| Buying a new PC can be a great dilemma for most of | | | | service center near your home rather than having to |
| us specially with the choice and wide range of | | | | carry your PC to a far flung crowded place. |
| products available these days. It's all the more | | | | 4. Select a good dealer - A dealer is whom you would |
| important that we make an informed and well | | | | have to deal with in future. So sometimes, a good, |
| researched choice rather than being influenced by | | | | friendly and considerate dealer can be more important |
| what a salesperson feeds you with. Let us start | | | | than a brand. If you have more than one dealer for the |
| stepwise and try and reach a better conclusion with | | | | same brand near you, select the one more convenient, |
| these tips. | | | | better established, and at a personal level more |
| | | | forthcoming. |
| 1. First and foremost, consider what your purpose of | | | | 5. Always buy a PC with original software bundled - It |
| buying a PC and its use to you is. The market these | | | | is always better to purchase a system that comes |
| days are full of a wide variety of configurations and | | | | preloaded with original, licensed software. With this, you |
| options to suit your requirement. Let us consider this - | | | | are entitled to regular updates, security alerts and |
| a.) If your basic use of a computer is to surf the | | | | offers from their websites. In case of any problem, |
| Internet, email, type some documents and basic excel | | | | you can report you license key and get support from |
| work, you would do well buying a lighter configuration | | | | them. The system remain more secure and |
| rather than high-end systems with costly processors. In | | | | trustworthy than what you are with a pirated operating |
| such a case, a cheaper Dual Core Processor would | | | | system. |
| be a better choice than a relatively costly Core 2 Duo | | | | 6. Check on the warranty - Different models from the |
| system. b.) If you need mobility and you do not need to | | | | same brand carry different warranties. Make sure you |
| work for long hours and do not use heavy applications, | | | | have read the one that your particular model comes |
| a laptop could be a better option. It consumes upto | | | | with. If a few hundred more is giving you 2 years extra |
| 90% lesser power and provides ease of use, but | | | | warranty period, go in for it. |
| beware - its repair and service are very expensive! | | | | 7. Take a good UPS- New PC, get a new and reliable |
| 2. Are there any budget constraints? If so, always try | | | | UPS. Very often your old UPS might not be giving |
| Not to compromise on quality and reliability. What that | | | | proper voltage or backup after say 4 years of use. Its |
| means is, stick to a brand that is reliable, is offering a | | | | always advisable to get a fresh one for a new |
| good warranty and after sales service and where you | | | | system or have the old one properly checked and |
| can get easy and quick support. What you can review | | | | serviced. |
| is - do you really need the configuration that you have | | | | 8. Take delivery in front of you- All said and done, you |
| shortlisted? Do you really need for example - a 350 | | | | don't want a "display piece"being sent to your home |
| GB Hard Disk? Do you really need a 2.6 GHz Core 2 | | | | after all the effort and expenditure! I have experienced |
| Duo processor? Review and reassess your | | | | this personally. Take delivery of the company sealed |
| configuration requirements or any accessories you are | | | | piece in front of you. Don't leave it to the dealer to |
| buying. But try not to go in for a local or assembled | | | | have it sent to your home later. They can very easily |
| product with non-genuine software/parts that you later | | | | pack a display piece from their showroom and send it |
| have to deal with. | | | | to you. |
| 3. Decide on a good brand - Survey and review the | | | | 9. Insist on having dust covers! Lastly, having spent so |
| brands available to you and take your decision based | | | | much, you are well entitled to a free set of dust |
| on the reputation of a brand, their models available in | | | | covers! Yes, insist on having them. Specially in a place |
| the market that fit your requirements and most | | | | like India, dust is the single most relevant cause of |
| importantly, are they providing support in your area. In | | | | most PC problems at a hardware level. Do have them, |
| the long run, you would have peace of mind with a | | | | and do use them! |