Tips on Buying a Personal Computer

Knowing a few tips on buying a personal computer can help you understand some of the technology out there and what the salespeople describe to you. Arm yourself with a few ideas of what you want to use the computer for because not knowing that can make it hard to determine what kind of power and special features you need in a new or replacement or secondary computer.

You don't need to know the technical details of the latest processor or what speed the bus operates or what type of hard drive is inside a computer. You should know how you are going to use the computer. Where do you start? How do you use your current computer? Most people fall into one of the following categories:

• Basic computing like e-mail and Internet surfing and light office functions (word processing, presentations and spreadsheet usage).
• Multimedia which can include watching movies, editing movies and photos and using the computer for music.
• Small business or work. The computer is used for customer databases, payroll creating and heavy spreadsheet use.
• Gamers like a high-end machine that can provide amazing visuals and smooth gameplay. There are machines built for gaming, but many high-end computers that aren't can be geared for gaming.

There are minimal specs you should know. The first of these is RAM, or memory. You don't need to know how RAM works, but you should know that you need to buy a computer with as much RAM as you can afford. The average amount of RAM a computer has usually has a lifetime. For example, from about 2006-2008, laptops came with an average of 2 GB of RAM. As of this writing, the average is know 4 GB, with some computers coming with 6 GB and even 8 GB (mainly on Desktop computers).

The second spec you should know is hard drive space. Hard drive is also designated as Gigabytes, so don't confused hard drive with memory. The biggest tip on buying a personal computer is that hard drive space is storage for what you put on the computer, like documents, music, photos and movies. Sometimes, though, more is not better because once you fill about 70% of your hard drive, you may notice some slowdown. At that point you should invest in an external drive for backup and other storage.

Processors are one of the most elusive specifications a consumer tries to learn. You don't need to know how a processor works or the total speed of one. The only thing you need to know, which is easily remembered, is that computers use similar processors within an equal range of prices. If you compare laptops in one general price range, you will notice that the processors either the same or close to the same speed. Average consumers will not notice a difference between similar processors. Intel and AMD make processors that provide the same functionality and speed between laptops in the same price range. Go to your local computer store and look at computers in the same price range (typically within $100 of each other) and you see that most of the processors are identical if not one small step up or down.

Once you figure out what you want the computer for and how much your budget is research computers around your budget and see which ones have the small extra features you need. Some things that are standard on computers:

• Laptops have built-in WiFi cards and DVD/CD burners and readers.
• Desktops have built-in memory card readers.
• Software that is included, though not as bundled as in the past: web browser, media player for CDs/DVDs, word processing (a very light word processor), and software for photo viewing/minimal photo editing.

Extra features you may want:

• Webcam
• Wireless on a desktop computer
• Memory card reader on a laptop
• Full office suites (Microsoft Office, for example)
• Additional upgrading possibilities like RAM expansion, more drive bays on a desktop or the ability to swap out graphics cards on a laptop.

Checking out computers in person will help you determine if you like the keyboard and monitor or the screen, if it is a laptop. Is the screen bright enough? Does it have enough adjustment for your eyes? What about the keyboard? Is it soft and comfortable to type on?

When shopping for a computer, the most important thing to know is to realize what you want the computer for and that it's not detrimental to know every little spec about every little piece of hardware.

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