For the federal government’s cybersecurity posture, 2023 will be the year of resilience. Agencies should build resilience because of the dire consequences that are possible in the wake of a successful attack. This is especially urgent as cyberattacks are becoming more powerful and more prevalent.

A accurate FortiGuard Labs report shows that as cybercrime converges with advanced persistent threat methods, cybercriminals are finding ways to weaponize new technologies at scale to enable more disruption and destruction. That means threats of all kinds are becoming increasingly ubiquitous.

Agency cyber teams can take on this challenge by focusing on several actionable ideas to make sure resiliency becomes—and remains—the focus moving forward. From tactical advice like building a common operating picture of threatening activity across the network to more organizational ideas like workforce education and building institutional muscle memory, there are manageable ways for agencies to support organizational resilience.

Any Network Can Be at Risk

The reality of the situation is that adversaries only have to find one weakness while defenders have to protect everything to avoid one weakness being found. In addition, people are involved in cyber defense at many stages of the attack chain. But the attackers are humans too—they typically try and fail repeatedly before penetrating their target. These successes are detectable, and agencies can potentially block an activity before it succeeds at the point of attack and globally

To put this all into perspective, the goal of federal agencies shouldn’t be to eliminate any chance of compromise—that’s impossible—but rather to minimize the risk of compromise while also preventing a prospective compromise from becoming a disaster.

Building Resilience in an Organization

Creating organizational resilience is just as important as the technical tools you deploy. That means working together with the same mindset to achieve an agency’s cyber goals. Integrating cyber practices across a whole department or agency is the only way to make sure every aspect of the network is covered.

Actions to achieve this goal include:

• Building a common operating picture of threatening activity across the network.
• Driving response—ideally an integrated response—across the network.
• Zero trust is key. It must be coupled with organizations thinking about response not only at the SOC level, but at the enterprise level.

Cybersecurity building blocks that support organizational resilience:

Beyond the organizational work, there are also cyber-specific tasks that agencies can initiate to make sure resilience becomes foundational. These actions, done over and over, will instill in the whole workforce what it takes to stand up a strong cyber posture.

• Take advantage of threat intelligence. Few organizations produce it, but all can benefit from it.
• Educate your workforce on how they’re as much part of an agency’s cyber poster as the IT team.
• Deploy AI and ML solutions. These technologies will streamline threat detection and response.
• Fight as you train. That means testing and building muscle memory in real time, while under threat.  

Integrate Security Products

It’s crucial to have your cyber software working together, in concert, to keep agency networks safer. Integrating these solutions will lead to many benefits, including:

• Faster visibility into security threats throughout the network.
• An integrated response to prevent threats from spreading to other areas of the network.
• A reduction in manual work related to system updates and policy changes.
• A more cost-effective way of defending against attacks­—which will also be crucial in 2023 if the economy slips into recession.

While integrating cyber solutions is key, most companies—save for the very biggest—lack the resources to build those integrations from scratch. But there is a way around this challenge.

Instead of taking integration all in one chunk, build a security ecosystem on two or three product groups that you know play well together and will be easy to implement as an integrated architecture. Plug and play options can be a good bet. Think of it this way: You don’t want to have to re-wire the house every time you need to add a new light.

It’s a challenging time for federal agencies trying to ward off increasingly dangerous and frequent attacks. But there are ways to build a resilient cyber posture that both helps in the short term, and also sets up the government with a long-term foundation to build upon. The steps above outline a process that is easily manageable and highly affective.

Steve Hoffman is the president of Fortinet Federal.

The Best Discounts at HP

With a wide variety of laptops, desktop PCs, Chromebooks, and printers, HP is always running some kind of sale. HP coupon codes are often specific to a category, such as laptops or accessories, but a sitewide promo code may be available. 

Check this page for the best promotion codes available. Seasonal sales, such as the HP Black Friday sale, Cyber Monday, and Back-to-School, are when you see some of the deepest discounts. Some good promotions we have seen are below:

• 10-33% off using our HP coupon codes.
• Winter Savings of up to 59% on laptops and tech.
• Up to 50% off printer ink with an Instant Ink subscription.
• Sitewide discounts on Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
• Up to 40% off for military, healthcare, first responders, students, and educators.
• Up to 40% off for AAA members.

Shop Weekly Deals

For the hottest discount on all-in-one printers, laptops, desktops, Windows software, and more, the HP Weekly Deals section is here to help. Browse the latest deals to view rebates and save up to 50% on select products with the latest technology. 

There's no need to wait for upcoming sale events for laptop deals. You're guaranteed to land a stellar product at a low price when you check weekly. On top of these weekly deals, HP coupons, promo codes, and other offers can be used to save even more on your new laptop or PC. 

Score Discounts on Ready-to-Ship PCs

Laptops, desktops, and Chromebooks are usually customizable before purchasing at HP. But, a great way to save money is to buy ready-to-ship computers with pre-configured specifications, such as memory and storage drive sizes. Discounts can be as high as $700 off the original retail price.

These models ship directly from HP's warehouse and have free priority shipping. You can shop by category, including laptops for business and workstations. Printers, monitors, and accessories are also on sale in this section. If you are looking for a quick deal, this is a good area to shop for some of HP's lowest prices on its computers and other technologies.

Stay Ahead of Savings With HP's Newsletter

When you sign up for HP's email newsletter, you'll be notified when new sales and promotions go live on its website. You will be notified of new coupon codes available to get a good discount on a laptop or desktop PC. Special sales or promo codes will occasionally be offered exclusively to email subscribers.

Some customers may also receive up to $20 off their first purchase. However, this promotion is only sometimes available. If eligible, you will be emailed an exclusive code after you sign up and confirm your email registration. You can unsubscribe at any time. 

How to Use Promo Codes at HP

The easiest way to certain a discount on your next laptop, Chromebook, or printer is to take advantage of available coupons. When you find an ideal HP coupon code on our site that you want to use, applying it is a simple process. Follow these steps to use your promo code:

1. Click on the HP coupon you want to use and go to the site. 
2. Shop for the laptop, computer, or technology you need. 
3. Paste the code in the "Coupon Code" box in the cart.
4. Hit "Apply" to get your discount and checkout.

Sitewide Free Shipping

HP offers free shipping sitewide for all its products at no minimum price. It's essentially an automatic free shipping discount! Standard delivery is five to seven days, and faster options are available for an extra fee. Some offers, such as ready-to-ship items and ink, are eligible for express and priority shipping, which arrives in one to two days.

Returns are also free. If you need to return a laptop or a printer to HP, you can submit your return form on the website, download the prepaid shipping labels, and return your item by dropping it off at a local FedEx office. Returns must be made within 30 days of purchase, and a 15% restocking fee may apply.

Ink Delivered to Your Door

With the HP Instant Ink replacement, your printer will automatically order ink when you're low, and the company will ship it right to you! You'll never have to worry about running out of ink again, and with five plans to choose from, you can save up to 50% off ink and toner.

Get larger cartridges to avoid constant replacement, simple recycling, no annual fees, free shipping, and HP drivers to make all its printers easily compatible; this deal is a no-brainer. Just purchase an eligible printer, sign up, and instantly get $10 in credits! 

Refer a Friend for 3 Months of Free Ink

To help save money on printing, HP offers an instant ink program that allows you to subscribe to an ink plan for as low as $0.99 per month, depending on how frequent your printing needs are. Plans range up to $24.99 monthly and include free shipping on ink or toner and prepaid recycling.  

If you are a member of the plan, you can get three months free if you recommend the Instant Ink program to a friend. This offer counts for every friend you successfully get to sign up for the program. They will also get three months for free just for signing up through your link.

Join the Rewards Program 

Looking for an even better way to maximize your purchase? Look no further than the HP rewards program! As a member, you can get up to 3% back on every eligible purchase by earning 1 point for every dollar you spend. Collect your HP rewards points and use them to purchase any qualifying rewards product. 

Registering is easy; create an account by providing your name and email address, and you instantly receive 100 points just for becoming a member! Shortly after joining, you will receive an email detailing your benefits and any membership information you need to know to get started. 

Business Club Discounts

If you're looking to start your own business, there's no better way to save than by joining the HP Business Club. Signing up allows you to receive personalized deals on products and HP bundles. Take advantage of free shipping and insider discounts on a wide selection of tech products as an HP Business member. 

While you'll save plenty with every order, the more you shop using your business membership, the higher you'll climb in Business Club tiers and the more perks you'll receive. Hop on the website to register for free and unlock endless benefits to help you succeed with your business in no time. 

The HP Trade-In Program

When your HP spectre x360, envy x360, omen, or EliteBook reaches the end of its life, there's an easy solution to keeping the environment safe and upgrading to a new PC. HP's repair, reuse, and recycling programs are in place to ensure everything is repurposed. 

Recycle your old products at HP, trade them in for credit towards new products, return them for cash, or allow them to completely erase the data from your device before it begins anew. Check online for specific information on recycling unwanted items.

Bundle Accessories and Save

When you bundle accessories at HP, you can potentially save money. If you shop the accessory bundles section of the website, you can find discounts up to $160 off the original retail price, sometimes more. The prices of these items will be higher if you buy them individually. This includes dual-monitor packages, monitors with keyboards, USB hubs, and more. 

HP gaming bundles are also available that include LED-backlit keyboards, headphones, and microphones. If you need to round out your purchase of a new laptop or computer, check out this section for any special promotions on accessory bundles that will help you save money.

Black Friday and Seasonal Sales

There's nothing quite like the savings you'll see during the HP Black Friday and Cyber Monday sale in November. Black Friday is one of the biggest discount events of the year and the perfect time to get a new computer or purchase gifts for the coming holiday season, but it doesn't stop there. 

HP seasonal sales will be live for Labor Day, Memorial Day, the 4th of July, and other special occasions like the After Christmas sale. Annual sales are released throughout the year. You're guaranteed to get whatever you're shopping for at a better price with our help. We're always uploading new laptop coupons and tracking down the hottest deals for your convenience.

Students and Teachers Get a Discount

Students and teachers at colleges and universities can get up to 40% off computers and more when they join and shop at the HP Education store. Registration requires a valid and verifiable .edu email. They will also receive free shipping and free returns. Sign-up for the program is free; registration only takes a few minutes.

Eligible members can shop for tailored deals and offers on a private section of the site. Here they can view special discounts and bundles on laptops, Chromebooks, printers, monitors, and convertible laptop tablets such as the HP Envy x360. Dedicated support is also available to students and teachers. 

Discounts for Military, Healthcare, and First Responders

HP offers up to 40% off for healthcare workers, first responders, and both veterans and active members of the military. Spouses and immediate family members of the military are also eligible. These discounts can secure a great deal on a new computer or laptop.

The process to determine your eligibility is simple. You verify your status through ID.me, a third-party company that verifies digital identities. Once verified, you can access exclusive deals and offers targeted to your profession at the HP Frontline Heroes Store. 

AAA Members Get a Discount

If you are a current member of AAA (American Automobile Association), you can get the same discount available to employees. This offer gets you up to 40% off a new laptop, computer, printer, and more. All you need to do is register in the HP Employee Purchase Program (EPP).

Once your account is verified, you can shop this special section for promotions and offers only available to members of the HP EPP. Shipping is free on most items, and both consumer and business-oriented product lines are available, whether it's an HP Pavilion desktop PC or a high-end Spectre x360 convertible laptop. 

Previous HP Promo Codes

© Provided by Digital Trends HP Laptop 14

Often a leader when it comes to laptop deals, Best Buy has a great offer on a super cheap HP 14-inch laptop. Usually priced at $200, this HP 14-inch laptop is down to $180 for a limited time only as part of the Best Buy Memorial Day sale. Now you might be thinking how that’s ‘only’ $20 off but when you consider this laptop is already only $200, that 10% discount adds up fast. Making it more affordable for many on a tight budget, let’s take a look at why it’s worth it, or you can simply hit the buy button below.

Buy Now

There’s no denying this HP 14-inch laptop is fairly basic. It’s well-suited for web browsing or typing up documents via Google Docs or similar, but we wouldn’t count on it for anything slightly demanding. It has an Intel Celeron processor along with 4GB of memory and 64GB of eMMC storage so it’s pretty basic in every way. Running Windows 11 Home in S mode means it can cope with simple activities while its 14-inch HD display at least offers BrightView technology to make things look better.

Fortunately, those other little attentions to detail are evident elsewhere as a reminder that HP is one of the best laptop brands at the moment, even if this particular model isn’t one of the best laptops. It offers up to 11 hours and 30 minutes of battery life when playing back video, while you get up to 9 hours of wireless streaming. There’s also HP Fast Charge support so you get back up to 50% charge in about 45 minutes. A HP True Vision HD 720p HD camera is useful for taking video calls with integrated dual array digital microphones ensuring you’re clear when speaking. The HP 14z Laptop may not wow you for anything more than the basics, but when you’re looking for a bigger screen (and a Windows-based experience) compared to a tablet or phone, this will suffice.

This HP 14-inch laptop is typically priced at $200 but right now, you can buy it for $180 at Best Buy as part of its Memorial Day sales. The $20 soon adds up when you’re looking at devices in this price range. If you need to keep costs low as possible, tap the buy button below to make a purchase.

Buy Now

If you’re shopping for a printer, you’ve likely come across HP’s Envy Inspire 7955e all-in-one printer in your research. It offers high-quality photo printing, fast document printing, flexible scanning, and more at a low price.

It’s become a staple of the remote work and small office world, but I wanted to test it out myself to see if it really lived up to the hype, looking through the design details, print performance, special features, and software to find out if it’s a good value at the current price. Spoiler alert: it’s every bit as solid as you may have heard.

Design

HP’s Envy Inspire has an attractive but functional design with a soft, off-white body and light beige accents. It will fit in nicely in most home office environments.

Since it’s an all-in-one printer, it stands taller than a print-only model but doesn’t seem overly large or obtrusive. The dimensions are 18.1-by-15.1-by- 9.2 inches, and the weight is 18 pounds.

It includes a 2.7-inch color touchscreen that makes accessing various functions simple without a mobile app or computer. The most useful of these is the copy button. One touch is all it takes to start a color copy, first scanning, then printing.

HP has been making printers nearly forever, long before the internet existed. That means little details have been refined to perfection. Inserting ink cartridges is easy, and directions are clearly marked inside the device.

Notes and marks on the printer indicate how to load paper for printing, how to use flatbed and feeder scanning and adjust guides on each to accommodate different paper sizes.

For example, when adding paper, there are icons of documents and envelopes as a reminder the side to be printed should face down. That’s important when using photo paper and other specialty paper.

Printing performance

The print quality of the HP Envy Inspire 7955e is fantastic when using high-quality HP paper. It’s hard to tell in the photo above, but the printed photo matched what I saw onscreen. Even on multipurpose paper, details are crisp.

High-brightness photo paper provides more range with brighter whites and more accurate blacks. Photo paper also yields more intense colors, while less expensive sheets still give accurate tones with less vibrancy.

A dedicated tray for small, picture-sized prints accepts 5-by-5, 4-by-6, and 5-by-7-inch photo papers. The main paper tray can hold up to 8.5-by-14-inch legal paper, standard letter-sized paper, envelopes, and various other sizes.

Unless you are planning high-volume printing or selling your prints, this is more than good enough.

The ink dries quickly and doesn’t spread even with standard paper. I didn’t need to play with settings to get good results, and everything I printed came out looking great on my first try.

For documents, fonts are sharp and legible, even when printing gray text. No banding or other issues arose. The HP Envy Inspire 7955e outputs up to 15 black-and-white pages per minute (PPM), more than enough for casual and home office use. Color speed is up to 10 PPM.

Unless you are planning high-volume printing or selling your prints, the speed, and quality should be more than good enough.

Special features

Beyond printing, the HP Envy Inspire 7955e is a great scanner and copier. Scanning the entire flatbed (a little larger than a letter-sized page) at 300 dpi takes about 20 seconds.

The mobile app has a multi-item scan mode that automatically crops and individually saves several photos scanned at once. There’s also a document feeder that accepts up to 35 pages. It runs slower but allows you to step away while several sheets are scanned, saving time overall.

Optical character recognition, which HP calls text-extract mode, is one of the few problem areas. OCR seems prone to small errors that make editing time-consuming. You’ll want a third-party OCR app if you anticipate an ongoing need to turn scanned documents into editable text.

The HP Smart mobile app also has a fax feature that’s currently free. HP notes that this is a trial, so there may be a charge for faxing in the future. If so, HP will alert you to the change in terms.

Software and compatibility

Installing software and setting up this printer was incredibly easy. Within minutes I had an iPhone, iPad, Windows PC, Android phone, Chromebook, and MacBook connected and functioning. It doesn’t get any simpler than this.

I unpacked the HP Envy Inspire 7955e and plugged it in. The packaging instructed me to install the app. The app asked me to sign in or create an HP account, then it told me how to install the ink cartridges and connect to the printer, all from my phone.

You can use a USB cable (not included) to connect, but Wi-Fi makes more sense and allows you to place the printer wherever it’s most convenient. This is a very quiet printer, but I put it in the secondary bedroom because I had extra space available.

The software is generally outstanding, and most things just work, being easy or automatic. When I looked for borderless printing on the iPhone app, I couldn’t find it, but it’s relatively simple to enable on Android or a computer. Printing from Windows, macOS, or Android yielded the edge-to-edge result I expected.

You can print through the HP Smart mobile app or your operating system’s standard print system. You might need to install a print service, but HP guided me through the process quickly and without any issues.

One minor complaint about the software is uncertainty about ink levels. The app shows a bar for black and color ink, which lowers as the ink is used, but doesn’t quantify that with a percentage or estimate of how many pages you can print. HP+ offers an Instant Ink subscription that removes any concerns about running out.

The price is right

The HP Envy Inspire 7955e retails for $220, a bargain for such a capable printer. HP and third-party sellers have sales periodically to bring the cost even lower. If you aren’t that particular and just want a printer that is cheap but good, we have a comprehensive list of the best cheap printer deals.

Ink supplies are always important with a printer, particularly a color inkjet. As usual, the black ink included lasts a long time, and the indicator barely drops after printing several pages.

Each color print takes a toll on the starter color cartridge that’s included. I got four full-page color prints and seven 4-by-6 photo prints, some set to the best quality, before getting a warning to replace the tri-color ink cartridge.

You can still print when that happens, but the colors could be off. Several prints featured blues and greens, so pink flowers came out nicely, but green leaves muted with the partially empty cartridge. Still, it’s nice to have the option to print even after the warning.

Thankfully, the HP Envy Inspire 7955e includes a six-month Instant Ink subscription with HP+. Immediately after creating an HP account and entering my shipping and billing details, a black and a tri-color cartridge shipped.

The idea is that ink ships before you need it so you don’t run out. If you want to take advantage of the offer of six months of free ink, sign up immediately so more ink will arrive before the limited color cartridge runs out.

After the six-month Instant Ink bonus, you’ll be billed according to your estimated usage. If you need ink faster or slower, you can adjust your plan.

The service ships more cartridges when you need them. Presumably, HP will alert you if you need to upgrade your plan based on usage. Changes can be made monthly. HP also says ink costs are up to 50% less than buying HP cartridges off-plan.

Is this the printer for you?

The ink comes in a black cartridge and a tri-color cartridge. If your color prints average out to use roughly the same amount of cyan, magenta, and yellow, you’ll enjoy the best value. HP makes its printers energy-efficient and eco-friendly and that’s worth consideration.

A printer with individual ink cartridges for each primary color will be more efficient if you favor particular colors. I’m more likely to print nature photos that feature greens and blues with pops of reddish tones. As expected, I ran out of cyan and yellow faster than magenta. That’s a little thing, but it can add up over time.

The HP Envy Inspire 7955e is a wonderful printer, and it very well may be exactly what you’re looking for.

Editors' Recommendations

Modern laptops and tablets may be great for those on the move, but you just can't beat the power and efficiency of a desktop computer. Only one-fifth of computers sold these days are desktops, but once you see what the right desktop has to offer, you'll realize they're worth considering. 

The best feature of most desktop PCs is their upgradability and longevity. Not only are desktops built more solidly, but they suffer far less wear and tear than a conventional laptop. You can often get a decent bit more power and expandability than you could from a laptop, including higher-end graphics cards and more storage options. That processor power and storage potential are particularly crucial if you're planning to use your personal computer as a gaming PC or a graphics-editing powerhouse. 

A desktop computer is generally going to come in the form of either a tower or an all-in-one (with an integrated screen), though there are smaller designs (sometimes called "small form factor PCs") like the Mac Mini for tighter spaces. 

Though laptops still occupy the majority of our editors' time and effort with CNET's hands-on reviews, we've rounded up accurate products to bring you our top desktop computer options, listed below. This list starts with models we've tested, and then moves on to more general configuration suggestions that we haven't specifically tested, but  the specs listed should deliver considerable value for the price, based on our experience with similarly configured PCs. 

Unless otherwise indicated, the products listed below don't include a monitor, keyboard, mouse or webcam. You'll need to bring your own or buy them separately. We'll update this best desktop computer list periodically.

Best desktop computers of 2023

These are the best desktop PC models that we've recently tested and can recommend based on our hands-on experience.

Other recommended desktop PCs

We haven't reviewed the specific models below, but we have reviewed systems using very similar hardware. These general configurations should serve you well, especially if you shop around for frequent deals.

Basic Windows PC tower (starting around $620)

The specs we'd suggest for a basic Windows 11 machine:

• Intel Core i5 (12th  or 13th-gen) or AMD Ryzen 5 (3000 or 5000 series)
• Default integrated graphics (such as Intel UHD or Iris or baseline AMD Radeon)
• 512GB or larger NVMe SSD drive
  
• 16GB of RAM or more 
  
• Four or more USB 3.1 or 3.2 ports with USB-C and USB-A formats (at least one or two on the front)
  
• Wi-Fi and Bluetooth wireless
  
• At least one PCI-E (x16) expansion slot (for adding a video card)
  
• Optional: DVD or Blu-ray optical drive (only if you need it for legacy software or media)
  

With those specs in mind, you should be able to find a good PC tower from brands like Dell, Acer, Asus or HP for between $500 and $600. Here are some that fit the bill, offering a great bang for the buck if you don't need a laptop:

Acer Aspire TC-895-UA92 (under $650)
Aside from a slightly older 10th-gen Intel Core i5 CPU, this configuration otherwise includes everything listed above, along with Wi-Fi 6 compatibility and a keyboard and mouse, too. 

HP Pavilion Desktop TP01-2040 (under $700)
This system offers a capable AMD Ryzen 5 CPU, and HP throws in a mouse and keyboard.

PC tower for light gaming and creative duties (starting around $900)

Want to do some PC gaming, or do you spend time editing photos or video? You'll want to level up the preceding configuration with more RAM and better graphics options. Expect price points to be between $800 and $1,200 -- and even higher if you go for a more bleeding-edge video card.

• Nvidia GTX/RTX or AMD Radeon RX graphics card (GPU)
• 16GB of RAM or more
• 350-watt (or more) power supply

Looking for a gaming computer with more muscle? Check out our list of best gaming PCs.

HP Pavilion Gaming Desktop (under $1,000)
This HP rig boasts an 11th-generation and Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 GPU and 16GB of RAM. 

Basic Windows All-in-One (starts around $800)

An "all-in-one PC" (also known as AIO PC) is basically a Windows version of an iMac. That means the PC "guts" are essentially built into a monitor or its base. Unlike the PC towers listed above, all-in-ones generally offer no ability to upgrade the graphics card, and maybe not even the storage or RAM. The advantage is having fewer cables, however, since everything is integrated into the body.

Recommended specs for an all-in-one are mostly similar to the basic tower above, albeit with compromises because of space considerations. Don't expect an optical drive, for instance, and know that performance is often a step down from "real" desktop models because some all-in-ones use laptop components to better maximize available space. You'll want a large screen with good resolution. The sweet spots we'd suggest are:

• 24 inches at 1,920x1,080 pixels (aka 2K or 1080p)
• 27 inches at 2,560x1,440 pixels (aka 1440p)
• 32 inches at 3,840x2,160 pixels (aka 4K)

The 24-inchers are good for kids, but adults should probably go for 27 inches and up. Expect to pay at least $800 at that latter size, especially if you want to avoid underpowered Intel Core i3 or AMD Athlon CPUs. The HP Envy 32/34 and Apple iMacs are examples of high end all-in-one computers, but here's a more reasonably priced alternative.

Acer Aspire C27-962-UA91 (starts around $600; low stock) 
While the screen on this Acer Aspire model is a spacious 27 inches, resolution is only 1080p (also known as full HD) -- but that's par for the course below $1,000. This model also lacks a DVD drive and USB-C ports. That said, you get a 10th-gen Intel Core i5 CPU, on-board Nvidia MX graphics (not as good as a GTX or RTX card, but better than average), 512GB of SSD storage and a built-in webcam (along with a keyboard and mouse).

HP All-in-ones (Update: Temporarily Out of Stock) 

Back in early 2020, we reviewed the HP Envy 32, a Windows take on the basic iMac design. At that time, it had somewhat dated specs: a ninth-gen Intel CPU and a spinning hard drive backing up the 256GB solid-state drive. The 32-inch model appears to have been discontinued, but HP maintains a stable of current models in 22- to 27-inch screen sizes, with a new $2,000 34-inch HP Envy 34 now living at the top of the line.

What about a Mac Pro?

While you're paying a big premium for the Apple name, an iMac is generally a great option for Apple fans who want an all-in-one computer with a superior display. And now that the 24-inch iMac has gotten a nice overhaul, complete with the M1 chip, that's a great starting point. And while the 27-inch iMac is no more, the new Mac Studio starts at $2,000, and offers some serious power, especially if you ramp up to the M1 Ultra chipset. 

Need even more power? While Apple has a Mac Pro living at the top of its desktop line, the current model is an aging Intel design, which the company has already pledged to replace with an Apple Silicon version. If the Mac Studio can't handle your high-end Apple needs, we'd strongly recommend steering clear of the Mac Pro until that new version hits. 

Chromebox, Mini PCs and other niche options

When it comes to desktop PCs, towers and all-in-ones represent the vast majority of the market. There are alternatives, but in the 2020s, they generally represent increasingly narrow slices of that market.

Mini PCs: Following the debut of the Mac Mini in 2005, Windows PC makers experimented with similarly tiny designs. In the wake of likable small models like the Acer Revo One and HP Pavilion Mini, we even saw (woefully underpowered) "PC on a stick" offerings starting in 2015, but interest seems to have ebbed since then. Outside of specialty vendors like Beelink, the best choices in this mini PC size are probably the Intel NUC (Next Unit of Computing), most of which are sold as hobbyist options, requiring some BYO additions like user-supplied storage, RAM and other components -- including the operating system. See more bare-bones Mini PCs at Newegg.

Chromeboxes: If you're looking for very basic computing -- browsing the web, email, social media, YouTube and the like -- the Chrome operating system is the most affordable route for home computing. This Google operating system effectively is little more than the Chrome web browser. That makes it easy for multiple users (only a Gmail address is needed to log in), and -- because there's no heavy operating system beyond the browser -- viruses aren't really an issue. Colloquially known as "Chromeboxes" (versus a "Chromebook" laptop), these systems don't have beefy CPUs, RAM or storage requirements. That said, if you need any software beyond browser-based web apps, or if you don't have excellent broadband, you'll want to stick with Windows or Mac options above. Now, before you spend any money, you should check out the free version of the operating system known as ChromeOS Flex, which you can install on most old PCs (including running it from an attached USB drive). But if that's not an option and you want to buy new, expect to pay between $200 and $500 for a Chrome-based desktop. However, the closer you get to that $500 price point, the more you should consider stepping up to a Chromebook laptop or a basic Windows tower (see above) for just a bit more. See Chromebox options at Newegg.

Linux PCs: No, Windows, Mac and ChromeOS are not your only operating system options. There's a wide world of Linux operating systems out there, many of which are effectively free. You can get PCs with Linux preinstalled, but the better, more affordable option is probably installing it (or dual-booting) on a used Windows PC. See Linux PC options at Newegg.

Raspberry Pi: You may have heard of a small computer that's no bigger than a paperback book, and can be had for about $150. That's the Raspberry Pi, and it's 100% real and very cool -- if you're a hobbyist looking to build your own Lego-style computer and install your own custom Linux operating systems. We just wouldn't recommend it as a primary computer if you're looking to run mainstream software. See the Raspberry Pi 4 kit at Amazon.