Buying a new Personal Computer?

First of for the majority of the non-specialist that already have a computer. You probably don't need one at all. But if you are dead set on getting something new and shiny you should at least talk to someone who is knowledgable first.

Also this is not to endorse any brand. I'm a pragmitist by nature and I'm always up for suggestions.

If you're existing computer is slow and bogged down you might can con one of your good friends into doing some work on it. If you find someone with some talent they can likely get it running nearly as good as when you first purchased it, and if your needs don't extend beyond email and surfing the web, and writing an occasional paper Windows XP or OS X is probably just fine.

Laptops
If you're decision in the past has based off what's in the commercials and what color to get then I have good news. If you aren't a gamer, and don't frequently do video & photo editing I dont' think you can purchase a computer these days that won't perform well for your needs. The cheapest system on dell these days ($512) has 1 gig of RAM and a DVD-RW, which is plenty for anyone who doesn't already know that their needs extend past that.

So those days where you call in and they ask you do you like music are kind of a mute point at this stage unless you are an audiophil of some sort, because the default configuration of their cheapest model has a DVD burner which will not only burn CD's but DVDs as well.

In fact we are reaching the stage where most things are pushed into the cloud. If you are the type of person that only needs email, IM, word processing and a browser. Then Ubuntu is free and does all those things with the basic install with no configuration. Linux isn't what it used to be. At this point it's quite easy to use and even the installation is as easy or easier than most operating systems out there. You don't have to know anything about your hardware to install it these days. If you are on Dell or some of the other manufactorers you can order them without an operating system and save yourself some cash. But given the deal you are given on it when packaged with hardware I would probably go ahead and get it.

Apple is taking quite a hold of the market these days. However they target a wealthy consumer starting at $1099. This isn't a bash on Mac, they have excellent hardware and software. However if you are a thrifty windows user that wants to convert you may find it very expensive. If you have existing application that don't have a version which works on the Mac then you'll need to run VMware Fusion ($80) or Parellels in order to run windows in a virtual machine. (VMware Fusion is the definite choice as it manages your hardware better and can even allow you to make windows programs appear in a native mac window). Not to mention that you have to purchase a windows license if you don't have one already that you can use. And lastly you probably won't be happy with the preformance of a MacBook Pro while running Windows in a Virtual machine with now puts your laptop up upwards of $2k.

Dual booting in my opinion is not an option. I'm not personally willing to close all my programs and restart just to use 1 program as well as install a duplicate of other programs I wish to use when I already have a suitable version in the other Operating System.

Desktops

I honestly believe that desktops are for working, or gaming. If you are thinking of picking one or the other, then you'll likely be happier with a laptop since you can take it with you. If you use a computer for your profession I would highly suggest a desktop for your day to day use unless you are a road warrior.

I see lots of companies simply purchasing their employees laptops these days and having them use that at their desk. I think this is a mistake for one reason. Screen real-estate.

If you have a desktop, get a graphics card that supports dual monitors. If both of your monitors are DVI then I would advise getting a dual DVI graphics card. You don't need a good one unless you play games.

Having two monitors is the largest productivity boost you can give yourself after learning how to touch type.

For Gamers and other enthusist I really like what I see over at Puget Custom Computers. It looks like they have great support and tracking on all of their products. Also they will overclock your cpu and put aftermarket heatsinks on them for maximum performance.