Buying A New
PC
 It is a much-accepted
fact that a computer is one of the most important tools anyone can have.
Grabbing one of today's top-notch systems is no easy task. To the average
person, buying a new computer can be very frustrating.
Ads presented by computer dealers tend to use confusing terms that do
not always indicate the true capability of the product they are selling.
Consequently, buying the right computer for your needs has become a
confusing nightmare.
Mass Confusion - Manufacturers use terms such as MHz,
upgradable, 34x Speed, CDROM, and SVGA to describe how good their systems
are. Do you know what these terms mean? Does anyone? It should come as no
surprise that most people who sell computers have no real understanding of
these terms. Oh sure they can usually talk the talk, but they do not
understanding of what they are really saying.
Where do I buy? >Even the places you can buy computers
have changed. No longer are computers sold at technical stores only.
Computers can now be purchased in a wide verity of stores such as camera
shops, food warehouses, department stores, etc. Be careful when dealing
with the well-meaning salespeople in these stores. They may try to steer
you toward bargain machines. You should know bargain machines tend to
feature outmoded capabilities.
What tricks do I watch for?
- Case Styles - Some manufacturers tend to make the
computer case so appealing to the buyer that they will purchase their
product without considering the quality of the system. You can end up
with a worthless system that does not meet your expectations. In some
cases, you can end up paying more for the fancy outside of the computer
while the internal components are the same as cheaper models.
- Proprietary Components -
Some manufactures also tend to use
their own internal components that are available only from the seller.
This tends to drive the cost of upgrades or replacement of defective
components upwards.
So where do I
start? Before you run out and
by a computer there are a number of factors to consider that can have an
impact on the usability of your system and your pocketbook. You must ask
yourself several important questions before you buy a new system.
- "What do you want to use this computer
for?"
- Games - Will you be using it for Playing Games? If so,
depending on the level or type of games you like to play, you may need
a fast system (500-700 Mhz) system. This is especially true if the
game you are playing is graphics intensive. If the games are for the
kids (ages 3-9) then you will not need such a fast system. Also 700
Mhz may be too fast for some of the older games.
- Letters and Household Budget - Will you be writing letters
to friends or keeping a household budget? Well then, you probably will
not need a very powerful system (350 - 400Mhz or lower). However, keep
in mind that as you learn more about computers, you may want to use
programs that require a quality system. What we are trying to say here
is that graphics software requires a much more robust system than just
writing letters. Working with graphics requires more memory and a
larger hard drive.
- Learning Tool - If you want to use this new system as a
means to learn software use or about computers in general then get the
most powerful system you can afford. Even if you do not know much
about computers now. Buying a powerful system no will save you a bunch
in upgrade costs later.
- Where will I be setting the new
Computer? Where will the new system be positioned in your work
area? Will you have a large or small desk area, or will you want the
case to set on the desk?
- Will I need to Expand Later - How much expansion you will
want in the future? Will your new system accommodate additional
components? Will you want to add new capabilities to your system?
Capabilities to consider include:
- Faster CD-ROM drives.
- A Tape Backup system.
- A larger hard disk.
- A CD ROM Writer.
- Some of the standard expansion options include parallel and
serial, mouse ports; keyboard and game input ports. Make sure you have
enough add-on slots for devices such as scanners and USB devices.
- How easy is it to service the
system? How easily you will it be to service your new computer.
(Smaller case styles tend to be more difficult and time consuming to
repair or upgrade.) Does the system come with a good warranty? Anything
less than a 30 day return policy is not good. Warranties should be for
at least three years on parts and labor. Look for a warranty that
includes on site repair for the first year. Check out the technical
support offered by the vendor and the hours they operate. It can be vary
frustrating if your system breaks down during non-support hours. This is
especially true if you have to wait all weekend before you can reach
tech support.
- What about cost? In some
cases, you end up paying more for the fancy outside of the computer
while the internal components are the same as cheaper models. Each style
of computer has its own advantages and disadvantages. Systems with a low
price tend to have lower quality components. This can effect how long
your system lasts.
- Depending where you buy, the average cost of home PC will run from
about $600 to $2500. You want to make sure you get the most bangs for
your buck. As an example, a no-frills system typically features a 300
MHz processor, a 15-inch monitor, and limited software package such as
MS Works or Lotus SmartSuite. Heftier systems would include top of the
line 3D graphics and audio cards with much faster CPUs.
Buyers Checklist - Use this checklist
to help you decide what type of system to purchase for your needs.
- Desktop or Laptop - If any
of the answers below are "yes", then you may want to consider buying a
Laptop computer.
- Is the speed and performance of your system a secondary priority?
- Does it matter if the display is small and lacks the ability to
switch resolutions?
- Is a small footprint important to you?
- Do you need your PC with you when you travel?
- Do you have a relatively large budget?
- Can you live without future upgrades?
- CPU - When you consider
the number of competing CPU manufacturers, there is no easy way to
determine the right chip for you. However, the following statements
should help you get an idea of what to look for.
- Power Users - Most power
users have a never dying need for cutting-edge technology. They use
system demanding multimedia programs or games. Power users do not want
to upgrade their systems more than once every two years. If this
sounds like you, then go for the top end systems. Systems with the
Intel Pentium III 750 MHz or Intel Pentium III 1Gigahertz chip are for
you. It is possible to pick up a system for between $1500 and $3700.
Expect to pay more for added features like scanners, top line
video/sound cards, speakers, larger monitors, etc.
- General Users - Most
users fall into this category. The best prices and performance today,
are found in PCs powered by CPUs with speeds ranging from 450MHz to
550MHz. You can expect to pay between $899 to $2,000 for a system,
though you'll pay more for additional options. If you decide to go
with CPU chips such as AMD's K6-2 or Intel's Celeron you may get more
features, but at a price. AMD and Celeron chips installed on the wrong
motherboard can show degraded performance. Keep in mind some of the
lower end system have the Video and Sound cards integrated into the
motherboard. Integrated functions generally tend to have less quality
performance than add-on cards.
- Budget-minded buyers -
If you find you are not sure if computers are your bag, or you do not
have a lot of money to spend, you can find an assortment of PCs that
cost under $1000 dollars. Systems based on the Intel Celeron, K6-2, or
Cyrix MII sell for around $700. Make sure you buy at least a 450Mhz
Chip. (if you buy a system based on the Celeron, Make sure it has 128k
of L2 cache) These systems are bare-bones systems and do not give the
best of performance. As an example, one company is currently shipping
and Intel Celeron based 550 Mhz system for $899 complete with monitor
and speakers.
- Memory - We recommend as a
minimum, 64MB of memory. Any less will degrade system performance
especially when using graphic intense programs like games.
- If you are planning on using Windows NT or Web development
software, start with 64MB and go higher if possible. A god rule of
thumb is have memory installed that is twice the size of your typical
graphic image.
- Don't ever let anyone sell you just 32 MB for even low budget
systems. Windows 95 uses a minimum of 15MB just to run. That leaves
only 1 MB for your programs to use.
- Monitors
- The15 inch Tube - We
recommend a minimum of 15 inches. The 15 inch monitor is good for most
business applications and offers 640 X 480 or 800 X 600 SVGA
resolutions. Be aware that some bargain PCs offer 14 inch convex-tube
monitors. It is better to upgrade to a Sony Trinitron tube. They have
the best possible resolutions.
- The 17 Inch Tube - If
you are going to be working with desktop publishing or spreadsheets we
recommend the 17 inch monitor. This particular monitor is the best all
around monitor you can get for most desk tops. It offers a wider and
larger viewing area that makes long sessions easier on the eyes. You
will find that different brands are labeled with different sizes of
display areas. Some may advertise only 15.9 while other will offer
16.0 inches diagonal. Be aware that all monitor sizes are measured
diagonally across the viewing screen. We recommend this size tube for
most home users.
- The 19 Inch Tube - While
most people think bigger is better, this is not always the case here.
Depending on your desktop layout, a 19 inch monitor can actually be
harder on your eyes if it is too close. Not to mention the cost of
these monitors is very high. This size monitor is usually reserved for
Computer Aided Design (CAD) applications. Resolutions of1600 X 1200
are easily viewed on this size monitor.
- Storage
- IDE, The Best Value - For the average home user, IDE Hard Drives
are by far the best choice. These drives plug directly into the
motherboard and require no additional hardware to make them work. IDE
drives are also much cheaper than other choices. Buying the right size
is important. With the size of programs ever increasing with each new
version, you should purchase a system with at least 8GB storage
capacity.
- These drives plug into the IDE connectors on the systems'
motherboard and require no additional controller cards. They also
offer the best cost-per-megabyte--around two cents for larger drives.
Stay with the most popular drive manufacturers like Western Digital or
Quantum. They are currently the best drives on the market.
- SCSI Drives - SCSI drives cost much more than IDE, and offer
greater expendability. You can install more drives per controller (7
drives) than IDE (IDE max of 2 drives per controller). The problem is
in addition to the cost of the drive; you also have to purchase a SCSI
controller and bus cable.
- External storage Devices - External drives like the 100 MB Iomega
ZIP drive and the Imation 120MB Superdisk LS-120 are now being offered
as standard equipment on the medium to high level systems.
- CD-RW (re writable CD) drives - A few vendors are starting to
offer CD-RW re writable CD-ROM drives as extra equipment. Rewritable
CDs, although expensive, make excellent devices for backing up your
system. Most writable CD disks will hold up to 650 MB of data.
- Graphics
- The type of graphic (video) card you select has a major impact on
how well your system displays graphics. The type of motherboard
determines whether you get a PCI or AGP based graphics card bundled
with your system. AGP uses a dedicated graphics bus which connects
directly with main memory. This makes the card more suitable for games
that use large 3D images. Don't buy a system with less than 4 MB of
display memory. You will thank yourself later.
- Internet Access (MODEMS)
- Over the last few years, Modem speeds have steadily increased.
With the advent of new technology, Internet users now enjoy much
faster download times than when the World Wide Web was first created.
There was a time when most people thought the maximum speed of modems
would never be above 28.8K or 33.6K. To get higher speeds, you'd need
a different type modem that could not work over standard telephone
lines. Recent breakthroughs in 56k technology have brought us the
capability to download data from the Internet at seemingly breakneck
speeds. Please read our articles on 56k Modems and Cable Modems for
more information.
- CDROM
- The question is do you buy a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM. While DVD has a
storage capacity of 4.7 GB, there are not many uses for this at
present. The problem is there is very little non-movie software
available at present. The other things to consider is that DVD-ROMs
are proprietary. Each vendor implements DVD technology in his or her
own way. We recommend a 34x or 40x CD-ROM drive.
- Sound Cards
- Sound cards offered in most medium to high priced systems are
pretty much standard. Names like Ensonic, Sound Blaster, and
Tirtle-beach are good names to go with. For most PC applications
(including Games) you need a sound card that supports wave table and
MIDI, playback. PCI sound cards can reduce performance bottlenecks in
some demanding games, but don't get too hung up if the system your
buying includes an ISA sound card.
- Speakers
- The majority of the budget systems are supplied with low-end
speakers that meet the basic need of the system. We suggest you
upgrade to three piece systems for better audio playback. If possible
look for Altec-Lansing ACS290 or ACS495 speakers. You will not be
sorry.
- Expansion
- While some of the budget PCs come in Desktop cases, the majority
of PCs are put together in mini-tower configurations. Mini-towers
provide much more expansion for both PC Card slots and drive bays.
Look for PCs that include a Universal Serial Bus (USB). USB offers a
higher-speed digital connection and offers a plug-and-play upgrade
experience in most cases.
- Support (reprinted from Computer
Shopper)
- Shipping Charges: Don't
assume that the vendor who has the lowest price will cost you the
least overall. If getting the lowest price is your top priority,
contact several vendors after doing a search on computer shopper.com
and verify the shipping charges before buying.
- Money-Back Guarantee:
Insist on a 30-day, no-restocking-fee return policy, but realize that
you'll most certainly lose the initial shipping cost and possibly the
return shipping, too, if you make a return. One caveat: Some vendors
don't pay for opened software, so check out your system thoroughly
before cracking the seals.
- Tech Support: When You
Need It: Many vendors offer operators 24 hours a day. Some vendors
substitute Web-based tools for 'round-the-clock support to help you
diagnose yourself. Take a look at these beforehand to see if they suit
your needs and think about whether the hours for live support match up
with times you can call. Don't forget to account for time-zone
differences.
- Warranties: In general,
look for three years on parts and labor, including one year of on site
support. However, keep in mind that a solid one- or two-year warranty
may be better than a three-year policy that lacks certain terms you
want such as on site installation of replacement components.
- Know the Terms: Above
all, know the terms of the service policies before you buy. For
example, find out whether you need to install replacement parts
yourself in the event of a defect and what types of service merit an
on site call according to the vendor's policies.
Systems we recommend - As we
have said before, buying a system can be very frustrating. There is a
large number of vendors who are all screaming their systems are the best.
How do you make the choice? After you have decided on what you will be
using your new computer for, decide on a maximum price you are willing to
pay and the features you want. We can not tell you which vendor will be
the best for you. We can only point you toward some of the better choices.
| Please Note:
The links in this document are provided on an as is basis without
prior knowledge of their content. The act of providing this service
DOES NOT CONSTITUTE GOVERNMENT APPROVAL OR
AGREEMENT to or with the material presented in these links.
The opinions stated in his publication are of the writer only, and
DO NOT CONSTITUTE GOVERNMENT APPROVAL OR
AGREEMENT. |
| The government
accepts no responsibility for actions resulting from the use of this
information. The person using this information assumes all
liability, including but not limited to damage to equipment, lost
data, lost work time, repair costs, long distance charges, and any
lost opportunity. THE INFORMATION IN THIS
PUBLICATION IS PROVIDED AS IS, WITH NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND.
|
| The links
below were active at the time of creation of this file. The
government accepts no responsibility for links that do not work, or
a URL that links to subject matter other than stated in the
text. |
| Vendor Reviews - To
help you understand more about the companies who manufacture
home-oriented desktop PCs, we suggest you go to the following Web
site: ZDnet Computer Reviews |
| For more information on PC components we suggest you go to the
following WEB Page: Computer Shopper Buyers Guides |
| Price Scan / Price Watch-
To help you find the best deal we suggest you check out
these sites. Both sites cover a wide range of products to include
electronic equipment, books, and computer systems.
Pricescan.com/
Pricewatch.com/ |
Individual Vendor Web Pages (The
main Competitors)
|
