| Don't Waste Your Money On Your Next Computer | | | | download is to make a music CD or DVD. Simply |
| Purchase | | | | copying the files to a flash drive or other storage |
| Eager to take advantage of low advertised prices that | | | | device will not enable you to play them again should |
| look like great bargains, people often end up wasting | | | | you lose the originals for some reason (such as |
| their money by making these common mistakes when | | | | updating your software). |
| purchasing a new computer: | | | | Failure to Act: Could cost you real dollars in the long |
| 1. Memory neglect. In order to cut the price to the bone, | | | | run. Whether it is data or music, you need to backup. |
| vendors rarely include enough memory in the baseline | | | | Sometimes you may want to share something with |
| product. 512MB is not enough memory. 2GB | | | | another computer user and you are not going to want |
| (2030-2048MB) is a good baseline for a home or | | | | to part with your flash drive for this purpose. |
| office computer. If you are buying a computer for a | | | | 4. Failure to bundle Office products with your computer |
| "gamer" then start with 4GB. | | | | purchase. Exceptionally low-priced computers do not |
| Recommendation: ALWAYS add more memory. | | | | come with Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, or any |
| Failure to Act: Even if you just plan on performing | | | | other Microsoft Office product. Some come with |
| basic tasks like e-mail and word processing with an | | | | Microsoft Works, a product that is completely |
| occasional spreadsheet thrown in, the performance of | | | | incompatible with Microsoft Word, or other Microsoft |
| the system will be impacted. Simply applying the critical | | | | Office product. If you ever plan on exchanging a word |
| security updates that Windows, Office, and other | | | | processing or spreadsheet file with anyone else, you |
| programs regularly require will impact the performance | | | | will need one or more of the Microsoft Office |
| of your system noticeably, over a period of months, if | | | | products. Purchase what you might need with the |
| you don't have enough memory to start with. | | | | computer. |
| 2. Processor ignorance. Separate from the memory in | | | | Recommendation: Always purchase Microsoft Office |
| the computer (item 1), processors have their own | | | | products with the computer when given the chance. |
| memory. The lack of adequate memory on a | | | | The cost savings are considerably better than going to |
| processor can be the source of much frustration with | | | | the store and purchasing them separately. |
| a computer. Constant lock-ups or freezing, applications | | | | Failure to Act: You might spend a couple of hundred or |
| that run out of memory, even strange printing behavior | | | | more dollars than you would have if you had |
| may all be symptoms of a processor that lacks | | | | purchased the Office product(s) you needed with the |
| adequate memory. | | | | computer. The cost difference is definitely significant. |
| Recommendation: If the computer will be used for | | | | 5. Don't cut corners with your monitor. Buy the biggest, |
| very light Internet surfing and word processing or | | | | highest resolution, flat panel display that you can afford. |
| maybe balancing your checkbook, then by all means, a | | | | Again, these are often offered at a significant discount |
| Sempron(TM) or Celeron(TM) is all the processor you | | | | when bundled with a computer. We have yet to hear |
| need. If you plan on having more than two applications | | | | anyone express regret over buying a monitor that |
| open simultaneously, and use your computer more | | | | was "too big." Your eyes will thank you. |
| vigorously (word processing, spreadsheet, several | | | | Recommendation: High resolution, flat panel displays |
| Internet browser tabs or windows, and e-mail open at | | | | are the way to go and are almost always cheaper |
| the same time) then you need a more robust | | | | when purchased with your computer. Buy the best |
| processor. | | | | you can afford. |
| Failure to Act: A bruised and bloody forehead from | | | | Failure to Act: Buyers remorse and "tired eyes". If you |
| beating your head against the wall in frustration. The | | | | work on a computer for more than a couple of hours |
| cost of an entirely new computer. You cannot replace | | | | a day, you won't regret spending a few extra dollars |
| just the processor at a later date. | | | | on a good monitor. The cost of upgrading to a higher |
| 3. CD/DVD drives that don't write or are not fast | | | | resolution, larger monitor at the time you originally make |
| enough. Another way that vendors keep the price of a | | | | your computer purchase is much less than having to |
| computer down is to equip it with a slower, read only | | | | buy a whole new monitor at a later date. This is not |
| CD/DVD drives. DVD media has a much higher | | | | the place to try to save a few dollars. |
| storage capacity than CDs, so make sure you can | | | | Avoiding these common mistakes can greatly increase |
| always write to the DVD drive. | | | | the useful life of your computer and enhance your |
| Recommendation: Always make sure you can write | | | | computing experience. |
| to the highest capacity storage media. At some point | | | | The decision to purchase extended warranties, |
| you will need to write to the device to backup your | | | | anti-virus, and anti-spyware software with your |
| data, including any music you might download. Keep in | | | | computer are separate topics. |
| mind that the ONLY way to backup songs that you | | | | |