Buying a computer can be difficult if do not first assess your needs. Here is a list of 10 tips to get you started when buying a new computer.
There are several important factors to assess when buying a new computer that go far beyond just whether you want a desktop or a laptop computer. You need to assess your needs, the amount of money you are willing to spend, the computer’s core configuration, and other important aspects to ensure you get the right computer at the right price.
Listed here are 10 tips on how to buy a computer. These tips should be enough to get you started and see you through your new computer purchase. Remember that everyone’s computer-buying experience is different. What works for one computer buyer does not always work for another. Feel free to custom tailor these tips to suit your individual needs.
Tip 1: Do You Need a New Computer?
So often, new computer buyers are so caught up in the purchase of a new computer that they forget to stop and ask whether the new computer is necessary. Perhaps a new operating system was just released or the newest speed RAM (Random Access Memory) was just developed. The fact is, many new computers do not offer any significant advantages over sticking with an older computer. Be sure you really need a new computer before you hand over money for a new one.
Tip 2: How Much Do You Want to Spend on Your New Computer?
Before you even start looking at computer features such as CPU and Graphics Cards, take some inventory on how much you want to spend on a new computer. If you have only a few hundred dollars to spend, you will be severely limited in your choices, especially when it comes to computing power. Having too much to spend can be a problem too because you may be tempted to buy far more than you need.
Tip 3: Decide on Your Computing Needs
The best way to decide on your computer needs is to ask yourself the following question: what is my current computer incapable of that warrants the purchase of a new computer? If you can’t answer this question quickly, you may have fallen into the clutches of a marketing campaign (see Tip 1 above) that makes you feel you need something new that is not really going to benefit you. Just because a new version of an operating system has been released does not mean you absolutely need it now no matter what the companies are saying. They have something to sell to you and will say just about anything to get you to hand over your money.
Tip 4: Should You Buy a Desktop Computer or a Laptop Computer?
This question can be a difficult to answer. Typically, laptop computers do not offer the processing power of a desktop computer. However, what you lose in power, you gain in portability. Some laptops are capable of near-desktop processing power carrying in them ample RAM, fast CPUs, and generously sized hard drives. These laptops tend to cost well over $1,500 and some climb above the $2,000 mark. If you need a “Desktop Replacement” laptop, the price may be worth getting portability and power in one package. If you care only about power, go with a desktop computer. If you only need portability, go with a laptop computer. If you need both, you may have to shell out the big bucks.
Tip 5: Decide on Your New Computer’s Core Configuration
A computer’s core configuration refers to its most important parts. These parts include the CPU, RAM, Hard Drive storage, and the other components that increase capability such as USB ports, DVD Drives, Blu-Ray Drives, and IEEE 1394 ports (FireWire). Again, ask yourself what you need this computer to do. If you take and store many pictures, you need accessible ports such as USB or eSATA and you need plenty of hard drive storage. If you are into hard-core gaming, you need lots of processing power, RAM, and a high-powered video card. Do not just settle for the configuration the computer manufacturer is suggesting you buy. Those prefabricated computers are designed to appeal to the average user and typically benefit the manufacturer more than the end consumer.