What to Look for When Purchasing a Computer

Most people know how to use a computer to get their work done. However, when it comes to technical issues or to buying one, they may find themselves at a loss.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Look at the processor’s speed. If the fastest processor is out of your budget, purchase one within 10 percent of the highest speed. An example of a processor’s speed is 3.0 Ghz. It’s important to buy the highest speed, because technology changes rapidly. Within a 6-month period, processor speeds may go up by approximately 20 percent.

2. Make sure the RAM is equivalent to at least half of the maximum speed that the computer can hold. For example, if a computer has the capability of holding 2GB of RAM, the computer you purchase should have at least 1 GB. If you plan to use it for computational purposes, it’s better to have the most RAM possible.

3. Consider the size of the hard disk. The computer utilizes the hard disk space when you download programs and other operating systems.

4. Determine whether the computer has the capability for a video card. You’ll need it to view anything with graphics. Other features to look for are a floppy disk drive, a CDROM, a network card and a sound card, as well as speakers.

5. Choose a computer with a warranty of at least 3 years.

Tips & Warnings

• Computer experts recommend Dell computers for their reliability, cost effectiveness and because they come with a warranty of up to 4 years. Further, Dell offers exceptional customer service and support.
• HP printers are reliable and are available in a wide range of models.

Resources

• DELL
• Hewlett-Packard Development Company, LP