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!

PC Buying Tip #1: Vista

Any new PC you buy these days will almost certainly come with Windows Vista. And that’s a good thing, because despite the constant bashing that Vista receives, its actually pretty good. It runs everyday applications, like Word and Firefox, just fine and does everything that normal people want it to do. It’s fine for most people. The only reason you should opt not to get Vista is if you need a certain application and it doesn’t work with Vista (if it is a modern application, a Vista version will probably come out soon).

Also, you can’t wait forever. Sooner or later you’ll have to switch to Vista. So why not make things easier and just take the plunge now?

However, Vista does have some hefty system requirements, so make sure your PC is adequately prepared. Don’t follow Microsoft’s recommended system requirements – they are too low. In order to run Vista with smooth and effective performance, you will need:

• A modern dual-core processor (almost all PCs sold today have one).
• At least two gigabytes of RAM (this is the area in which many PCs are lacking, make SURE that you have two gigabytes or more, otherwise Vista will run slowly).
• Any modern graphics card with 128 MB of RAM or more (almost all PCs sold today have one).

If your system meets or exceeds the above specifications, then you should be happy running Vista. It’s prettier than XP and it does offer some handy new features. Try it. I’m sure you’ll like it.