Many vendors will try to sell you items or features you don't need, so it's important to know what you need and stick to the plan. Unfortunately, it's difficult to know what you need as a first time buyer, sometimes even as a repeat buyer. Ask friends what they like or dislike about their systems and what they would do different if they were to buy today. It may surprise you to know that most people who buy a PC have regrets about one thing or another. Examples include a drop in price the week after the purchase, or a monitor that looked good in the store, but causes eye strain at home.
How much performance and is it worth the cost?
It's usually better value if you buy a system or components that are not state of the art. The fastest PC is also the most expensive PC. But if you buy something at the lower end of the performance scale then you may not get longevity out of the deal if you intend to get the latest productivity, graphics software, and games. Be aware that CPU maker Intel is the trend setter in the world of business computing, but AMD (the competition) offers a competitive alternative - some say better value for home use where gaming is a priority.
Memory (RAM) is the single greatest performance boost you can get for your money. Try to aim for at bare minimum 4GB, the more, the better, especially if you multi-task or run intensive software. Pay attention to memory speed ratings. If your PC supports memory speeds of a certain range, you may save money buying something a bit slower than the maximum, but slower memory may be a handicap to your computer.
Do you need the greatest video, sound or motherboard components? If you are using the system only in a basic browsing role, the answer is likely 'no'. In fact, a traditional PC may be overkill with the current option of tablets and mini-PCs.
Upgradeable
Not long ago, the smart buyer chose their PC components based on future upgrade plans. But PC architecture is changing so rapidly now, it is likely that new (interior) components may not work in your old system, nor would many old parts you're saving be suitable in a new system. I advise people to buy the best value for their money with the intent to replace the whole system when the time comes for a new computer. However, if you are buying an incomplete package, with the intent to complete it later - make sure the system you buy has the ability to accommodate those anticipated future parts and don't wait too long to perform the upgrade.
Brand name PC versus 'Build your own'
Brand name package systems like Dell, Gateway, HP and Compaq etc. offer both pros and cons. Build your own (or at least choose your own parts) systems, also known as 'clones' offer their own set of pros and cons:
| Brand Name PCs Pros & Cons | Build Your Own Pros & Cons |
| + Fewer decisions to make. + After-sales support. + Attractive warranties and on-site repair options. + Parts that are guaranteed to work together. + Often packaged with free software and/or hardware. - Fewer choices. - No guarantee all parts are best quality. - Can be pricey. | + The ultimate in choice of price ranges, components, etc. + No waiting for delivery. + Deal with a live person face to face. + See the product before you buy. - Repair / warranty issues often fall on you after you leave the store. - Compatibility issues. |
Hard Drive Options
How big of a drive do you need? Capacity requirements depend on computer use. If you accumulate large collections of photos, movie files and music, you'll need a large drive. Look at differences in price between capacities. You may notice that tripling drive capacity may only show a doubling of cost of the drive. Consider getting an external USB drive too. They are affordable and very practical, particularly for backups and sharing data.
Optical Storage
Most PCs come with DVD-ROM drives, but if you intend to record to CD or DVD, make sure the drive has record capability. If you intend to watch (or rip) Blu-ray movies on the PC, make sure the DVD drive can read Blu-Ray - many do not. Optical data storage has generally become obsolete and most people archive their files to hard drives.
Monitors
Size of the screen is a very important choice. A larger screen allows for easier reading of text and more flexible seating options. Technical specifications help compare one monitor to another, but some specifications can be misleading. Readability and lack of eye strain over long periods of use are more important.
Desktop versus Laptop
The desktop computer used to be the most common type of computer sold; now laptops outsell desktops. But tablets outsell laptops.
| Desktop Pros & Cons | Laptop Pros & Cons |
| + Much more choice. + Modular parts make upgrades possible. + Industry standard interchangeable parts make repair possible. + Price. - Not very portable. - Not very small (this is changing though). - Tied to source of AC power. | + Portability. + Use much less space. + Great combinations of features. + Computer + DVD player + MP3 player in one. + Wireless capability out of the box. - Price. - Battery performance could be better. - Accessories and repair parts are expensive and can become rare in a short time. - All interface options may not be available. - Usability (keyboard / pointing device). - Upgrades unlikely. |
Enter the Tablet
Now the playing field has a new entry - the tablet. I'll compare it to the laptop only. They're lighter, smaller and have amazing battery life. The OS is usually much simpler and designed for touch. Programs are tablet-specific. Tablets usually can't interface with other hardware via USB, etc., but this is mitigated by a wireless connection and the cloud. Accessories are available to add keyboard, etc., but this misses the point of a tablet. My iPad has never been connected to another device or computer, even for backups or updates.
With 3 contenders for computing use, the choice is more complex and now typical consumers are likely to be choosing 2 or 3 from the PC / laptop / tablet combination.
Printer - Inkjet or Laser?
Inkjet printers are the least expensive and seem to be a great buy when you consider they can print in colour and produce photo prints as well. But many owners are shocked to see how quickly the ink cartridges run out and balk at the price of replacement cartridges. Many try to save money by refilling cartridges - a practise that you don't want to repeat too many times before buying a new cartridge. Laser printers tend to offer much crisper printing, especially text. Colour laser is finally becoming affordable, but does not quite produce photo quality - yet. Paper quality has as much to do with the quality of your print as the printer itself. Multifunction devices offer scanner, printer, fax and copier functions in one package. You'll save money, but be aware that if a multi-function breaks, you've just lost 4 functions. Beware of ink jet multifunction devices passing themselves off as laser printers.
Keyboards and Mice
Cordless keyboards, mice and duo combos seem like a great idea - no wires! Be aware these devices need batteries, which may not last long. A battery operated mouse might be heavier - something to get used to. Because they use radio frequency (RF) to pass data back and forth, interference from wi-fi and other RF sources, solid objects and distance will have an effect on performance.
No comments:
Post a Comment