| As with everything else, buying a computer is easy if | | | | sure that they are all well-matched. |
| you know what you are doing. For those who do not | | | | When you purchase your next computer, you can get |
| know though, it can be a complete nightmare. People | | | | all the bits and pieces individually to get even better |
| who have had a computer before have a good idea | | | | value for money or a system more precisely tailored |
| about what they require and what they would like, but | | | | to your preferences. |
| for those who have never had a computer before, all | | | | Go for the largest screen, the fastest memory and |
| the components that make up a computer can seem | | | | fastest hard drive and the biggest memory (RAM) and |
| confusing. | | | | biggest hard drive (gigabytes) that you can afford. You |
| The clear answer is to purchase the best that you can | | | | do not have to have a great deal of 'space' for normal |
| afford, but this still might confuse some people, | | | | office work or normal surfing, but if you get into |
| because the best is not always the most costly. In the | | | | downloading music or films, then memory soon gets |
| computer world, 'the best' usually means the biggest | | | | eaten up, although you could always add a new |
| and the fastest. | | | | external (plug-in) hard drive later, in necessary. |
| Just to make it more baffling, 'the biggest' here does | | | | Make sure that you buy a computer that is not too old, |
| not always mean in size, but in capacity. The only large | | | | if you go second-hand. This is because you can |
| size that is important is the monitor. This is a quick | | | | up-grade computers for two or three years, but after |
| rundown of how to buy a computer and its | | | | that manufacturers change the casings and new |
| components: | | | | components will no longer fit - planned obsolescence, it |
| Before you buy a computer, think about why you | | | | is known as. |
| want one. If it is for educational purposes: that is surfing | | | | Get your computer from a well-known, reliable local |
| the web and looking up content, you do not need more | | | | store and make sure that it has a good guarantee. |
| than a basic desktop computer. If you are constantly | | | | Computers do not often go amiss, but you do not |
| on the move, then you might need a laptop, or maybe | | | | want to have to send it half-way across the country |
| cyber cafes will meet your requirements. | | | | and wait three weeks for it to be returned. If you are |
| This kind of machine is also sufficient for writing letters | | | | in business, get two. Perhaps a laptop and a desktop |
| and emails and almost any kind office work. Top flight | | | | and synchronize the contents of both so that you |
| computers are only required by games players and | | | | always have your data. |
| show-offs. | | | | Following these guidelines will guarantee that the |
| Buy a complete computer. That means acquiring a kit | | | | computer novice gets 'enough' of a deal and an |
| of: CPU (the 'computer'), monitor (screen), keyboard, | | | | adequate machine that is fit for purpose without |
| mouse, speakers and printer. This way you will just | | | | paying through the nose. |
| have to plug everything in and off you go - you can be | | | | |