TIPS FOR BUYING A COMPUTER
Welcome to
the jungle of computer jargon, where there is an acronym for everything.
There are several things to consider when purchasing a computer, including
cost, usage, accessories, etc. Also, in the world of computers, everything
is always changing. What may be top of the line one month may be obsolete
the next. (Well, maybe not that quick!) This document is meant only as
a guideline.
FIRST,
you need to decide how much you can afford to spend on a computer.
Be aware that, with
computer prices dropping, sometimes you can buy a new computer for about
the same money as some used systems and you get a warranty to boot!However,
watch out for all that small print. A lot of deals offered require an additional
purchase, such as Internet service. Some companies, such as Gateway, offer
a payment plan.
SECOND,
you need to decide what you will be using the computer for.
Do you just need something
for word processing?
Do you want to have
access to the Internet?
Do you want to play
all those nifty computer games?
If
you want a computer simply for word processing, you won’t need as powerful
a system as you would for the Internet and games.
THIRD,
be aware of what actually comes with a system.
Is it just the CPU*?
Is the monitor included?
How about a printer?
Most computers come
with just the CPU, keyboard and mouse; no monitor included. Monitors can
be purchased separately. Watch for package deals, (computer, monitor and
sometimes even a printer) they often are a good buy.
FOURTH, what do all those words mean?
*What is a CPU?
The computer is often referred to as the CPU, which is in reference to
the central processing unit or the main processing chip. When the term
CPU is used, it generally refers to the box containing the hard drive,
CD ROM, and floppy drives.
And what about Megabytes
and Gigabytes? It takes 8 bits
to make a byte. It takes 1 byte per character. Now, there are 1024 bytes
in a kilobyte, 1024 kilobytes in megabyte, 1024 megabytes in a gigabyte,
etc. You can do the math to figure out exactly how many bits there is in
a gigabyte (roughly 1 billion).
Intel, Cyrix,
AMD? This is the processing
chip. Intel’s Pentium is the most familiar, however it is also the most
costly. For the average user (those who are not using the computer for
CAD [computer aided drafting] or graphic design) the AMD, Cyrix and Celeron
(also made by Intel) are good alternatives.
Pentium 4 1.6
GHz? This is your processor
speed. The example given would describe a Pentium 4 processor with a speed
of 1.6 GHz. The higher the number, the faster the processor. Currently,
processors are surpassing speeds of 2GHz.
Hard drive vs.
memory: A computer has and needs
both. The hard drive is where programs and files are stored. It is much
like a floppy disk, but it has more space on it and is much more stable.
This is called permanent storage.Memory
is what a computer uses to run a program. Generally, the more memory a
computer has, the more efficiently it will run programs. Memory
is temporary storage, when you turn off the computer, anything in memory
is wiped out.
CD vs. DVD vs
CDRW: The main difference between
a CD-ROM (compact disc) and a DVD-ROM** (digital versatile disk) is the
amount of information they hold. (The DVD holds about 6 times more data
than a CD.) ROM stands for Read Only Memory which means it can read from
the drive but can not save or write to it. Some companies are now offering
CD-RW (re-writable) and DVD-RW. These are the recordable CD and DVD drives.
This is useful if you create large files that won't fit on a floppy. Sound,
graphic, and video files are examples of large files. The 3 speeds given
are for read, write and rewrite. Most computers come with a CD drive installed,
however many are now being offered with DVD or CDRW.
BOTTOM LINE:
If you want a computer to do everything (word processing, Internet, games)
you should have at least the following:
-
128 MB RAM (256 is better)
-
56K V90 Modem, for Internet use (a
cable or DSL modem if available in your area))
-
CD-ROM >24X (go for the CDRW or DVD-RW
if you can afford it, especially if you have teens!)
Monitor > Go for
the 17” if you are going new. It is well worth the little bit extra!
Reducing
these specifications may work, but performance (especially in games and
Internet) will be affected.