What You Need to Know When Buying a Computer
Buying a new computer seems simple; check out some ads, surf the Web and read reviews and browse the electronics stores. Unless you know exactly what you're looking for, however, this method may cause more frustration than good. Before setting out to purchase a computer, it's a good idea to answer a few questions that will help to frame your requirements. In doing so, you have a much better chance of getting the machine that you need and in being satisfied with your purchase.
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Purpose of the Computer
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The first question that must be answered when buying a computer is what it is going to be used for. Choosing a computer that is either too much or too little for the job at hand is a sure way to court disappointment. Will you be simply writing email and surfing the web, or will you expect to play the latest action games with full-screen video? Do you plan to do photo or video editing, or will you only want to run the latest word processor and spreadsheet software? Knowing the projected use of the computer makes all of the remaining questions easier to answer.
Fundamental Decisions
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The majority of computers sold are identified by two broad categories, the operating system and the type of microprocessor. Most home and office computers run either the Mac operating system from Apple or Windows from Microsoft. Your choice of the platform determines much of the software that will be available to you, although many major programs are available for both. The second choice is much less important. Intel, AMD and others manufacture a wide range of processors in an equally wide range of prices. Except at the highest ends of the processor range, the consumer will notice little difference between them.
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Computer Form Factor
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You should know whether the computer will sit in your home or office or if it will need to be portable. The desktop computer allows for a wider range of peripheral and component choices, and you will be able to update the desktop more easily as your future needs change. The laptop, on the other hand, is portable and will enable you to work wherever you desire. Changing the configuration of the laptop, however, is much more limited as most of the components are fixed in place.
Budget
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Ultimately, all of the preceding decisions lead to a discussion of your budget. The prices of computers have dropped significantly throughout their short history. What once cost upwards of $2,000 can be purchased for several hundred. The answers you give to the preceding questions are going to determine the price range that you will be looking at. The price will determine the components, their quality and the performance of the machine. An inexpensive machine with less memory and cheaper components may work just fine for email and Web browsing, but if you try to edit video on the same machine you may find yourself quickly disappointed in your choice.
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References
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