Home computers are rapidly becoming a necessity in the home. Whether you want to use one to finish up jobs from the office or to allow the children to get their school projects done, a computer has no doubt become an essential element to completing some of our basic everyday tasks. But what should you look for when buying a home computer?
Purchasing a computer for the home should be done with great precision and thought. After all, it is indeed a major purchasing decision to make. With that in mind, one has to consider a few things when buying a computer, all of which involved understanding the benefits of owning one, not just for themselves but their entire family.
Cost is the usually the first deciding factor when it comes to making such a purchase. Whether you decide to purchase a new or old system, you should always be sure that you are getting your money’s worth and that the system has everything on it that you require to do all of the things you plan on doing. Ask yourself a number of questions. Will you be watching movies on the computer or just using it for word processing? Are you interested in being able to play mp3s? Consider the types of programs you may need to do the things you want.
A brand new system can cost anything between $500 - $3,000 depending on the software you want and the speed of the internal processor. If you are interested in a particular brand name, this may affect cost as well. The less expensive computers could range from $50 -$300 in price, especially if you decide to have an outside source build a computer to your specifications from scratch.
Sometimes individuals purchase a used computer because it is obviously cheaper than those available at the stores. If this is the case with you, it is recommended that you carry along your company’s IT person or a computer expert/friend to perfectly check out the system for you. Used computers can come with a myriad of problems, so it’s important to know exactly what you are getting for your money. If you are unable to find a friend to accompany you, be sure to ask a lot of questions about the warranty on the system, check the computer’s shell, and look for scratches, dents or evidence of a fall.
Have the seller power up the computer and make mental notes so you can report back to your computer friend for evaluation. Remember, the more you pay for your computer, the more added attractions and features you will get. But sometimes added price means added reliability. For example, if you are interested in executing more creative applications (such as graphic design of music production), you may want to consider purchasing a Mac. These tend to cost more, but they are more stable and are known for creative applications. On the other hand, if you are solely interested in accessing the internet and using email, you may only need some form of a PC. These are much less expensive and easy to operate.
Most professionals who are interested desktop publishing and design usually go for the Macintosh because of its Photoshop, Illustrator and Quark Express programs. But many of these programs have also made its way on the PC platforms as well. Still, according to some experts, Macintosh remains the forerunner when it comes to design programs, while PCs are good for word processing. What many people fail to understand is that Macs are much more stable in general. They tend to crash less and perform more consistently.
The operating system in a computer is also very important. This is the software that actually makes the computer run, and these programs include Windows 98, Windows XP and Mac’s OSX. So you may want to inquire about the latest operating system on the computer that you want to purchase. Most will come with the most updated versions of the OS software, unless you are purchasing a used system.
Another aspect to consider when purchasing a computer for the home is the amount of RAM on the system. The amount of RAM affects the speed of the computer every bit as much as the processor itself, so the more RAM you have, the better. The RAM on computer should be around 512MB or higher, but no less than 256MB. Again, most new computers will meet these minimum requirements.
You will also want to consider the size of the hard drive. Depending on the kind of work you are doing, you may require a computer with a large hard drive. For example, if you are working with a great deal of music and video files, you will want a larger hard drive (250 gigabytes of more). On the other hand, if you are only doing word processing, you may only need a hard drive as low as 80-100GB.
After you have decided on the software that you want to load on your computer, whether it is to complete spreadsheets, page layout or word processing, the biggest decision would be to either purchase a desktop or laptop. Desktop computers are much less expensive than laptops, and they often have a much greater memory and processor speed capacity. On the other hand, laptops are not only portable, but they are lightweight, sleek and ideal for businessmen who spend a great deal of time out of office.
Ultimately, purchasing a computer is dependent on your own personal needs. With so many options available on the market today, it’s relatively easy to find the perfect choice for your own desires.