This is a great place to start for desktop reviews. New computer product lines and hardware specifications enter the market in an ongoing flurry, and it's an expensive investment to get into. Most of the time when you go into a computer retailer the employees don't really have expertise about the products and even when you scan through an online store the descriptions are pretty short. Getting a professional opinion and an in depth review of computer systems and accessories before you go shopping gives you a good map to follow when you start shopping. Often these reviews are published right at or just before the computers hit the market. Great review magazines and sites, such as Computer Shopper, CNET and PC World, often get a really good advance look at the products. They put the desktop PCs through the wringer to see how it compares and how it holds up to the ever increasing demands of computer users.

There's also a lot of word of mouth when it comes to reviewing desktop and notebook computers. Internet discussion forums cover every imaginable topic, and some really organized and comprehensive forums, like Epinions.com, are buzzing with first-hand experiences with the products. Nothing is more pertinent and meaningful than real out-of-the-box experiences with real people, and a few simple words from another buyer can amount to all the review that you need for a computer system. Perhaps the greatest feature of the open discussion forums is that you can ask your own questions and get feedback on matters that really matter to you about the hardware, compatibility, and features. There are always some details that professional reviewers don't think of or can't fit within their publishing space, but discussion forums are really unlimited. Computer critiques are fun to get into, and some small voices can say some big things.