How to buy the right PC.
By
John Goulas
Ok,
say you want to buy a car. You walk in the lot, and your eyes settle
on the brand-spanking new ultimate driving machine. The sleek
curves, 580 horsepower engine, all the extras, speakers so big you
need earplugs to drive and acceleration so
fast you do 385 kilometers p/h from the garage to the end of the
driveway in reverse!
Do you really need all that?
No! You and I both know that cash permitting,
you'll be happy with the 1989 Toyota Corolla that'll get you there
without an oil change. So if people are informed and intelligent car
buyers, why do they demand so much from their computers?
Buying a real computer means buying one that
works for you and does everything you need it too. The speed
at which computers are evolving is exponential, every day another
breakthrough touts the fastest speed, the most
cores, the
smallest chip. I'll admit, it's tempting. But I'll bet over 90% of
you use your home computers for the same thing I do. E-mail &
browsing.
Something that takes 1Ghz of speed and
1GB of RAM to run. Buying
a computer is like a car in that it is an investment in a product
that you hope will give you productivity. If you invest in a Ferrari
of a computer, you're ensuring that you will be able to run the
latest software at the highest performance levels. But if you, like
the Corolla owner, just want to 'get there' you don't need the
speed.
So what do you look for in a real computer?
First, make sure it has the minimum’s to run
today's software. Nowadays, 4 megs of RAM just doesn't cut it. You'll
need at least 2Gb of ram to run basic system software. Most computer
systems come with a standard 4 to
16Gb of RAM as a standard option. Next up,
you'll need a monitor, and most likely a printer. Again, the "can
display millions of colours" option is nice, but unless you get it
in a package deal or you're spot checking works of art on-line, it's
not worth it, a standard 19" monitor is just right for
most applications today. The same goes for printers. Many companies
have an extensive line of Ink-Jet printers & lasers printers that
are more than capable of printing on high-quality papers with high
clarity. The colour capacities of those printers are improving every
day.
A note on the Internet. If you want to get
connected, you'll need either a direct connection or a modem. Since
direct connections are still a bit out of range for us plebeians
(though prices are falling daily), the modem route is the safest to
go. As modems go, 56kps was the high-speed standard for
analog modems. For me, to check my email and netsurf a bit, a
56K
modem is just fine. Since those are technically 'obsolete' you can
pick up one cheap. I got mine at the local Goodwill for 50 clams and
use it for a doorstopper.
Today most ISP offer ADLS / Fibre
from 512kps - 500,000kps (WOW!) or even wireless connectivity @ a variety of
connection
speeds, but again, that's an investment option that will cost you
more than 1000 clams.
Things to consider when buying a PC
What is the primary purpose of the PC.
What operating systems are you intending to
use. ( Windows 10 | Windows 11 , 32bit or 64bit
platform ?
Do you need to be connected on the World Wide
Web. (Fibre / Wireless)
Is e-mail a requirement. (Anti-Virus is a
must).
Do you need to send & receive
large files. (Office 365)
Are you going to play games on your PC
or use Graphic Design Software.
(Dedicated Graphic Card Essential)
Do you need to produce hardcopies of your
work ? ie: Printer / Black & white or colour.
(Inkjet / Laser ?)
Do you need to backup your work ? (A must
against data loss !) Flash
disks/ NAS Storage /Cloud Services etc)
Do you want to listen to Music or watch
movies on your pc, ie: Sound card & Good Speakers.
Do you need to scan in documents
electronically, ie: Scanner / All in one printer.
What
size screen do you need - If your eyesight is good a 19" will do,
24" recommended.
Need to be mobile, than maybe a
laptop
or tablet will
be preferred. especially with load shedding.
Look at your warranty period & your after
sales service. (Extended Warranties Available)
How much is it
costing you to run old Pcs?