Introduction
Purchasing a personal computer can be a difficult task. However,
with a bit of preparation up-front, you can make the process much
easier.
The first thing to do is determine your specific computer needs:
- Desktop or portable? - While desktop computers tend to be more powerful and upgradeable, you can't put one in your briefcase for a meeting.
- What sort of applications will you be using? - Will you be
primarily using business applications like Microsoft Office? Will you
be working with digital video? Is the computer going to be used for
high-end graphics rendering?
- How much money can you truly afford to spend?
- Obviously this factor will determine what sort of computer you can
purchase. It's best to set a budget before starting the buying process.
- Which operating system do you prefer? - Over the past few years, Microsoft Windows and Apple Macintosh operating systems have changed in fundamental ways.
Desktop or portable?
In the past few years, technology advances have made laptop
computers much more affordable and powerful. However, a fast laptop
computer with a large hard drive will generally cost hundreds of
dollars more than a comparable deskop computer. Also, desktop computers
tend to have more room for extra hard drives, added RAM, and so on. Applications
Many of the advances in computer processor speed are driven by the
computer games industry, which is now bigger than the American motion
picture industry. Thesee 3D games require extensive processor power and
state-of-the-art graphics cards.
If you will only be using Microsoft Office, FileMaker Pro, web
browsers, and the like, you will not require the most powerful
technology available. If you are interested in using your computer for
digital photography or digital
video editing, a powerful processor and lots of hard drive space can
make the experience more pleasurable.
Cost
Computers range in price from sub-$1,000 all-in-one desktop
models to specialized multimedia production systems costing well over
$10,000. However, for most users, a quality system that meets business
and personal needs can be found for between $500 and $3,000, depending
on manufacturer, operating system, and whether the computer is a laptop
or desktop model.
One extremely important factor to keep in mind when shopping for a
computer is that total cost of ownership is ultimately more important
than the purchase price alone. In some ways, a computer is like a car.
You'll
want to research the reliability of past models from each manufacturer,
how long they last, what the service is like, and so on. Use the
Resources section below to find independent product reviews.
Operating System
Ford or Chevy. American League or National League. Democrat or
Republican. As such disagreements are to trucks, baseball, and
politics, so is the Macintosh vs. Windows argument in personal
computers. Thankfully, as computer technology matures and the Internet
becomes the center of our computing world, the differences between
Macintosh and Windows are diminishing.
For years, PCs running Windows have been dominant in business and
home use, because of less expensive hardware and a broader selection of
applications (software programs). Apple Macintosh computers have always
held firm in the education and creative markets because of their ease
of use and facility with graphics, audio, and video.
Both platforms have changed in recent years. Macintosh computers
have become more competitive in price, and the new OS X operating
system allows Macs to easly tie into Windows networks. Microsoft's
Windows 2000 and Windows XP are easier to use and more robust than
Windows Me, Windows 98, and Windows NT.
Microsoft and Apple are each adopting
their own "digital hub" strategies to make their operating systems work
seamlessly with digital cameras, MP3 players, digital video cameras,
and other devices. The only way to truly determine which operating
system suits your needs is to test Windows XP, Windows 2000, and
Macintosh OS X for yourself. |
