The Chronicles

(Jay) Generally, this time of year is when things get cheap, and computers get dirt cheap. Don't be overwhelmingly suprised when you see a laptop go for 200$ at places like Best Buy, it happens. Lots of people during this time are looking for gifts for themselves, a lot are looking for deals, and there are plenty of deals out there. One example is/was the deal Best Buy had on the MacBooks (the new 2008 models), up to 150$ off I believe. That's a pretty good price for people to switch from Windows to Mac (it's about $1200 after the discount). I didn't make the switch because of the small screen and resolution, if it were 15.4" I would have, don't get me wrong, lol (of course Vista x64 would go on it right away ;) ) Anyways, this post is to help some look for computers (don't ask why, I know barely anyone even pays attention to my posts anyways :P).
There are obviously main categories of computers out there: mainstream, productivity, net, gaming, edutainment, entertainment, etc etc. So with all these, it all breaksdown to two main categories, Desktops and Laptops. I'll go through each in much simplicity as I can.
Here is a rule of thumb, if you're not needing a computer with you when you go out, or to work on things (like school), you'll probably just need a desktop, and not a laptop. Think about your situation before you jump into what you're looking for.
This topic is highly opinionated, and can clash with many people's opinions. These are just my opinions, and nothing more. There may be mistakes, again I'm not that computer savy. I cannot stress the word research enough. That is the main thing, research what you want, so you know what you're buying than end up being bummed out you bought the wrong thing for yourself.

Desktops
These are for people who do not plan on needing a computer much, at work, at school, or just going out. Also, if you need power, this is the way to go, as it's easier to maintain a working computer that is very powerful with a desktop. Desktops are can be broken down into three simple categories: Nettops, Mainstream, and Gaming.
Nettops
These are basic desktop computers. Probably suitable for those who just need to use the internet, and type op papers. Definately not those looking to play anything wtih fancy 3D graphics. This is a somewhat new category. Usually these are slimline models, which are tiny, or all-in-one models. They can be very cheap to very expensive. I don't know an example for cheap, I have read I beleive that Acer or Asus has a model for around 400$, and I know expensive can be an All-in-one type of computer, like the Apple iMac or the Dell XPS One. (All-in-one is everything built into one thing, the display, and computer are one part, no tower and separate dispaly with these.). A true nettop is one that is cheap, and gets the job done, internet and office work. Don't depend on these for HD videos.
Mainstream
You were probably asking where multimedia and entertainment computers fall into. This is where they would fall into. These are powerful enough to do basic videos editing, photo editing, and for playing High Definition videos. These types make up the majority of the market right now, and are very affordable, to very expensive. Chances are, these look like the regular sized towers you are accustomed to, and are not the tiny towers you see HP selling. Also, Apple iMacs can fall into this category as well. Right now, if you're looking for a nice balance of power and price, I would go with the low end Intel quad-core computers from HP and Dell, they sell for around 800$, not bad for that price I would think.
Gaming (Performance)
These are monstorous computers in terms of sepcifications. I'm not even going to explain this if you're even reading this as you're probably not avid enough to play games on your computers. Lol. Just know the brands are usually Dell XPS/Alienware, or the HP Blackbird. Stay away from iMacs or and other Mac in general right now in terms of gaming.
However, these rigs are usually powerful enough to do a lot of video editing and photo editing. Therefore this is also known as a Performance category. The basics are, Inteo Quad-core, or Core2Duo Extreme, or if you're looking for raw power the new Core i7. AMD is decent, but if you have the change to score an Intel CPU, very much worth it. Ram will have to be at least 4GB. Hard drive must be 7200RPM, and at least 500GB. A dedicated video card is a must, the more expensive the better. Display, bigger is better, higher resolutions is a must. Understanding what I just mentioned is probably the most important thing. If you're lost in all that, stick with a mainstream and save money. These rigs can cost well over 2000$

Laptops
Laptops are easily separated by size: netbooks (anything under 13"), ultraportable(usually 12"-13.3"), mainstream(14.1"-15.4", desktop replacement. (17"+). Look for a laptop, you need to consider three things, size, heat, and battery.
Netbooks
These are definately like the nettops, but are usually damn cheap. Acer Eee, Asus AspireOne, and MSI Wind fill this category the best. HP and Dell have their own variations as well. These usually run about 300-500$. They are very tiny. If you're always on the go, and need a laptop immediately, these are the best to go with. Very easy to carry. Problems are, under powered, and crampped keyboard. These usually handle heat well, and have good battery life, up to 6 hours.
Ultraportable
These are just small laptops, and because they're small, doesn't mean they're cheap like netbooks. MacBooks and Lenovo laptops fill this ninche the best. They have enough power to run the latest OS, and are good for productivity because of their full keyboard. Good for those on the move, and need power. (Honestly I don't see the point of netbooks other than size). Usually handle heat well, and have decent battery life of around 4-5 hours.
Mainstream
This is the majority of the market. Nice balance of power and price. Can run from 450-2000$. So you got plenty of options. Everything depends on how you configure these things, or what configuration you buy with these things. Generally, battery life can go from anywhere from 2-5 hours depending on what you have, and heat and be horrible to really well. Macbook Pros (starting price for 2000$) fall in this range, as do almost everything else.
Desktop replacements
These to me are stupid, just go buy a desktop, they're cheaper. But anyways, if you're trying to see the light with these things, its for those who don't move often, and leave their laptop on a desk,, rather than their lap. These usualyl is where the power is. I won't explain this, other than their battery life is usually horrible, same with heat. Research your preferred model because it can vary from what I said.
Tablets and MIDs
Tablets are basically laptops. They're separated by size like laptops. But you can get a slate of convertible. First of all tablets let you write on the screen with a pen, or sometimes your finger. Looking for a tablet, the biggest thing that matters is the digitizer, make sure it's Wacom (unless you get the Dell tablet). Convertible tablets have a rotating screen, and look like regular laptops. Slates are just the screen and pen, no keyboard or touch pad.
MIDs, stand for Mobile Internet Device, think of the iPhone/iPod Touch, or the internet tablet from Nokia. These are used mainly just for internet access. Battery life is usually the biggest matter in these. Prices are in about the same as the netbooks. Just remember, peripherals like printers and such usualyl can't be used, and the lack of ports as well (USb and card readers). Strickly internet usually.

Parts
Just to go over what parts are what and such briefly.
CPU (Central Processing Unit) Probably the best known, but the least known about. It's the brain as almost everyone knows. Stick with Intel right now vs AMD. Intel generally in benchmarks is better than AMD, also in heat and battery for laptops. Get at least a dual-core to get some productivity. Core 2 Duos are the best bang for the buck. Ignore model numbers if you don't know what they're  for. As long as it's an Intel dual-core you should be alright. Macs are all Intel Core 2 Duos.
RAM: More the better, nuff said. DDR2 is current tech, DDR3 is next-gen stuff, which is just faster, but a lot more expensive, and you won't see these except in performance types of computers, eg, Desktop Replacements and Gaming computers. The new MacBooks all have DD3, don't think the MacBook white has it though.
Hard Drive: SATA is the new thing, don't get anything that says PATA, really old now. At least 5400RPM on laptops, and 7200RPM on desktops is good. RPM = rotations per minute. Faster means, well faster hard drive. Why the difference on laptops and desktops? 5400RPM is a good balance, because the faster the hard drive the more taxing it is on the battery.
Monitor: Biggest one is the best. Just check the brand. If you've never heard of em stay away, lol.
Video Card: For those who don't game anything integrated is good enough, as gaming is the only thing that uses the video card. Photo editing and video editing do not use the graphic card as much as you think they would. Video editingwill only use it if the video card handles it, and the software handles it. Basics stuff stick with integraded. What's integrated? Intel 4500. What's dedicated? Nvidia and ATI. You see those you should know right away.
Battery: This is a tough choice. If you want your laptop to lay flat, stick with what it comes with. The bigger the longer though. But it isn't cumulative. If you get 4 hours on a 6-cell battery, 12-cell doesn't mean you'll get 8 hours, you'll probably just get an extra hour. Bigger batteries also usually prop the laptop up for an additive passive cooling.
Operating System: Very opinionated. If you wanna stay with what most companies use, get a Windows computer, if you wanna just look cool, get a Mac. If you're in the art/fashion industry, a Mac is required as well. Macs are generally more expensive.

Hope this helps those looking for a computer this holiday. Remember to research, research, research! :D