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Nettop Computers

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Nettop Computers

Computer Storage.

Even low-cost computers have pretty sizeable hard drives. Most of the traditional desktops we researched offer 1TB (or about 1,000 GB) of storage, which should be plenty for home users.
Nettop computers generally have more limited hardware than conventional desktops. They're smaller, cheaper, less powerful machines that work best for casual use -- perhaps as the second or third computer in a household -- or as a dedicated home theater PC, for bringing web content to a TV. The Lenovo IdeaCentre Q180-31102VU falls into the latter camp, offering a 500GB hard drive fit for a large media library. The Samsung Series 3 Chromebox offers only 16GB of storage -- barely a speck compared with the 1TB hard drives on our other top picks. With the Web-based Google Chrome operating system, however, most computing takes place in the cloud, so the Chromebox doesn't need as much local storage. Users who find they don't have enough room for their files can turn to a cheap external hard drive.

Like system memory, hard disk drives are fairly cheap, which is why manufacturers can afford to offer large hard drives on most desktop computers without making much of an impact on the retail price. The Chromebox employs a different and much more expensive type of storage called a solid state drive, or SSD, which seldom shows up on budget computers. What an SSD lacks in capacity it makes up for with speed. A reviewer from CNET raves that, with an SSD, the Chromebox can boot up in about 10 seconds -- a fraction of the time it takes even a premium PC -- and power down in just one second.

Computer Optical Drives.

An optical drive is usually standard equipment on an inexpensive desktop computer. However, nettop computers such as the Lenovo Q180-31102VU and Samsung Chromebox forgo an optical drive, in part simply because their cases are so small. Consumers who want an optical drive can upgrade to the Lenovo Q180-31102WU for $50 more.

Review continues below

All the traditional desktops on our list include a CD/DVD burner, which can read CDs and DVDs and burn data onto recordable CDs and DVDs. Some more expensive PCs include Blu-ray drives, which are still too expensive to make it onto budget systems. If you buy through a manufacturer that lets you configure and buy a PC online, you may be able to add a Blu-ray drive for an extra fee.

Additional Features.

Computer manufacturers may not add lots of frills to budget computers, but there are some basic extras that most low-cost PCs include, such as a keyboard and mouse. The exception among our picks is the Samsung Chromebox nettop computer, which includes neither. Consumers should note that none of the desktops on our list comes with a monitor, so if you don't already own one, be sure to factor in that added cost.

Look for a low-cost PC with a generous number of USB ports, including USB 3.0 ports, which transfer data faster than older USB 2.0 ports. Most of the budget PCs we researched have at least six USB 2.0 ports for connecting everything from a mouse to a printer. The Dell Inspiron 660 has four but also four USB 3.0 ports -- more than any other system we reviewed. The Gateway SX2370-UR10P, the Lenovo Q180 nettop computer, and the Asus Essentio CM6730 have two USB 3.0 ports. The Acer Aspire AM3970 (starting at $478, Amazon) has no USB 3.0 ports but is overloaded with a whopping 12 USB 2.0 ports. Otherwise it's a run-of-the-mill budget option -- not especially powerful but a decent system for the price, according to a reviewer from PC World. The Samsung Chromebox nettop computer also sticks to USB 2.0 ports and includes six of them.

Review continues below

Virtually all budget desktops have Wi-Fi connectivity and an Ethernet port that can support connection speeds up to 1 gigabit. Many low-cost computers, including the Dell Inspiron 660, Gateway SX2370-UR10P, and Lenovo Q180, feature a media card reader.

by Michael Sweet (Google+ Profile)

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Best Cheap Desktops

Dell Inspiron 660

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Gateway SX2370-UR10P

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Good Cheap Desktops

Samsung Series 3 Chromebox

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Lenovo IdeaCentre Q180

The Lenovo Q180 is a cheap nettop computer that's marketed as a home-theater PC. The idea is to set up this little box in your entertainment center in order to watch online video or even surf the web on a TV. As an everyday desktop, however, this model falls flat due to its limited Intel Atom CPU and graphics power.

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