Buying a Computer? Get
the Best Value for Your Money
© 2004 Reprint by permission only. All
rights
reserved.
by Matt Hyatt
Buying a computer isn’t always as simple as it might seem,
particularly when it comes to buying a computer on a
budget. While we all want to receive good value for our
money, it’s easy
to fall into the trap of basing our decisions almost
entirely on price. On the other hand, loading up a computer
with state of the
art components usually means parting with a lot of money
to make the purchase. The trick is to find a good balance
of price and
features. Here are some guidelines for making the right
choice.
Desktop or laptop: How will the computer be used?
Is portability important? Is price a major factor?
It’s hard
to beat the convenience of a laptop computer, but you’ll
pay a premium for the portability. Expect to pay at least
double for a laptop compared to a desktop computer with
similar performance. Processor: Intel and AMD both make good desktop processors,
but many experts prefer the Intel brand. Since virtually
all applications are written for the Intel platform,
there’s
a certain amount of comfort found in buying computers
equipped with Intel processors.
Whatever brand you choose, desktop users will do best
to look for a processor about two steps down from the
fastest available. In
early 2004, that means getting a processor running at
about 2.8 GHz with an 800 MHz front side bus (FSB) speed
for a desktop computer.
Laptop buyers are smart to shop for Intel’s Pentium M processor,
which provides good performance while conserving battery
power. Look for Pentium M processors running at 1.4 GHz
or faster. Memory: Memory (RAM) can impact computer performance
as much as processor speeds, so it’s important to buy enough
to keep your applications running smoothly. For most
of us running typical office applications, that means
buying somewhere between
512 MB and 1 GB of RAM. Although many new computers will
accept up to 2 or even 4 GB, most users will realize
a diminishing return
on their investment after 1 GB. Storage: Most office computer
users won’t need more than
20 or 30 GB of hard drive space, particularly when using
a computer attached to a network with a server. However,
buyers that plan
to store a lot of multimedia files might consider getting
80 GB or more. Look for hard drives with a fast rotational
speed of at
least 7200 RPM for desktop computers and 5400 RPM for
laptops. Operating System: Most new computer buyers are going to
have only two choices – Windows XP Professional or Windows
XP Home. Business users shouldn’t even consider Windows XP
Home because of its significant networking limitations.
XP Home is fine for home users interested primarily in
basic productivity, games, and educational software. Applications: There’s no better time to upgrade office applications
than when purchasing a new computer. Most major PC
manufacturers optionally bundle applications like WordPerfect
or Microsoft
Office with a new computer at a price much lower than
that of the same
items purchased separately. Savvy buyers can save $600
or more by purchasing computers and applications together.
(Note: Beware
of off-brand computers with bundled software, since
many black-market products still exist. Bundled Microsoft
software should
always
include a Certificate of Authenticity and a software
CD.)
By following these guidelines, buyers should end up with a
good computer that will last for years. The key is
to avoid making a purchased based solely on price or features alone.
Instead, find
a good balance between the two.
Matt Hyatt is founder
of Rocket IT, an IT consulting firm
near Atlanta, Georgia. For technology help with your business,
contact Rocket IT at 770-441-2520 or visit online at www.rocketit.com.
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