series on buying a laptop. Part 1 covered some of the basics: operating system, size, form factor, and user types.

Everyone gets a little overwhelmed when looking at the “technical specifications” section of a product listing. Even when you have a pretty solid grip on interpreting things, it can be hard to keep everything comprehensible in your mind. To finish our laptop buying guide, we’re going to show you which features to hone in on and how to interpret them.

How do processors work and which processor should you buy?

• March 1, 2014

Some people say they don’t really matter, some people say it’s the most important part of the computer. You look at the name and numbers and don’t have the slightest clue how to make sense of it. They are rather complicated and their marketing does not make it clear which you need. However, some research can save you from making a dire mistake.

What should you look for when buying a laptop? Part 1: OS, size, and types of use

• February 27, 2014

Buying a laptop can be a stressful process for even the most seasoned veteran buyer. If you aren’t an expert, things can be even more overwhelming. You might resort to paying more than you need to just to be sure you get something that works. A cheap laptop may come with an unexpected problem or shortcoming. Let’s take a step-by-step look at the many considerations that go into being happy with a laptop purchase. Some, but not all, of these suggestions apply to desktops, which we’ll look at on a later date.