How to Buy Your First Computer
Tuesday, October 20th, 2009It is far easier to buy your second computer than it is to purchase your first one, because those who’ve purchased and used a computer in the past already have an idea of what they require in a new computer, but those who are new to the computer world can easily become bewildered in the multitude of choices available.
The short answer to “What should I buy?” is “the best”. Of course that reply is completely personal because “the best” to one individual is not going to be the best to another. Our definition of “the best” is the fastest and with the biggest memory, but even that can leave the computer newbie mystified. Here’s a quick rundown of what the computer novice should do and why.
1. Buy a computer that includes all the basic components. Every computer system can be broken down into four major pieces of equipment: CPU unit, screen, keyboard, and mouse. For the beginner, it’s best to buy a computer that has all of these components included so that when it’s taken home, assembling the computer is a simple affair of plugging the components in where they belong. Save the individual purchase of these components to those who have more experience.
2. Decide what you’ll use the computer for. If you want to use your computer for surfing the web, sending email, or doing simple word-processing or spreadsheet tasks, a computer with the basic components that we just described plus a printer should be adequate. If you want to use a computer to help with a career in multimedia however, you’re going to need to increase your system with possibly a scanner, digital camera, tablet, or digicam as well for example. If you want a computer to help with a career in music, you might want a good microphone and array of speakers.
3. Create a financial plan and stick to it. How much can you afford to splurge on a new computer? Although the price of computers is declining, they can still be quite a large outlay particularly if you require supplementary components as discussed previously. In addition, you’ll need to factor in overheads for Internet access, repairs, servicing, and insurance.
4. Begin comparison shopping and search for the fastest and largest. By fastest and largest, we mean the computer with the quickest processor, the quickest modem, the largest memory, and the largest hard drive capacity. Even if you think that you’ll never require the amount of speed or space available on the market today, it’s essential to have in case that you truly do require that much in the future. Having such a large reserve will cut down on costs when the time comes to upgrade.
5. Stay with the better-known makes. Going off the trodden path with lesser-known makes is again an adventure for those who have more familiarity with computers. Even though those better-known makes may be a tad more expensive, the computer beginner will appreciate the security of purchasing a computer from a business that has a long record of building quality products, and that has the funds on hand for satisfying returns, trades, servicing, and guaranties.
6. Choose a good store. Once you have an idea of what you need in a computer and what kind of computer that you want, the only task left to do is to choose the place where you want to purchase it. There are many places, which embrace computer stores, online shops, auction sites and operated computer shops. For the computer greenhorn, we suggest buying a computer from a bricks-and-mortar store. In a real store, you have the opportunity to see the computer of interest itself and ask questions. New computer buyers will also have a store guarantee, returns, trades, and services.
These recommendations should give the computer newcomer a helpful foundation in selecting a quality computer for the first time and these suggestions apply to either Windows computers or Apple Macintosh computers. After making these decisions and eventually picking one that suits your requirements, you can then venture into the fascinating world of software - a world that is equally as impressive as the world of hardware!
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