Down the line: Laptop and desktop computers

If you're shopping for a new computer, choosing whether to buy a laptop or desktop PC is far from the last decision you'll need to make. Even after you've homed in on a specific vendor, there's often still a dizzying array of models and configurations to wade through. Further complicating matters, vendor sites may not provide all the information you need to pick the PC that best suits your needs and budget.

While our laptop and desktop reviews are a great resource for information on individual products, we simply can't get to every PC that hits the market. To fill in the gaps, we present an overview of the laptop and desktop lines offered by the largest, most popular manufacturers.

For each vendor here, we'll walk you through the consumer and business laptop and desktop lines, giving an opinionated take on each model's specs, features, and design along the way. You'll find videos on each page for all models we've reviewed, plus links to current models whether or not they've passed through CNET Labs.

This overview should be your first stop before dipping your toes into the PC-purchasing waters. For more information on how to pick out the perfect PC, check out our buying guides (laptops, desktops) and top products lists (laptops, desktops).