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Real-world PCs for new grads

Ready for the real world, or at least graduate school? These laptops and desktops are fun but functional.

Dan Ackerman
Dan Ackerman leads CNET's coverage of computers and gaming hardware. A New York native and former radio DJ, he's also a regular TV talking head and the author of "The Tetris Effect" (Hachette/PublicAffairs), a non-fiction gaming and business history book that has earned rave reviews from the New York Times, Fortune, LA Review of Books, and many other publications. "Upends the standard Silicon Valley, Steve Jobs/Mark Zuckerberg technology-creation myth... the story shines." -- The New York Times
Dan Ackerman
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1 of 6 Sarah Tew

Toshiba Satellite P55t

This 15.6-inch clamshell features a 3,840x2,160 native resolution, the same found on the current generation of big screen 4K televisions, which should be of great interest to students of film, video, and photography.

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2 of 6 Sarah Tew

Razer Blade 14 (14-inch, 2014)

A sleek gaming laptop that doesn't look like it belongs in a dorm room, the new Razer Blade 14 includes a stunning 3,200x1,800 touch screen, along with an Intel Core i7 CPU and Nvidia GeForce 870M GPU, all in a slim, lightweight package.

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3 of 6

Toshiba Kirabook

A graduation gift that feels like a premium step up from whatever you were using at school, the Kirabook's thin, light body is made of a magnesium alloy, which is both lighter and stronger than aluminum, and the desktop footprint is noticeably smaller than the 13-inch MacBook Air or Pro.

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4 of 6

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon

A grown-up laptop with just enough style, the X1 Carbon will fit in at any job or internship, while still fitting in at the coffee shop.

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5 of 6 Sarah Tew/CNET

Apple Mac Pro

The Mac Pro is a consumer extravagance, but its ability to handle professional tasks, especially as it relates to the growing field of 4K video, is unmatched.

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6 of 6 Sarah Tew/CNET

Dell XPS 18

Thanks to its light weight and portability, the Dell XPS 18 is probably the most useful of the current crop of tabletop PCs, and it's fun for playing touch-friendly games. Rather than a built-in kickstand, it uses a heavy dock that stays anchored to the table (and that acts as a charging base), allowing you to pick up the tablet part and walk away easily.

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