LifeHacker Simplifies Your Computer Buying Needs

"Buying or building a computer used to be a little simpler, since the goal was to get a machine with as much power as you could afford. Nowadays most CPUs are exceptionally fast, and even a low-end processor will still net you a pretty fast machine. Instead, the more important choices you need to make have more to do with every other component."

The guide LifeHacker has put together is very simple, with few concrete choices, however, if you are in the market for a new computer, compiling a list of your desires is a good way to crystalize what you want and help make a more solid choice.  Models for desktops and notebooks change so frequently and the variations within particular models vary so much thar reccomending something specific is almost futile anyways.  For the most general of user, however, I almost believe that the grand majority of computers out there will suit their needs and the major decision is what form factor to go with.  Do you want a desktop, notebook, netbook or slate?  If you are a more advanced user, chances are you already know a great deal more about computers than what is revealed in the guide and would tend to cherry pick your own device.  What is important to you when you buy a computer?