How to Make the Right Decision When Buying a Computer I have been working in the information technology industry for over 10 years. I have worked for small companies, and I have also worked for large corporations like E.ON. In both scenarios similar problems arise when deciding on a purchase of new equipment.
For the large companies they have to make bottom line, budget affecting decisions about specs. For small companies it is more about there immediate needs. Will it do what I want it to do? Or will I have to buy a new one in 2 years?
For individuals it is much different. For one thing they do not have an IT person to make their decisions for them. So they do the best they can. They refer to trusty old Uncle Bob, or Cousin Earl. Because Uncle Bob always worked on my car. Because Cousin Earl took a computer class once and can make nice pictures on it.
Honestly... What the hell does that have to do with the price of motherboards in China? Nothing. Maybe they know how to use a computer, maybe even better than most of the average Joe's. However, in order to make good decisions when it comes to purchasing equipment you have to know the whole computer inside and out and how different pieces will affect performance, and on and on.
I am going to show you exactly what you need to know to figure out what computer you need to buy. Some of the wannabe's will disagree, simply because they don't know what they are talking about. I have been doing this for years, and believe me I know what I am talking about.
The first thing you need to figure out before buying a computer is what do you use the computer for 90% of the time? Do you play solitaire? Do you balance your checkbook? Do you play high end games on it? Or maybe you are a web designer? All of this has to be taken into consideration when you buy a computer.
The elements you will need to know are what do each of your applications recommend you have in a computer. Let me be very, very clear about this part. R-e-c-o-m-m-e-n-d-s is not the same as minimum requirements. Never, ever, ever make decisions based on those minimum requirements. You are just asking for costly upgrades later. Hardware and software are both cheaper when you order it with the computer.
The information you will need is this:
Memory/RAM: ??? MB/GB (Megabytes/Gigabytes)
Memory or RAM is a lot like the cylinders in your car. Yes a 4 cylinder is more fuel efficient, but believe me an 8 cyclinder will get you from 0 to 60 a lot quicker. Get as much ram as you can afford because this is what prevents your computer from locking up if you are running a lot of applications at once. There are pecial considerations. If you are running Windows XP, 512 MB is nice, but 1024 MB/1 GB is a lot better. If you are running Windows Vista, then do not get any amount of RAM less than 2048 MB/ 2 GB. I give both numbers because some salespeople will try to fool you with big numbers.
If someone asked you which was bigger, 1024 MB or 2 GB? What would you say? 2 GB is bigger. A salesman may throw that big looking 1024 number at you to make a sale since one with 2 GB is going to cost more. Don't fall for this at all.
Another consideration is if you are using XP and running a lot of applications or doing high end gaming, then get 2 GB of RAM. If you are using Vista and doing the same thing, get 3 or 4 GB of RAM. Do not get more than 3 GB of Ram for an XP computer, due to the limitations of Windows XP. Vista can handle RAM over the 3 GB mark.
CPU/Processor Speed: ??? GHz (Gigahertz)
There isn't much to say here. 3.0 Ghz is sufficient in a desktop. 2.0 Ghz is sufficient in a laptop. In either case you want to get dual core processor. This might be called dual core, or duo core, or core 2 duo. Stay away from Celeron and AMD processors. They are a waste of your money.
Video Card Memory: ??? MB/GB (Megabytes/Gigabytes)
This will depend entirely on what kind of computer you have and what you will be doing with it. If you have an XP computer, and not doing any gaming, then 128 MB video card will be fine. If you are running games on XP or running Vista, then do not get anything less than 256 MB in a video card. If you are running Vista and doing gaming, then get no less than 512 MB in a video card, and try to find one that is able to do DirectX 10.
Hard Drive Size: ??? GB (Gigabytes)
Are you going to be saving documents? Or are you going to be saving mp3's and video files. If you are going to be doing videos and mp3's, then you need to get a 160 GB or larger drive. If you are only going to browse the internet and save word documents then 80 GB would be more than enough.
What type of CD/DVD Drive does it have?
Will you be buring CD's? How about DVD's? It isn't that expensive, so I would opt for a CD/DVD drive that will burn both CD's and DVD's.
Does it have a Memory Card Reader?
This is for all of the picture takers. If you love your digital camera, then I strongly recommend you get one of these devices. You can get these built into your computer or you can buy a USB external card reader. It is better to get one built in for speed purposes. But you probably won't notice much of a difference in speed from one to the other. The price doesn't vary that much for each of these types as well.
Now once you have figured out what you need, it is time to go buy it. My preference is always with direct from manufacturer. Typically you can get a cheap warranty that lasts at least a year. It would be preferrable to get a longer warranty if you don't buy a computer that often or if you have a high end system.
The manufacturer I prefer is Dell. Those wannabe's will probably try to tell you eMachine or Gateway or some other brand, but if you want a good reliable computer stick with Dell. Gateway is notorious for not being easy to deal with on parts replacement. Dell is much better in this regard. I have actually had to replace fewer parts on Dell's than any other brand. HP would be second to Dell. However, that is only HP's Business line. Their consumer line isn't that good. Gateway would be my third choice.
If you ever put a thought in your head to buy an eMachine... politely ask your spouse to beat some sense into you with a rolling pin. You get what pay for stays very true to its name in the computer industry. The cheapest is never the best option. If that is all you can afford, wait, save your money, and then buy a decent system. Decent systems should last you for 4 years. A cheapo system you will be lucky to last a year before you start having problems.
If you need Microsoft Office, make certain you get it with the computer. It is a lot cheaper to do that then buy it from a computer store. You will probably pay twice as much if you buy it yourself rather than buying it with the computer. This is why I say stick with direct from the manufacturer. If you do this at a Best Buy or similar store they are likely to sell you a computer without Microsoft Office, and then tack on a retail copy of Microsoft Office which could be very pricey.
Now as far as price is concerned. No matter what your needs are, when you buy a computer, if you want a desktop, be prepared to pay $800-$1200 for it, if you get it direct from the manufacturer. For a laptop be prepared to pay somewhere around $1500-$2000 for it. The high price is for people that need the extra muscle, the low end price is for the folks who just do simple things like office, internet, etc.
I hope this was helpful in elightening you on how to buy a computer. If you need more information find a local mom/pop computer repair store. Ask their advice, but don't buy the computer from them. Even if you have to pay a $30 consultation fee it would be worth so you get what you need, instead of what looks like a good deal.
