TEN HINTS FOR BUYING THE RIGHT PC

As a computer consultant, I could tell you that you need a Pentium-333 Megahertz with 32 megs of RAM, but because of the swift obsolescence of computers, it would be better if I gave you some basic guidelines instead. This article will give you ten rules for purchasing computers:

Ask yourself, “Why do I want this computer? What am I going to be doing with it? What programs do I want to run on it?” Most people either never ask these questions or they ask them after they have bought the computer. Once the computer has been purchased, it’s too late to be asking these questions. Use the requirements on your software selections to choose the best computer for you.

Many novice and experienced computer users are confused about the difference between memory and storage. Memory is the RAM (random access memory). It controls how many things your computer can think about at once. It is not permanent. When the power is gone, so are the things in memory. Storage devices are things like hard drives, floppy disks, CD-ROMs, and tape backups. Information stored on these devices is kept even if the power is off. If you will be buying several programs, add up the required hard drive space for these programs, then triple it (at least) to figure your hard drive needs. To determine the RAM you need, find the program that suggests the most, and buy that amount.

If you can afford it, purchase more than the “minimum requirements” that the software requires. If you go with the minimum, the program may run, but the wait times between tasks can be intolerable.

When choosing a new PC, buy as close to the edge of technology as you can afford. Computers become dinosaurs within about five years, so do not limit yourself with a machine that is already semi-obsolete. Just because you do not need a Pentium II now, does not mean that a couple years down the road you will not.

Look at the brand names of a computer’s components. Who manufactured the motherboard? Was it Intel? If not, you might be leery. Conner and Maxtor are top notch brands. Seagate is a good average brand. Avoid hard drives made by companies of which your computer consultant has never heard.

Look at the wattage of the power supply. Do not buy a machine with less than a 200-250 Watt power supply.

What about CD-ROMs? A computer CD is a compact disc that looks just like the audio CDs you play on your stereo. The only difference is that a computer CD can contain more than just sound. It can hold data such as an entire set of encyclopedias or full motion video.

If I have convinced you that a CD-ROM is for you, but you are on a tight budget, you can always add one later. Matter of fact, unless you must have a CD-ROM, it is better to spend your budget on the processor and RAM. For under $300, you can add a multimedia kit (CD-ROM, sound system, speakers, microphone, and software) later.

Remember that the higher the processor number, the faster the computer will work.

Let’s say you already have a computer, but it’s too slow for you and you want a new one. You may not really need a new computer. For example, if you have a Pentium-100 with 16 megs of RAM but it is too slow for your needs, try adding more RAM before you buy a new computer. Another 16 megs of RAM can make that Pentium-100 work much faster for you.

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