July 23, 2010

Buying a New PC, Part II

Filed under: Main — admin @ 12:01 am

The key to buying anything is to know what you want it to do. You buy a car for transportation. You buy food for sustinance. You buy a PC for ______? Fill in the blank and you’re already on your way to finding the perfect computer just for you.

Even if your needs for owning a computer are simple — Check email, browse the web, word process — that counts for something. The point is to know before you buy.

Here are some key questions to answer, which specifically pin down PC hardware needs:

  • Will you be playing games on the computer?
  • Will you be using photo-editing or graphics software?
  • Will you be storing lots of media: songs, videos, pictures?
  • Will you be creating media, such as editing video?

One you know what you want the computer to do, the next step is to look for the software you plan on using. You do not look for hardware, not yet. That’s because the software tells you how much hardware you need.

The side of the software box tells you how much hardware it needs: Processor, graphics requirements, memory, and storage. For example, Adobe Photoshop tells you exactly how much memory it would like to have. Games tell you which graphics card works best.

As you review software requirements, you total up what’s needed. Here are my suggestions:

  • Write down the processor requirements.
  • Write down any graphics requirements.
  • Total up how much disk storage is needed.
  • Use the highest amount of RAM (memory) needed.

For the processor and graphics, you can always ask the person in the store. They’ll know which is the best, but basically you want the best processor and best graphics card required by your software.

For disk storage, add up the totals. Add in 100GB for storing pictures and music. Add in another 100GB for storing video.

For RAM, just take the highest value suggested.

When there aren’t any suggestions, such as the software just claims that all it needs is a computer that runs Windows, you write down the specs for Windows. You’ll find them on the side of the software box.

After you get all that information, you’re ready to shop hardware.

Believe it or not, shopping for hardware doesn’t rely upon brand names or the big box store. It depends on service and support. There are two key questions:

Where does the computer get fixed? The best answer is “Right here!” The worst answer is that you’re responsible for shipping the computer back to some factory. Not good.

Where do you call when you need help? The best answer is “Right here!” The worst answer is a toll number you call to speak to someone whose first language isn’t English and whose goal is to get you off the line in 12 minutes or less.

For my money, the best place to buy a computer is a place I call the Mom & Pop store, a locally-owned business that cares for its customers. You pay more, but you get more. It’s worth it.

Finally, the last step is to buy the computer! I’m serious. When you’re ready to buy, buy!

I’m serious: Don’t wait for new technology. There is always a newer, faster computer coming “next week.” When you need to buy, after you’ve done your homework, buy your new computer!

2 Comments

  1. One of the biggest problems I have found people having is the ‘I-might-need-it’ phenomenon. They aren’t really into media related work, but they just might want to load Photoshop a few months/years from now. They don’t really play games, but the hear that the new ‘Title’ game is pretty good.

    This problem becomes more enhanced when you can just click on the new process/memory/hard drive on the online stores. Sure it costs a little extra now, but its much ‘harder’ to add RAM or change the hard drive later…

    Comment by sriksrid — July 23, 2010 @ 7:57 am

  2. The idea is to equip yourself with a PC that you don’t need to upgrade later. Sure, if you’re into that, then why not. But most people, especially first time buyers, probably won’t be into that. In fact, some users are surprised when I explain how they can upgrade their computers.

    Comment by admin — July 25, 2010 @ 9:19 pm

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