Computer brands

This list characterizes the major computer brands.

Acer

Gateway and eMachines are owned by Acer. The companies do not sell their products direct to consumers, unlike most other computer makers. Acer Aspire products run the gamut of consumers from budget to high end.  The Aspire One line is Acer's netbook offering.  It  has also entered the 3D space with a laptop.

Apple

Apple computers usually cost significantly more than Windows-based systems. Apple computers use Apple's operating system, Mac OS X. Macs can also run Windows. Mac OS X has had fewer problems with viruses and other malware. The company primarily offers several consumer lines, the MacBook and MacBook Pro (laptops), the iMac (all-in-one desktops), the Mac mini (a small form-factor budget desktop), and the iPad (touch-screen tablet). Apple's telephone tech support is limited to three months, but you can get unlimited free tech support at the Genius Bar in Apple stores.

Asus

Asus was first to market in the U.S. with a netbook, the EeePC.  Laptops range from budget to high end.  Its Essentio desktop brand is limited to value and mid-range users.  It also sells a nettop, the Eee Top—a low-end all-in-one computer with a touch screen. Asus does not sell its lines direct to consumers, unlike most other computer makers.

Compaq

Compaq is owned by HP. Its value line of desktops and laptops is sold under the Compaq Presario brand.

Dell

Inspiron is Dell's mass-market line. For higher performance and gaming systems Dell offers Studio XPS.  Dell's compact desktop offerings include the Studio Hybrid and the Zino HD. The Dell Mini is its netbook series. For hard-core gamers, Dell offers Alienware systems.  Inspiron One is its all-in-one brand with optional touch screen.

eMachines

eMachines is owned by Acer and sells budget desktops, laptops, and netbooks.  The company does not sell its products direct to consumers.

Gateway

Gateway is owned by Acer. The companies do not sell their products direct to consumers, unlike most other computer makers. The NV, ID, and ED series are Gateway's budget and mainstream laptops.  For premium performance and gaming systems, Gateway offers the P series.  DX and LX are the budget and midrange desktop lines.  FX is Gateway's high-end desktop, and ZX is its all-in-one.  LT series is its netbook line.

HP

HP is the No. 1 seller of desktops and laptops in the United States. In laptops, it offers the midrange Pavilion line, the budget G-series line, and the high-end premium Envy line.  It has a convertible tablet called TouchSmart.  In desktops, it offers the budget and midrange Pavilion line, a Pavilion Slimline (slimmer design), and the Pavilion Elite high-end desktop.  There are three all-in-one lines, the All-in-One, the Omni, and TouchSmart (with touch screen).  For netbooks, it's the HP Mini line.

Lenovo

Lenovo has been expanding its offerings to consumers. IdeaPad is its midrange consumer laptop line. The C-series and H-series make-up its budget lines.  Lenovo ThinkPads are its  business notebooks.  The IdeaCentre and C-series are its midrange consumer desktops and all-in-ones.  The S-series is its netbook line.

Samsung

Samsung is a relative newcomer to the U.S. laptop market.  It does not sell its lines direct to consumers, unlike most other computer makers. Its R-series is its midrange laptop line, and the N-series is its netbook line.

Sony

Sony computers usually cost more than other windows-based products. Sony's laptop line includes the smaller X, Y, and Z series, and the larger EA, EB, EC, and F series. All-in-one desktops are the JS-series and L series, midrange and high end respectively. Its W-series is netbooks, and its mini-laptop is called the P-series.

Toshiba

Toshiba sells laptops and netbooks. Its consumer laptops include the Satellite line (budget and midrange), and the Qosmio line for high-end gaming.  The Toshiba Mini is its netbook line.  Satellite Pro, Tecra, and Portege are its business lines.