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Laptops and desktop PCs for Grads

Some hot laptops and desktop PCs for your favorite graduate.

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
Rich Brown Former Senior Editorial Director - Home and Wellness
Rich was the editorial lead for CNET's Home and Wellness sections, based in Louisville, Kentucky. Before moving to Louisville in 2013, Rich ran CNET's desktop computer review section for 10 years in New York City. He has worked as a tech journalist since 1994, covering everything from 3D printing to Z-Wave smart locks.
Expertise Smart home, Windows PCs, cooking (sometimes), woodworking tools (getting there...)
Scott Stein Editor at Large
I started with CNET reviewing laptops in 2009. Now I explore wearable tech, VR/AR, tablets, gaming and future/emerging trends in our changing world. Other obsessions include magic, immersive theater, puzzles, board games, cooking, improv and the New York Jets. My background includes an MFA in theater which I apply to thinking about immersive experiences of the future.
Expertise VR and AR, gaming, metaverse technologies, wearable tech, tablets Credentials
  • Nearly 20 years writing about tech, and over a decade reviewing wearable tech, VR, and AR products and apps
Dan Ackerman
Rich Brown
Scott Stein
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Dell XPS 13

One of the cooler consumer/business crossover laptops we've seen, the XPS 13 will work in the classroom or meeting room, but its design is a heavy handed wink and nod to the popular MacBook Air.
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MacBook Air (13-inch)

The king of ultraportable laptops has some limitations (no DVD drive, obviously, and more limited onboard storage), but there’s simply no beating its battery life and design.
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Apple iMac 27-inch

Apple's big screen iMac is due for a refresh any week now, but assuming the new model keeps the same, gorgeous display, any new specs will seem secondary. Browsing, gaming, movie watching, and any kind of written or design-oriented productivity work are no match for the 27-inches/2,560x1,440 pixels of glory.
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Toshiba Portege Z835

No need for that first post-college (or post-high-school) laptop to look cheap, even if it's budget-minded. Toshiba's take on the ultrabook has a 128GB SSD and decent performance for around $800-$900, depending on the configuration.
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HP Envy 14 Spectre

The glass-covered Spectre is expensive, but it’s got one of the best screens we’ve ever seen, and it strikes a nice balance between full-sized laptop and ultrabook.
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Origin Chronos

We like Alienware's take on the small scale gaming desktop, but the Origin Chronos shows that for just a little bit more money, true boutique PC vendors still have the performance edge thanks to their willingness to overclock.

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