Awesome tips to buy a computer

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.