Desktop standards: a fresh look at the range of computers offered by eight leading makers.(Computers - Test)(Buyers Guide)(Evaluation)(Industry Overview)

The desktop computer may finally have reached a level of acceptance accorded to something like the TV set or refrigerator--just another appliance you use every day, not something exotic and mysterious. Since the end of last year, signs were everywhere that replacement sales--not first-time purchases--now drive the computer market. All the more reason, then, to take a fresh look at the "families" of computers each major manufacturer offers. Knowing how a particular family of computers is configured and priced can greatly help you decide where to go when it's time to replace an aging machine.

THE FAMILY TREES

Most manufacturers offer entry-level, midrange, and cutting-edge computers. As the Ratings indicate, some families straddle those categories in features or price. Choosing a flat-panel LCD display over a conventional monitor adds a premium of several hundred dollars. Here's what to expect:

Entry level. Sometimes priced as low as $500, these are generally the smallest and slowest computers on the market. Expect a 566- to 733-megahertz (MHz) Celeron or Pentium III processor for Windows, a 350-to 500-MHz processor for Macs. The case likely won't have much expansion room.

Midrange. Usually priced at $1,000 to $2,000, this is the "sweet spot" in many brand lines. Processors may run as fast as 1 gigahertz (GHz), and the case will have plenty of room for expansion.

Cutting edge. Priced at $2,000 to $3,000, these provide all the computing power, storage, and expandability you're likely to need.

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