Computer Shopping Ideas
May 2010 Jimmy Newland
Buying a computer can be confusing but there are some simple things to consider that can save you money and headaches.
Stuff to know
CPU, RAM, HDD, SSD, CD/DVD burners, Video Card, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Operating System, Productivity Suite, Virus/Malware Tools
Desktops
Less is usually more. Unless you need a gaming or entertainment/multimedia system don’t get fancy since most computer use is Internet-centered which is not hardware-intensive. Think about the details - do you need a monitor, a printer, a mouse, a keyboard, speakers; how will access the Internet if at all - do you need a modem, Ethernet card, Wi-Fi card? Is the footprint an issue? Do you have a spot for the computer that is open, clean, and cool?
Bottom line: you can have a good computer for around $400 with all the stuff you need and around $300 without a monitor and you must be patient and diligent to save by building your own.
Laptops
The trade-off with a laptop over a desktop is portability over power. Is battery life an issue? Size or weight? WiFi vs. Ethernet? Ultimately do the added benefits outweigh the cost?
Bottom line: you can have a good laptop for around $500 but the deal-hunting rule still applies here. It is also much harder to build your own laptop than it is a desktop.
Netbooks
The tiny net-book is very short on power and the price hasn’t dropped as expected. It seems the Netbook is hanging around just for those that want an ultra-portable computer. The price point doesn’t make them the cheapest computer choice.
Bottom line: The battery life is great and if all you want is a very light-on-power Internet computer a netbook would be ideal.
Warranty dos-and-donts
Get at least 2-year warranty, avoid 3rd-party repair vendors, don’t overbuy a warranty, beware the moisture sensor, in-house vs mail-in vs carry-in vs phone-in repair.
Accessories you may need (but probably don’t)
printer, wireless router, speaker system, virus/mal-ware software, multimedia software, productivity suite.
Links
Vendors With Online Stores
Full-System Retailers
Do-It-Yourself Retailers
Directron (Houston-based)
(GoogleDoc version of this page)