New PC Purchasing: Navigating the Confusing Tech Terrain

Lori Jantulovich stands in the middle of Best Buy’s computer section, flagging down a sales clerk. She’s trying to buy a laptop for her nephew. “I have no clue,” she says. Jantulovich, 51, is surrounded by displays touting the merits of dozens of similar-looking PCs. “Superior performance with 3 GB of system memory,” one says. “Powerful discrete graphics,” another advertises. “Blazing fast performance with a next-generation Intel Core 2 Duo Processor.” “On-the-go multi-tasking.” “Limitless performance and response.”