Deciding which computer to buy can be a difficult decision. Between online sales and local retailers, there are literally millions of computers varying in shape, color, hardware, manufacturer, warranty, software, and price. How are you to know which to buy?

The purpose of this guide is to help you determine which computer type will meet your needs, and then direct you to a side-by-side comparison of models that corresponds to your requirements.

On a blank sheet of paper, begin creating a list of things you’d like to use your computer for like email, shopping, online games, keeping in touch with family, managing finances, photo editing, video editing, burning CDs and DVDs.

Next, we’ll identify which tasks are most difficult for your computer to perform. Difficulty can be translated to processor speed, system memory and hard drive speed. This ensures that your computer can perform all tasks at and below that performance level.

In the left column I’ve listed in descending order, from most difficult to simplest, some common tasks computers can perform. In the right column is the computer type that is needed to perform the adjacent task. Search the left column from top to bottom and stop at the first item from your list. In the adjacent column it will list the type of computer you’ll need to perform all the tasks you have listed. Click on the computer type in the right column to take you to a side-by-side comparison of computers in that category.

For example, say I had on my list email, word processing, internet browsing, and burning CDs and DVDs. As I scan down the left column, Burn CDs and DVDs is the first item from my list to appear, so I would need to look at an Upgraded Home PC, as seen in the right column.

Laptops and Media Centers are unique in that some can only perform basic functions, while others can do nearly everything a powerful desktop could.  To help you determine whether or not these computer types may be for you, either mobility or watching and recording television should be one of your top one or two priorities.

Click the computer type in the right column to compare laptop or media center PCs.

Take these items into consideration when deciding on your next computer; and remember - there may be new advances to make computers faster and more useful.  Be sure to check back often for updates.

The following pages contain our computer reviews organized by type, including other expert reviews and user reviews.  Each product is ranked on an overall best value score and displayed in the easy to use side-by-side comparison chart.  At TopTenREVIEWS— We do the research so you don’t have to.