When it comes to buying a desktop for business purposes, the criteria are markedly different. For one, the bling of appearance and audio-visual features become rather irrelevant. Instead, you should focus on the power, memory, safety and convenience of usage. A business desktop will be used primarily for storing data, handling e-mail accounts, creating software programs, developing spreadsheets etc. The important factors is that most of these things will be done all at once. Hence, an efficient business desktop must have the raw power to sustain a lot of multitasking. If you want to make an intelligent choice, forget about external features and focus on the internal specs of a desktop.

Based on these criteria, we have put together a list of the best desktop PCs for business:

1. Dell Vostro 470 – The Dell Vostro 470 is probably the most powerful business PC in the market as of now. It ships with a quad-core, 3.4 GHz Intel Core i7 processor, 8GB RAM and as many as 10 USB ports, divided between 2.0 and 3.0. It also comes with Intel’s Hyper Threading Technology which makes multi-tasking a pleasure on this desktop. All this, coupled with Windows 7 Professional OS, makes for an unbeatable combination.

2. Lenovo ThinkCentre M91P – The Lenovo ThinkCentre is a series of desktops designed primarily for business enterprises. The M91P boasts of a dual core 2.7GHz processor, 4GB RAM, 500GB hard drive and 64-bit Windows 7 Professional OS. It has 8 USB ports, two in the front and six at the back. Additionally, it comes with a display port, gigabite ethernet and many other peripherals.

3. Apple iMac – The Apple iMac is truly an exception in the world of business PCs since it packs performance with good looks. The sleek and suave appearance is backed by solid performance as well. The iMac ships with a 3.06 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Processor, 4GB memory and 500Gb hard drive. The Mac Snow Leopard OS is ideal for business users and the multi-touch mouse and wireless keyboard add to the ease of use.

4. HP Z220 CMT Work Station – This desktop is another powerhouses when it comes to raw performance. Thanks to its 3.06 GHz Intel Xeon processor, the desktop functions smoothly without any glitches even when you run a lot of programs simultaneously. Other specifications are just as impressive – 8GB RAM and 1GB Nvidia graphic card. Additionally, it has all the external USB and HDMI slots you will ever need to get professional work done.

According to the CEOs of Seagate and Western Digital, two of the leading hard drive manufacturers in the world, they have finally been able to bring production back up to pre-flood levels, meeting – and even exceeding – consumer demand. What this means for pricing is still up in the air.

Effects of the Shortage

While hard drives themselves jumped massively in price on the consumer level, desktop and laptop prices held fast, at least for a short while. The products of large companies were mostly unaffected thanks in part to bulk agreements already in place with hard drive manufacturers as well as their ability to absorb increased costs. Apple’s MacBook line, for example, remained at the same price throughout the shortage.

Other companies, such as Lenovo, were hit much harder by the shortages. For a while, Lenovo simply didn’t have the hard drives available for some of their 750GB, 320GB, 250GB, and 160GB models. Their product prices didn’t necessarily go up, but many consumers had to settle for “off-spec” options.

What the Analysts had to Say

Going into December, which was the worst point of the shortage, stories were abuzz about how long the effects of the shortage might be felt. Some analyst firms, like IHS in particular, were fairly optimistic, expecting a gradual improvement starting as early as the first quarter of 2012. IHS even predicted that the added focus in production outside of Thailand could even result in an excess supply.

Other firms were much less optimistic, some claiming that the higher prices may even persist into 2013. It was thought that the soonest hard drive manufacturers would be able to meet immediate demand would be sometime in the second half of 2012.

The Current State of Things

As we mentioned earlier, the major players of the hard drive world have stated that they’ve already been able to meet the current demand; however, the two hard drive leaders don’t particularly agree on how things will play out from here.

Seagate’s CEO Steven Luczo is playing it safe (or perhaps taking advantage of the more pessimistic analyst reports), stating that there is still “a substantial and growing shortfall in unmet Exabyte demand resulting from the supply –chain disruptions caused by the floods.” In short, he plans on keep Seagate’s net gains high (they actually grew during the shortage).

Western Digital’s John Coyne had a different story to tell. He told analysts that “the recovery activities related to both WD operations and those of [its] supply chain partners impacted by the Thailand floods have reached a point where [Western Digital] now [has] the capability to adequately meet anticipated customer demand in the current quarter and beyond.” Western Digital was hit the hardest by the floods, so the fact that they have caught up with demand already is very good news. Hopefully WD gets its way, and prices will return to normal quickly.

Laptops and Desktop PCs

If you’re getting a new computer for someone (or if someone you know has a big surprise waiting for him this Christmas), there are plenty of useful – and sometimes necessary – peripherals you might want to get them as well. Desktop PCs, in particular, are pretty useless without a monitor and a pair of speakers. A mouse and keyboard are more likely to come bundled, but they could be especially useful for anyone getting a new laptop.

Slightly less necessary, but still practical, gifts are options, too. A USB flash drive or external hard drive can be useful for transferring files from an old computer to the new one. And software is always handy, too – from Microsoft Office to the latest PC games. A few other things to remember are power cords, surge protectors, and Ethernet cables.

HDTVs and Blu-Ray Players

Each year, more and more households make the switch to HD. A quality HDMI cable is an absolute necessity that many HDTVs don’t include, and most Blu-Ray and other HD devices prefer to bundle poor quality cables. A mounting bracket makes a great gift, too; although, make sure it’s compatible with the TV (and that the recipient plans on mounting it in the first place). And remember, and HDTV isn’t much good without any HD content. Blu-Ray movies will go great with that Blu-Ray player.

Gaming Consoles

Both the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 make use of HDMI connections, but neither typically come bundled with an HDMI cable. The Wii technically isn’t HD compatible out of the box, but there are HD adapters available. Extra controllers are always important to consider (and of course their batteries and chargers) no matter which console you’re getting. There are plenty of other console accessories, too, like headsets, memory cards, and specialized controllers. Don’t forget to include a few games.

Smartphones and Tablets

Smartphones and tablets usually come with everything you need right out of the box, but there’s a lot that is easy to overlook. Most states now have laws against driving while using your phone without a hands-free device. A Bluetooth headset makes an excellent companion gift to a smartphone. Headphones do, too, since the bundled ear buds generally aren’t of the best quality. Vehicle mounting kits can also be useful, especially with all of the GPS features smartphones have these days.

For use as multimedia, tablets and smartphones often need a special HDMI cord in order to connect to an HDTV. Other adapters and battery chargers can be practical gifts, too. The same goes for micro SD cards, for the mobile devices that support them.