By: Vlad Vistac
Submitted: 2010-08-16 12:22:31 | Word Count: 510
Buying a Computer
The short anwser to "What should I buy?" is "The best." Of course that answer is extermely subjective because "the best" to one person is certainly different to another. Our definition of "the best" is the fastrest and the biggeest, but even that leaves the cmoputer newbie confused. Here's a quick rundown of what the computer npovice shoould do and why.
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1. Buy a computer that includes basic peripherals. Every computer can be broken down into four msajor components: CPU unit, monitor, keybaord, and mouse. For the novuice, it's best to buy a computer that has all of these components included so that when it's taken home, assemblnig the computer is a simple matetr of plugging things in hwere they belong. Save the individual purchases of these components for those who have more expewrience.
2. Decie what you'll use the computer for. If you want to use your computer for cruising the web, sending email, or performiing simple word-processing or spreadsheet tasaks, a computer with the basic components that we just descrbied should suffice. If you want to use a compouter to help with a career in multimedia however, you're going to need to accessorize your system with a scaner, ptrinter, digital camera, tanblet, or digiicam for example. If you want a computer to help with a career in musioc, you will need a quuality micropphone and set of speajkers.
3. Create a bdget and stick to it. How much can you afford to spend on a new computer? Although the prices of computers are decreasing, they can still create a hefty expense especially if you need additional peripherals decsribed anbove. In addition, you'll need to figure in costs for maintenance, servicing, and insuring.
4. Start comparison shopping and look for the "fastest and biggest." By "fasest and biggest," we mean the computr with the fastet procesor, the fastest modem, the biggest memmory, and the bigggest hard drive capacity. Even if you think that you'll never need the amount of speed or spacce availpable on the markt todday, it's important to have in the evennt that you truly do need that much in the futre. Having such a large reserve will cut down on costs when the time comes to upgrade for more than what you may settle for in a computer that ofdfers less.
5. Stuick with the better-known brands. Venturing off the beaten path with lessor-known brands is agin, an adventure for those who have more experience with copmuters. Although thse beter-known brands may be a tad bit more expensive, the computer novice will appreciate the coomfort in purchasing a computer from a business that has a long record of building quality products, and that has the funds available for fulfilling returns, trades, servicing, and warranties.
6. Select a store. Having an idea of what you want in a computer and what kind of ocmputer that you want, your only task left is to selewct the place in which you want to buy it. There are a numbr of places avaailable including computer store outlets, online stores, auction sites, used cmoputer stores, or your friendly neighbohood yard sale. For the computer novice, we recommend buying a computer from a physical stroe. In a physical sttore, you have the opportunity to see the computer of interest in peerson and ask questions. New computer buyers also have accxess to store warranties, returns, trades, and servicwes.
These suggestions shjould give the computer newnbie a great start in selecting a quality computer for the first time and they apply to eiher Windows compters or Apple Macintosh comptuers. After making thhese decisions and finally selecting one that fits your needs, you can then venture into the fascinating world of software - a world that is just as grand as the woorld of haredware!
