Computer Hardware

Today, sleek, lightweight mobile computing devices grace the palms and laps of many modern computer users. But back in the '70s, "portable computer" had a very different meaning.

By Shanna Freeman

Hard drives are getter bigger and bigger, capacity-wise. But do you really need terabytes' worth of space? We'll ponder optimal hard drive size in this article.

By Kate Kershner

Does the name Sequoia ring a bell with you? How about Mira, or Tianhe-2? If you're not up on the latest supercomputer news, those words may mean nothing, but they're major players when it comes to petaflops.

By Wesley Fenlon & Bernadette Johnson

We know your digital life is important to you --all those apps, files, photos and music. But here's the 50-million-dollar question: Is a solid-state drive or a hard disk drive the right technology for the job?

By William Harris

With loads of pricey tablets hitting the market, it might seem a bit much to throw lots of cash at the latest cool gadget. SVP Tablets offer touch-screen slates for a budget price, but how well do its features rack up?

By Laurie L. Dove

Supercomputers are the whiz kids of the computing world – they're the fastest, most powerful machines around. Find out what they're used for – and what makes them so "super" – in this article.

By Kate Kershner

With a global shortage of capable programmers, the Raspberry Pi may be the device that gets us back to computing basics. And that's a very good thing. Did we mention it only costs about $25?

By Bernadette Johnson

Without hardware, even the best software ever created is useless. What components do you need to have assembled before you can boot up and start clicking?

By Wesley Fenlon

There are hardware upgrades that can extend the useful life of your current computer without completely draining your account or relegating yet another piece of machinery to a landfill. Which upgrades are the best for your needs and your budget?

By Bernadette Johnson

From the moment we started storing stuff on computers, we quickly realized that we needed more and more space. Virtual hard drives are the latest stage in digital data storage's evolution.

By Kate Kershner

Today's mobile, sleek computers have come a long way since their comparatively clunky predecessors first debuted. Given how fast technology evolves, is there a way to protect your PC from becoming obsolete?

By Kate Kershner

Amazon's Kindle Fire is more than just an e-book reader. In fact, the device became the best-selling Android tablet on the market not long after its introduction. What sets this inexpensive tablet apart?

By Jonathan Strickland

Amazon's Kindle Fire and the Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet are both inexpensive, and offer a wealth of content options for customers. Although they're very similar, each has subtle advantages. Which would you choose?

By Jonathan Strickland

With their budget-friendly offerings, Nextbook tablets are another player in the tablet PC game. We'll check out their specs and features and show you how they compare to other low-priced tablets on the market.

By Nathan Chandler

A MID is a small, highly portable gadget that allows us to get on the Web to check e-mail, update our social networking sites of choice, play games and locate ourselves on a map, among many other things. But what devices can be considered MIDs?

By Bernadette Johnson

Before it hit store shelves, the iPad 3 had generated a lot of hype thanks to its Retina display and more-powerful processor. But are those features worth trading in your old tablet to pick up a third-generation iPad?

By Jonathan Strickland

Le Pan tablets may not have the power and speed of the industry-leading iPad, but it offers access to the Android app store and a host of other features. What can it do for you?

By Ed Grabianowski

While the name Sylvania might instantly make you think of light bulbs, the company is in the tablet business too. What features set their tablet apart from the rest?

By Caitlin Uttley

The perennial quest for the all-in-one computing device turns up another tablet, but this time it's affordable. Curious yet?

By Nicholas Gerbis

Ematic makes a host of Android tablets that won't break the bank. But what do they offer at such a low price? We'll tell you.

By Terri Briseno

Wacom tablets aren't your average tablet PCS. They're pen tablets that allow artistic professionals and hobbyists alike to capture their art in a digital fashion.

By Kate Kershner

The gadget Razer showed off at CES 2012 was eye-popping and a little mind-boggling. Could a tablet-style computer with attached controllers really appeal to gamers?

By Wesley Fenlon

Craig Electronics markets a range of discount tablets, many for less than $100. We'll tell you about a few of them.

By Terri Briseno

If you're looking for a cheap tablet that does the basics, the Polaroid's probably your device. What can you expect out of this tablet computer?

By Patrick J. Kiger

Although many people use tablet PCs primarily for playing games and surfing the Web, Lenovo's ThinkPad tablet is all business.

By Nathan Chandler