PC Tip #2: Choosing the right PC for you

Purchasing a new PC may seem like a daunting task to some. That’s hardly the case. With just a bit of knowledge, you can make your PC buying experience quick, easy, and fun.The first step in purchasing a PC is deciding whether you really need a new one or not. If all you do is surf the web and word processing, a 3 to 4 year old PC will do. However, if your old computer died, you’re into playing the latest games, doing intense graphics work, or something of the sort, then you probably need a new computer.

The second step in the purchasing process is deciding if you need a desktop or a laptop. Laptops have gained popularity in the last few years due to the reduction in price, size, and portability. They’re also very powerful now. They come in all shapes and sizes, suited for all purposes. If you’re just performing basic tasks such as surfing the web or doing word processing, a laptop should do just fine. And you can find some great deals online if you look hard enough. But, if you want to do more intense things with your computer, such as play games or do graphics work, then a desktop would probably be a better choice.

Ok, now you’ve decided between a desktop and a laptop. The next step is choosing what components to buy in your computer (the components you choose will determine how fast your computer will be). Some of the biggest mistakes people make when purchasing new computers are component related. It’s important to understand your needs in order to properly judge what you should buy. I’ve created a table showing what I think the different levels of computer users are.
Desktop

NOTE: If you don’t need a monitor, subtract $150 from the price.

	Needs	Typical Components	Typical Cost
Typical home user	Word processing, Internet browsing, Listening to music.	Low-end Core 2 Duo processor, 2GB of RAM, 100+ GB hard drive, low-end video card, Windows Vista Home Premium, 19-inch monitor.	$699
Gamer/Intense Graphics work	All of the above + playing the latest and greatest games	Quad-core processor, 4GB of RAM, 200+ GB hard drive, high-end video card, windows Vista Home Premium, 22-inch monitor.	$1500

Laptop

	Needs	Typical Components	Typical Cost
Typical home user	Word processing, Internet browsing, Listening to music.	Low-end Core 2 Duo processor, 2GB of RAM, 60+ GB hard drive, low-end video card, Windows Vista Home Premium.	$750
Gamer/Intense Graphics work	All of the above + playing the latest and greatest games	Quad-core processor, 4GB of RAM, 200+ GB hard drive, high-end video card, windows Vista Home Premium, 22-inch monitor.	$1500+

Final Word

I recommend buying computers online; they are much cheaper online than if you were to buy them in retail stores. Places like Dell, HP, and Lenovo offer great PCs and great deals.

Remember, the key component in buying a computer is deciding what you actually need, so once you do that, you should be fine. Always do your research before you buy; don’t let a salesperson tell you what you should get.

Good luck!

Windows Vista: One Year Later

It’s that time of year again! Vista’s first birthday has recently past, and I think this would be a good time to look at some of the changes that have occurred since its release back last January.When Vista first debuted, it was getting criticized left and right. The general consensus of any new operating system is usually terrible at first, but that’s just the initial reaction. People always think new = bad, even when it’s not the case (and it clearly isn’t with Vista). Nowadays, Vista’s criticism has reduced. More and more people are adopting Vista now (although that may only be because people are forced to get it with new computers), and I see less complaints. Most of the Vista hysteria has died down and people are actually starting to take a serious look at the operating system.

Microsoft is doing a good job of fixing Vista’s problems. More and more drivers are being released, in addition to the steady flow of patches. SP1 is due soon, which should make some people happy (the beta is out now).

Initially, people complained that Vista’s system requirements were too high. These days, however, PCs are shipping with more-than-adequate hardware to run Vista. Almost every new PC on the market can and does run Vista very well.

I’m sure that Vista will meet with high regard; it’s just a matter of months now. It has great technologies and is extremely slick. Also, Microsoft is going to pull XP from the sales channels soon, and it will reach its end of life eventually. That should be incentive enough for most people.

Vista isn’t without its flaws, though. There is still some hardware that doesn’t work with Vista, even though it should. Some people purchasing new PCs are still having issues with Vista and their hardware, even though Vista came on their PC (although the number of these occurrences is small). Some software still doesn’t work too but all that should be fixed soon.

All things considered, Vista is a wonderful operating system. It works well, has neat features, and is pretty. It does what people want it to do, and it should satisfy the needs of most people. It has no problems running major applications (Word, Firefox, iTunes, etc…) and it works with most hardware. All in all, Vista should be just fine for you, and I encourage you to give it a try. I’m sure you’ll like it.

Why The Apple TV Won’t Take Off

 

Don’t get me wrong. The Apple TV is a great device; it’s going to revolutionize digital media. But, it won’t take off. Not now, anyway. It’s too soon. Consumers aren’t keen on buying another $200 box to add to their home theater that just watches movies, when they already have a device that does that perfectly well. Some argue that the HD-DVD vs. Blu-Ray war will make consumers flock to online downloads, and I just don’t think that’s true. Online services are too complex and foreign to consumers. Not to mention the bandwith problems. Consumers will continue to do things the way they’ve always done them. They will still rent/buy DVDs, and they’re perfectly happy with the quality because of up scaling. The Apple TV is a good product, and I think it will catch on in time, but right now it’s too early.

When I say consumers, I mean “normal people”. Not geeks. Clearly this stuff will be popular with the geek crowd, but for a product to truly be successful, you need the support of the “normal people”.