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Computer shopping guide - how to decide what type of computer you should buy?
For many years, we have been asked by friends and
family members "What computer should I buy?" I
guess the reason for all these questions is that we have been using,
building and expanding computers starting more
than twenty years ago.
Our usual response to this question is "What are you going to do
with the computer?" The answer to this question is the basis
for what kind of computer to buy. Here are the typical
answers we get:
-
I want to keep track of my finances (home
accounting).
-
I want to write letters (word
processing).
-
I want to send email and surf the Internet.
-
I want to play games.
-
Some combination of the above.
The good news we have for most people is
that almost any decent brand name computer will do the job! In
fact, most modern computers are ready to do almost all these things right
out of the box.
Another recommendation we have is that you think
about the future. Most people will delay their decision to
buy a computer because they think it will be "obsolete" one month after
they bring it home. But do not fear - a computer is
not obsolete as long as it will do the job you bought it
for! There may be a point when it will be time to upgrade to a
new computer, but that will probably be a couple of years away.
If you plan for those years, your computer should get you
through that time. Here are some things to
think about when shopping online for a computer:
Be careful to check what hardware is included
when shopping for computers online. Often you may find some real
"bargains" out there, but be careful! Some bargain
systems do not include a monitor (display) and other "basic"
components. At the very minimum, your new computer system
should include: Keyboard & mouse, a monitor, 128 MB RAM (see
below), and a CD-ROM (for loading new programs). Most will also
include a USB connector or two for hooking up some "gadgets" like a
PDA, or memory stick.
Look at the software "package" that comes with
your new computer. Most systems will include some kind of
word processor and a basic home accounting program.
These may be "starter" versions of the programs. If you
already own "full" versions of the programs, they can be installed on
your new computer system.
The modern computer processor speed is
about
2 GHz (Giga-Hertz) or higher. The faster the
processor, the
faster your programs will run (generally). If you have
something slower than that, it may be time for a new computer.
Another factor that effects program speed is memory.
Typical computers today come with 128 MB (Mega-Bytes) of RAM. If
it is at all possible, try to get at least 256 MB of memory.
Trust us - if your computer has more memory, most programs will run
faster. This is because computers with limited memory will
have to access the disk drive more when running some programs.
Every time that happens, it slows down the program.
The typical disk drive size today is about 30-40 GB
(Giga-Bytes), and speed (data transfer) is about 100 MB/sec
(Mega-Bytes per second). This should be large enough to
hold all your programs and data, unless you have some heavy
data storage requirements (lots and lots of photos, videos, etc.).
Upgrades to larger and faster disk drives are available.
If you are planning on networking your computers together (or
have high speed Internet access), you should order your new computer
with a NIC (Network Interface Card).
This will make it a simple matter of just "plugging in" to the network
when it comes time to do that. This will also be needed if you
play online games.
If you play a lot of games on your computer, you will most
likely need a video card with lots of Video RAM
(memory). Most computers today come with "integrated" video
(included on the motherboard) which is fine, but "serious gamers"
usually want to have a video card installed in the computer that has
separate video memory (not "shared" with the processor).
This speeds up game play considerably. Our minimum recommendation
for
video RAM is 128 MB.
Also consider desk space. If you have limited space,
consider one of the newer LCD monitors. They cost a bit more,
but will usually take up about one quarter (¼)
of the space of a regular monitor.
Everything mentioned above assumes that you are looking for a
desktop computer. But if you travel, or want the flexibility
to move your computer around the house easily, you may want to consider a
laptop computer. Laptop computers of today have
almost the same power of desktop systems. Laptops generally cost
a bit more, but when you need to take your computer somewhere, it will
be worth it.
Summary
- Check the hardware and software included with the system
- Check the processor speed, system RAM, and disk drive size
- Consider networking and gaming needs (NIC & Video Card)
- Consider portability (laptop or desktop)
We hope this guide has helped with your computer shopping needs.
If you have any comments or would like to see other topics covered,
feel free to send
email to us at any time. Your feedback is always
appreciated!
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