This article is drawn from a series of interactions in the Ask a Techo forum from 30 June 2004.
Buying a new computer? Consider this…
Are you confused with all the different models, chips, terms, brands, peripherals, options etc out there? Does looking through computer ads make you feel inadequate? You’re not alone!
The answer to the question of what to buy depends on what you want to use your computer for. If you're after the "desert warfare enabled spy satellite killer model" you'll need a different approach than if you only need to read your email and browse the web. The other factor is, of course, your budget.
If you already have a windows installation disk (or wish to use a free operating system), you shouldn't have to spend much more than $700 for a brand new system, certainly not much over $1000. (see the bare bones models at ARC as compared to the base line models at DELL which have XP included)
If you've got more money, look for a good warranty (more than a year), a DVD drive, and CD-RW unit and/or more memory (it should have at least 256MB of memory, but 512 is better).
If you're going to be running work applications you'll probably need a machine running the same operating system as you use at work (Windows, Unix or Mac OS) If there's an IT department at your work ask them for advice on this.
Another consideration is an external hard drive - remember those? Well they're now in USB format and about the size of a large purse/wallet. Other costs to consider with this option are a USB Hub so you can attach/detach your screen/printer/camera etc easily and don't have wires everywhere. Oh and then you might opt for wireless technology so you can more easily access the net when away from home.
If you have kids, get a computer that's capable of playing games - at the very least this means you'll need a 3D graphics accelerator card, possibly also a surround sound system.
If you buy locally it will make it easier to return faulty components and/or get technical advice, but try to buy your computer from someone who's still going to be around in a year or two, in case you have some warrantee issues.
Other than that, it's just a matter of jotting down any extra things you want to do with it (scan images in, print books, capture and edit video) which may need extra peripherals.
Remember that whatever you buy, it will be "computer junk" in three years. In other words, the lifespan of computers is about three years before they start feeling a bit slow and not up to the task of the latest applications and such. With that in mind, if someone offers you a system for $1500, ask yourself - Am I willing to pay $500 per year to use this system? - Am I going to get my money's worth?
If you're buying second hand, it's a whole different story. You really need to know what it is you're looking at, and have to know pretty much what the replacement value for each component is. On the whole, if you're not sure about what you're doing, then give second hand computers a miss.
