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Buying a home computer can be a
bit like buying a car-it's a major purchase decision. There are many
makes and models, and many people willing to give advice about what to
buy and where to buy it. To make the most of your shopping experience,
and sense of the variety of choices facing you, you'll want to do your
homework before heading out. And, whether buying new or used, know
what you want the computer to do for you and how much you can afford
to spend.
The DELL XCPS M2010 mega-laptop
GATEWAY | DELL | IBM |
TOSHIBA | HP are all name brand laptop and desktop computer companies.
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What to Consider Before
Buying a Computer
How will you
use the computer? Do you plan to write papers for a class using word
processing software, keep track of your finances or business on a
spreadsheet, send electronic mail (e-mail) to relatives across the
country, surf the World Wide Web, or just play computer games?
Knowing how you'll use your computer will help you determine what type of
minimum requirements the computer needs to have.
Bigger
Programs Require More Memory
Keep in mind
that the size of the software you plan to run will dictate how much memory
your computer should have. Consider how you will use your computer, then
ask about the software you'll need. A sales associate should be able to
tell you how many megabytes of memory you'll need based on your planned
computer use. Typically, you'll need a minimum of 64 megabytes of memory
to adequately run most programs. Most computer systems come with preloaded
software. Be sure to check the inventory of what's on the computer, so
you'll know what you're getting.
KEEP IN
MIND THAT THE SIZE OF THE SOFTWARE YOU PLAN TO RUN WILL DICTATE HOW MUCH
MEMORY YOUR COMPUTER SHOULD HAVE
How Much
Should You Spend?
With computers,
it's a good rule of thumb to buy as much as you can afford. Depending on
your needs, be prepared to spend between $1,000 for an entry-level
computer to $3,000 and up for a higher-end computer. You don't have to buy
the biggest, fastest or most powerful computer on the market, but you
should buy the best system you can- that includes monitor, microprocessor,
memory, hard drive, keyboard, printer, etc. You might want to hold off
buying any software until you've had a chance to take a look at the
software which should come with your new computer.
WITH
COMPUTERS, IT'S A G00D RULE OF THUMB TO BUY AS MUCH AS YOU CAN AFFORD . .
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Laptop
vs. Desktop Models
After you've
made all the decisions about what you want in a computer, you also can
choose what type of model you'd like: laptop or desktop. Laptop models are
portable, and if you travel a lot and need to bring your computer along,
this is the obvious choice. Desktops have larger screens (although you can
use a larger screen with a laptop model) and are easily expandable.
Laptops are generally regarded as companion computers to desktops, but
they are sophisticated enough to be your primary computer. There are some
laptops, called notebooks, that weigh less than five pounds.
Source: FCIC (Government)
