Tips to buy a computer
Computer is a very important thing now. Almost all people can’t live without a computer. Computer is not just a tool for serious thing. It has been a tool for entertainment, games, and internet.
The number of its sale raises every day. Computer is no more an expensive thing. Cell phone could be more expensive than computer right now.
But to choose a good computer is not that easy. Not everyone knows about computer parts, hardware and software.
First Steps to buy a computer
Before starting your search for your new computer to buy a computer:
- Decide if you want notebook/laptop PC or a desktop PC. Desktop PCs can be more powerful but notebook PCs are portable
- Decide how much money you want to spend
- Decide what you will be using the PC for. You won't need a particularly powerful system if you're only going to browse the Web and send e-mails
- Talk to friends, relatives and colleagues about what make of PC they use, where they bought it and their experiences
What to look to buy a computer
It may confuse you because maybe you don’t have much knowledge of computer hardware. Some companies may try to confuse you with technical details, hoping that by mentioning large enough numbers you will think the PC is better than it really is.
Computer specifications change all the time, and your needs will determine what size or speed components are appropriate for you. The following is a general guide with some tips on what to look for.
Desktop or Notebook - the type of PC you need will depend on how powerful you need your machine to be and whether you want to be able to do work on the move.
Desktop PCs are usually more powerful than notebook/laptop PCs for the same price, but the latter have the advantage of being portable and taking up much less space.
Monitor - it is important to check this is mentioned as although this may seem like an essential part of a desktop PC system, some packages may not include one.
TFT (Flat Panel) monitors are common nowadays because of how thin they are compared to the old bulky CRT monitors. When buying a monitor you want the highest resolution, which will give a more detailed and sharper picture. A resolution of 1280x1024 should be fine for most users. Response time is also important - the lower the number, the better.
Keyboard & Mouse - all desktop PCs should include these and there is often little difference between the various models. One thing to note is that some have more than just the left and right buttons on the Mouse - they often also include a Wheel in the center which can be a useful addition. Nowadays you can also get wireless keyboards and mice. If you want to use a mouse with your notebook PC you may need to buy it separately, as many notebooks use a touch pad system instead of a mouse.
Tower - the shell of the desktop PC contains all the components which make your system work including the processor, memory and Hard Disk. You should check how many USB ports are included, as you will need one for each peripheral you connect such as scanners and printers.
Processor - the heart of your PC, this is the engine that powers your computer and processes all the instructions it is given, therefore you want it to be as fast as possible. The higher the processor speed (in Ghz) the faster your PCshould be. Dual-core technology now offers even greater speed. Examples are Intel Pentium or Celeron, and AMD Athlon or Sempron.
RAM - the temporary memory the computer uses to do its calculations. The more RAM you have, the faster and more efficient your programs will run. Look for at least 512 MB or 1 GB of RAM.
Hard Drive - where all your programs and data are stored. As usual, more is better. At least 100GB or more will be needed to store lots of music, games or movie files. Hard disk space is relatively cheap, and there are also external drives available that you can plug in to add more memory.
Graphics Card - handles video and display calculations. A more powerful card means better quality video graphics and smooth-running games. The most popular cards are the NVidia GeForce and ATI Radeon series. Another thing to note is that the graphics card also has its own RAM memory, and again the more the better.
Sound Card - most PCs should include decent enough sound for playing music or video, but you can opt for better quality sound cards such as the Creative Audigy series which will improve sound quality and performance in movies and demanding games.
Speakers - 2 normal desktop speakers should be fine for most users, but games players may want to invest in larger setups such as 5.1 (5 small Satellite speakers and 1 large Sub-Woofer to handle the bass sounds).
CD/DVD-ROM Drive - plays CDs/DVDs including data discs, music CDs and film DVDs. The higher the speed, the faster files will be loaded from disc though it will depend on the maximum speed permitted by the disc itself. '16x', for example, means it can transfer data from the disc at 16 times the normal playing speed.
Windows - Microsoft's operating system Windows is included with most PCs. Since 2001, Windows XP has been the version for home users but 2007 has seen the launch of its successor Windows Vista.
Software - some packages will include office suites, security programs, DVD creation, games and entertainment software.
Wireless Internet - modern PCs often come with built-in wireless support, to allow you to connect to any wireless Internet networks within range. If not, wireless adapters can be bought separately.
You can usually replace and upgrade your PC components in the future if you decide you need more memory or a faster graphics card, for example.
And you can always upgrade or buy new software if you find the included programs too limited for your needs.
Here are some quick tips to buy a computer
- Don't think something is cheap until you also compare what quality parts it has inside the computer. People come to me and ask if the cheapest laptop in the store is good enough for them and most of the time I say no. Unfortunately these laptops are usually already outdated stock.
- Make sure the computer you are buying is totally upgradeable. It must have spare memory slots and be able to handle more ram in the future. Also make sure there is space to add more parts inside the computer with extra plugs on the main motherboard.
- Buy a computer with a 2 year plan. Hopefully you will get the right computer and keep up with your tasks for at least two years. If it doesn't you will be able to make a small upgrade to get through the two years. After that time is up you can then evaluate if the computer is worth upgrading again and continuing on with it.
- Make sure your computer comes with at least 1 year warranty. 2 years is definitely better because you always find the problems start when your computer is 1 year and two days old, just when the warranty runs out.
- Ask about after sales service before you buy. Make sure you are clear on what you are entitled to. What happens if a part dies in your computer. Will you have to take it to where you bought it, or will you have to post it to Thailand? Don't laugh, it has happened before.
- Make sure you get all driver cd's for the computer. There is nothing worse than trying to find drivers on the internet to try and make your computer function correctly.
- Get quotes from different shops and small system builders. Do not go into the first shop and buy what you see.
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