The Dell Inspiron 660 ships with the new Windows 8.

By Kara Reinhardt, Cheapism.com

Not too long ago, it seems, consumers buying an entry-level desktop could count on it coming with Microsoft’s Windows 7. Windows Vista was a distant memory, Mac OS X a pricey pipe dream, and Linux generally a do-it-yourself proposition. Now, price-conscious consumers looking at desktop PCs will find a few different operating systems, including Windows 8, which made its official debut on Oct. 26.

Cheapism has singled out three well-reviewed desktop computers with three distinct operating systems -- all for less than $500.

• The Dell Inspiron 660 (starting at $480) features the new Windows 8, which has earned positive feedback from many corners. This desktop has an Intel Core i3-2130 processor, 6GB of RAM, a 1TB hard drive (a terabyte equals roughly 1,000 gigabytes of storage), and a DVD-RW drive. It also offers a memory card reader and outdoes competitors with four high-speed USB 3.0 ports (plus four USB 2.0 ports). Online reviews declare this computer a solid performer from the popular Inspiron line. (Where to buy)
• The Gateway SX2370-UR10P (starting at $480) comes with the tried-and-true Windows 7 Home Premium. Experts and consumers rave about the power for the price, saying this computer can even keep up with demanding PC games. Where most budget desktops have Intel central processing units, or CPUs, this one has a processor made by AMD: a quad-core A8-3820. The specs include 6GB of RAM, a 1TB hard drive, a DVD-RW drive, and a memory card reader. (Where to buy)
• The Samsung Series 3 Chromebox (starting at $330) is built around Google’s Chrome OS. It’s an entirely different animal designed for computer users who spend most of their time on the Web. Instead of running applications installed on the hard drive, this cheap little machine utilizes Google’s online apps and services. Consequently, it requires a reliable internet connection and won’t suit users needing powerful software such as Adobe Creative Suite. Still, many consumers find the experience similar to using a conventional PC, and experts say you can can boot up this blazing fast machine and be online in about 10 seconds. (Where to buy)

So, why consider Windows 7 given the newer and more novel alternatives? Reviews suggest that Windows 8 users face a formidable learning curve -- the new version doesn’t even have a Start menu -- and getting used to it may not be worth your time on a desktop that doesn’t take advantage of the touch-screen interface. Microsoft has said it will continue to support Windows 7 until 2020. If you buy a compatible Windows 7 machine, including the Gateway model mentioned above, before Jan. 31, you have until the end of February to change your mind and upgrade to Windows 8 for only $14.99.

Operating systems aside, the best budget desktops come with at least 4GB of RAM and integrate 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi connectivity. Computers at this price point typically have integrated graphics rather than more powerful video cards fit for 3D gaming. Often the price doesn’t include a monitor, and the Samsung Chromebox also lacks a keyboard and mouse. Where most desktops have large hard drives, the Chromebox has a 16GB solid state drive, or SSD, which accounts for much of the computer’s speed. With most everything taking place in the cloud, the Chromebox can get away with less local storage.

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Hitachi

Hitachi Touro Mobile Pro

By Kara Reinhardt,
Cheapism.com

Finding an affordable external hard drive has gotten tougher in recent months. Last year’s flooding in Thailand, home to some of the largest hard drive suppliers, has closed down factories and driven up prices. PC Magazine reports that the average cost of a hard drive increased 28% last quarter. But don’t let price keep you from backing up your files. You can still purchase a high-quality portable drive for less than $100. Here are Cheapism’s top picks:

• The Hitachi Touro Mobile Pro(starting at $100) offers 750GB of hard drive storage plus 3GB of free online storage. Expert testing reveals that this device boasts faster data transfer speeds than any other on our list. (Where to buy)
• The Western Digital My Passport Essential(starting at $100) promises a speedy USB 2.0 transfer rate, according to expert reviews, making it appealing for consumers who own Mac computers, which don’t have USB 3.0 connectivity. This external hard drive can hold 500GB worth of files. (Where to buy)
• The Buffalo MiniStation Stealth (starting at $79) features 500GB of storage capacity and the lowest cost per gigabyte of any drive on our list. Experts admire the bundled software suite, which includes an encryption utility to protect your data. (Where to buy)
• The Seagate FreeAgent GoFlex Ultra(starting at $90) is another good option for Mac owners, reviews point out, with fast USB 2.0 transfer rates and no reformatting required. It comes with a 500GB capacity but only a “light” version of the pre-loaded backup software -- no problem for Mac users with Time Machine. (Where to buy)

The storage capacity of an expensive external drive can reach up to 4 terabytes; however, when considering which drive to purchase, you'll want to balance capacity with cost and portability. Think about how you plan to use the device. If your aim is to back up your entire computer, the size of the external hard drive you choose should probably match or exceed the size of your computer’s internal hard drive. If you’re simply looking to carry a media library with you when you’re on the go, you can consider a lighter, slimmer drive. A 500GB device can hold more than 150,000 photos, thousands of hours of music, or hundreds of hours of video (depending on file size).

Transferring all those files is a quicker process with a pricey drive, but all the models on our list can use the speedy USB 3.0 connections available on many PCs (but not on Macs, which have only USB 2.0 ports). External hard drives also work with USB 2.0 connections, although the data transfer rate is noticeably slower.

All our picks come with software that can fully automate the backup process or let users choose which files to transfer manually. Sometimes these programs work only on PCs, but Macs with OS 10.5 (aka Leopard) or higher have Time Machine backup software built in. The hard drives themselves can be used with either a PC or a Mac, although Apple owners may need to reformat the drives to make them Mac-compatible.

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Dell

By Kara Reinhardt
Cheapism.com

On back-to-school shopping lists, "notebook" used to refer to something spiral-bound that would set you back no more than $5 or so. But notebook PCs are now essential equipment for many students and can easily cost upward of $1,000. Unless you need support for serious gaming and graphics, however — or prefer the image of a piece of fruit on the lid — you can pick up a solid machine for about half that price. A market analyst writing for Computerworld reports that laptop prices dropped about 7.5 percent in the most recent quarter, thanks in part to the emergence of tablets.

Even with a student discount, Apple’s most basic model, an 11-inch MacBook Air, still costs $949. That makes a PC the only option for frugal shoppers in the market for a new laptop. Most budget notebooks (not to be confused with smaller, less powerful netbooks) run Windows 7 Home Premium and have Intel CPUs. The most popular is the Core i3, the entry-level CPU in Intel’s latest family of processors. For better performance, look for a second-generation Intel Core processor, such as the i3-2310M, which you can identify by its four-digit model number (in this case, 2310). First-generation Intel Core CPUs, such as the i3-380M, have three-digit model numbers.

As for memory, low-cost laptops typically come with 4 GB of RAM; look for no less than 2 GB. Hard drives range from 320 GB to 640 GB of storage, more than enough for most users. You can find affordable laptops with up to six-cell batteries, but battery capacity isn’t the only factor that influences battery life, which can vary widely from laptop to laptop. Expect a low-cost notebook with a six-cell battery to run for at least a few hours.

Below are Cheapism’s top picks for affordable laptops, all of which run Windows 7.

• The 15.6-inch Lenovo IdeaPad V570 1066A9U (starting at $630) boasts an Intel Core i5-2410M processor, which is faster and more powerful than the typical Core i3. That, coupled with 6 GB of RAM, makes for a very fast machine, according to reviews. This laptop also comes with a 640 GB hard drive. (Where to buy)
• The 14-inch Toshiba Satellite L745-S4210 (starting at $500) offers impressive hardware for the price, with a second-generation Intel Core i3-2310M processor, a 640 GB hard drive, and 4 GB of RAM. Experts and users note its extra-long battery life, which totaled more than six-and-a-half hours in a test. (Where to buy)
• The 15.6-inch HP Pavilion g6-1a69 (starting at $500) packs a more modest Intel Core i3-380M processor and 500 GB hard drive, along with 4 GB of RAM. The first-generation CPU is harder on battery life, but experts and users alike are satisfied with this middle-of-the-road option. (Where to buy)
• The 13.3-inch Dell Vostro V131 starts at $500, but experts advise spending another $100 to upgrade the Intel Celeron processor to a second-generation Core i3-2310M CPU. Even then, with a 320 GB hard drive and 2 GB of RAM, this laptop may not stand up to the multimedia demands of home users -- it was designed with business users in mind. Mobile professionals and students on the go will appreciate its light weight, strong magnesium case, and marathon battery life -- more than eight hours in expert testing. (Where to buy)

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