Before you shop
Step1
Decide if you're better served by the PC/Windows platform or the Macintosh. You can generally get a faster computer for your money by choosing a Windows machine, but Macs come with more easy-to-use built-in software. Top brands are Dell, Hewlett- Packard, IBM, Gateway and Toshiba. Apple, of course, makes the Macintosh.
Step2
Think about whether this machine will need to work with your office or school server. Exchanging files between platforms is less of an issue than it used to be, but it's still worth noting.
Step3
Ask your friends and co-workers in similar lines of work what machines they have, where they bought them, if there were any problems, and whether they're happy with their choices.
Step4
Expect to spend $1,000 to $2,000 for a general-purpose machine, although you can find desktop computers for anywhere from $400 to $10,000.
The basics
Step1
Realize that if you buy a super cheap computer at a warehouse store or discounter, you're going to be on your own. Technical support from the major manufacturers tends to be a lot better.
Step2
Buy as much random-access memory (RAM), or system memory, as you can afford. At a bare minimum, get 128 megabytes (MB); 256 MB or 512 MB is preferable. (For a Macintosh, get at least 256 MB.) Memory is more critical than a faster processor.
Step3
Get at least two universal serial bus (USB) connections and a FireWire (also called IEEE 1394) connection. These will connect peripheral devices, such as a printer, PDA, digital cameras and camcorders, scanners and game controllers.
Step4
Get a CD burner so you can back up valuable data and make your own music CDs. Look into a DVD burner too if you're involved in film making or editing, but remember that there are multiple competing standards; computer-burned DVDs might not play in your home DVD player. Make sure your machine has a DVD drive if you want to watch movies on your computer. (See
How to Buy Blank CDs.) Also look for an internal modem.
Step5
Ask about upgradability if you intend to use this computer for a long time, which is considered three or more years.
Step6
Choose any current computer model from the major manufacturers with a high degree of confidence if you simply want to send e-mail, surf the Web and do word-processing.
Special considerations
Step1
Get high-quality graphics and sound if you plan to play games. Look for a system that has a graphics card with a coprocessor, and 5.1 Surround sound. You'll want a broadband Internet connection to play online games, and to improve your Internet experience overall. (See
How to Choose an Internet Service Provider.)
Step2
Buy the biggest hard drive you can afford--120 to 180 gigabytes (GB) is now commonplace. Get more than 200 GB if you're storing music and/or editing video. For video editing, you'll also need a video input/output card and a FireWire connection.
Comments
SantaLucia said
on 7/22/2007 What is the difference with Macintosch n Windows software?
Anonymous said
on 8/17/2006 Celeron processors might be the same speed as Pentium 4 processors, but they work differently, especially on their bus speed. Celeron works only half as fast as Pentium.
Anonymous said
on 3/14/2006 You would be hard pressed to find a computer these days that cannot browse the Internet at high speeds. If all you plan on doing is browsing the Internet, and you want to save some money, buy the slowest computer you can find. Just make sure that it has a modem or network connection.
Anonymous said
on 1/23/2006 128 MB RAM: I would go with 256 MB minimum, 512 MB minimum for Mac OS X.
Internal Modem: Nowadays this is less and less necessary - remember if you are getting DSL or Cable (such as Roadrunner) that you do not need an internal modem.
120 GB hard drive: I would say 60 GB is just fine.