Top 5 tips for buying a new computer
Looking to avoid an expensive mistake? Purchasing a home or business computer can be a big and sometimes costly
decision. Below is a listing of helpful suggestions on what to look for
and what to ask when purchasing a new computer.
Get info from the three sources
Editor's reviews, user opinions and manufacturers
information — each has a different perspective. Editors are going to
have approached the product methodically and without bias if they are
from an independent source like CNET.com. Users will have lived with
the product for the longest time and in the most diverse ways, which can
reveal flaws or benefits that don't become apparent in short-term lab
reviews.
And Manufacturers will have a unique concept of how they intended the
product to be used and what makes it stand out. Armed with these three
perspectives you can feel pretty well-armed to figure out if the
computer — or any consumer electronics product — is the right one for
you.
Make more RAM (random access memory) your main priority with any PC
CPU speed and hard drive space are usually OK, memory is what's
often skimpy on a new machine. All too often what is perceived by
users as their computer being too slow is actually not the CPU speed but
the amount of memory. When a computer has too little memory, it
doesn't tell you, it just starts using part of the its hard drive space
as a poor form of additional memory known as swap space or virtual
memory. It's a clunky, slow way for a computer to run but it at least
keeps things going. Much better is to give a computer the RAM it needs,
2GB at least if you want to run any of the latest operating systems
with all their features.
Consider 3GB if you can afford it because there's almost no such
thing as too much RAM and the sweet spot for RAM for most users is
somewhere between 2GB and 4GB if they are running Windows Vista with all
the bells & whistles enabled.
Shop for a laptop online and in store
You need to test drive the keyboard, mouse and monitor
since they are integrated. You can always change the monitor, keyboard
and mouse on a desktop PC but not on a laptop unless you have it
tethered to a desk. Check the keyboard for good key action — the amount
of travel from top to bottom of a key press; more usually feels
better. Laptops use many different kinds of mouse pointing devices so
make sure you like the one your new laptop uses. Or at least find out
if you hate it and should buy a travel mouse right away.
And of course check the brightness of the monitor. Laptops are often
used in brightly lit areas where ambient lighting it not idea, so make
sure you have a bright display and one that seems large enough to your
eyes.
Take advantage of weekly store specials
Computers are largely commodities, so chase a low price point
aggressively. There are new models of computers coming on the market
every few weeks and frankly they often differ very little in any
meaningful way. So take advantage of the fact that the retailer wants
to move the "old stock" by cutting prices of the remaining units in
inventory. They also have other incentives for offering special price
cuts, like special promotions from the PC manufacturer. The bottom
line: There is usually nothing "wrong" with a machine that is being
blown out cheaply since computers are very mature and not subject to
dramatic technology improvements month to month. Shop for price
somewhere in the range of $500 - $750 and you could almost go to the
store blindfolded and still make a good choice.
Don't get hung up on parts
Computers are largely made from the same components. Rather, shop
for a brand that will have good customer support. Computers are often
considered commodity products since they all use pretty much the same
guts, with just a different case and brand name on the outside.
Businesses have known this for years and buy whatever brand gives them
the best price when they deploy thousands of machines across an
enterprise.
So buy like the pros and don't get hung up on some concept that a
certain brand of PC is necessarily faster or better built than another.
Instead you might want to ask friends and other users online what kind
of product support experience they have had with a given brand of
computer. That's where PC brands can differ rather substantially.
Check the warranty, support section of web site, and even call their
toll free support number with a test question to see what the people are
like on the other end.
New vs. refurbished
or used
If you're looking to save money buying a used or
refurbished computer can save you a lot of money. A refurbished computer
is a computer that has been returned to the company has been checked
out as good but cannot be sold again as new. All major computer
manufacturers will have a refurbished section showing all their
available refurbished products. Buying one of these computers instead of
a new computer can save you hundreds of dollars.
In addition to refurbished computers individuals and
companies for various reasons will also sell their used computers. When
buying these look out for the following.
- Verify it has no physical damage by inspecting the ports as well as the inside and the outside of the case.
- Make sure you're getting what you pay for. See the below scams section for additional details.
- Make sure computer comes with any CD's for the operating systems or programs that are promised to be installed.
- Realize that many computer manufacturers will not transfer the computer warranty from the old user to you.
| Device | Short recommendation |
| Case | The case or chassis is often overlooked when buying a new computer. Below are some things to think about regarding the case.
- Do you want a desktop or tower case?
- Will the case fit on top of or below your desk?
- Will the drives be accessible or will they be positioned the way you wish them to be positioned?
- Does
the case support the standards of motherboards, for example, the ATX
motherboard standard? This is important if you wish to upgrade the
computer in the future.
|
| CD media | Most newer computers today have an included disc burner in the computer. If you wish to make your own CD's
or DVD's make sure the computer supports it. |
| Hard drive | The hard drive will be the destination of all your files and
information. Make sure you get a hard disk drive that will have plenty
of available space and will run at speeds that don't slow the overall
computer down.
|
| Memory | Memory
is one of the more important purchasing decisions on a computer. The
more memory in the computer, the more efficient the computer will run. |
| Modem | Depending on how you plan on connecting to the Internet the Modem may
not be that important of a buying decision. Most users today are using
broadband Internet, which does not require a modem. However, if this is
not available in your area make sure your computer includes a modem. |
| Network card | Almost all computers today have a network card or network option on the
motherboard. The network card is what will allow you to share files
between computers in your home and connect to a broadband Internet
connection. |
| Processor | The
computer processor is and will always be one of the most important
considerations when purchasing a computer. Today, with multiple
CPU/Processor manufacturers, it may be more confusing as well as more
cost efficient to look at
all options for computer processors. |
| Sound card | Today, the standard sound cards that are included with a computer are
sufficient for almost all computer users. However, if you plan on doing
sound editing
or mixing make sure to look at the sound cards capabilities |
| Video card | For computer gaming the video card has become one of the most important
factors behind memory and processor. If you plan on gaming with your
computer make sure your video card GPU and video memory meets the
requirements. |
Brand of computer
There
is no such thing as a computer manufacturer who has a perfect history
with all its users. Therefore when it comes to recommending one brand
over another it would be impossible for us to say who's better than the
other. Instead we'd suggest relying off the below considerations.
| Consideration | Explanation |
| Add-ons | All computer manufacturers will give you the option to buy additional
accessories when buying a new computer. Keep the below in mind before
buying these add-ons.
- Make sure your buying accessories you
actually need. For example, almost all new computers will include a
keyboard and mouse. Also if you're upgrading from an older computer many
of your older peripherals and accessories may be compatible with the
new computer.
- If you're buying your computer online, check
elsewhere. Many accessories available through the computer manufacturer
are sold at a premium price.
|
| Documentation | Most manufacturers today are reducing the amount of documentation
included with their computer and substituting that documentation for
online documentation. Make sure the documentation found online appears
to be sufficient and that software and driver downloads are available if
needed. |
| Hardware | As mentioned in the above above what to look for section, make sure the hardware included with your computer meets your needs. |
| Return | If
the computer is purchased at a local retail store, can the computer be
returned if unsatisfactory to that store or does it have to be sent to
the computer manufacturer? If the computer is purchased online or
through a mail order can it be returned if unsatisfactory? |
| Service |
- Is
the service onsite, meaning a technician will come to your location to
replace or fix a bad component. If the service is onsite, is it for the complete time of the warranty?
- If onsite is not offered, what is and for how long?
- Can the computer be taken to a local service center? If yes, what is the closest authorized service center?
- What
is the time frame the service takes to occur? For example, if the
computer has a bad component, what is the time it will take for a
technician to come onsite and replace that component, or if sent in how
long does it take? Finally, if that time frame is not acceptable, what
is the company willing to do, for example, are they willing to provide
you with a loaned computer.
|
| Software |
- Does the software include Microsoft Office or Corel Suite? These packages allow you to have a word processor
and a spreadsheet. For the most users this should be an important consideration.
- Is
it the full versions of the software or is the software a demo, trial,
or shareware? Many companies will include programs that will expire
after 30-90 days and require you to purchase the full program.
|
| Support | While you can always contact Computer Hope
for support, manufacturer support is also a very important
consideration as if an issue arises with the computer you must be able
to contact a support representative.
- Is support open 24 hours, 7 days a week? If not, what are the hours?
- Is support open on holidays? If not, what days are they closed?
- What support options are available? Phone? E-mail? Web? Chat?
|
| Upgrade ability | While this option may not be considered at first when purchasing a
computer, it is an important consideration. When purchasing a computer
make sure the hardware you may want to upgrade can be upgraded. Common
upgrades for most users today include: Memory, Video card, and Sound
Card. |
| Warranty | Finally,
does the computer manufacturer offer a warranty? How long is the
warranty? Does the warranty cover both hardware and software issues?
We highly recommend that a computer only be considered if it has at
least an one-year warranty. Many cheap computers will only come with a
90-day warranty. Meaning if a part goes bad, you will have to pay for
the part as well as the service. This may not be an issue for users who
just need a cheap computer and are willing to replace parts and service
the computer themselves. |
