| It's a great time to buy a new computer. New | | | | gaming on your system you should consider a |
| computer systems are extremely fast and have | | | | multi-core over a dual core. Other than that, you're |
| almost unheard of amounts of storage space coming | | | | probably set with the processor your system comes |
| right out of the factory. You can get a lot of computer | | | | factory-installed with. |
| for your money. Selecting the best computer for your | | | | Memory is your next component. Having more |
| needs is not hard to do, it just takes a little planning. | | | | memory significantly improves the performance of |
| First think about how you'll use your computer. If you're | | | | your system. You will want at least two gigabytes of |
| mobile and think that you'll need to carry your | | | | RAM (memory) - but I recommend you get as much |
| computer with you, a laptop is a good idea. However, if | | | | as your system can handle. Many will allow eight |
| you won't need your computer on the go, get a | | | | gigabytes or even twelve gigabytes. Get as much as |
| desktop computer. You get a much more powerful | | | | you can afford and your system will take. It will greatly |
| system with a desktop computer - at a much lower | | | | enhance the speed at which your computer performs |
| price. Plus, desktops are much easier to repair and | | | | and is especially vital if you'll be doing heavy gaming or |
| warranty repairs can often be done at your house. | | | | using business applications such as Photoshop or video |
| Laptops almost always have to be sent back for | | | | editing software. |
| factory work. | | | | Hard drive size is another consideration. Like |
| There are several major options to consider when | | | | processors, computers are shipping out of the factory |
| you're choosing your computer system. First, | | | | with top-of-the line hard drives. If you're going to be |
| remember that your computer is separate from your | | | | storing only documents and email on your computer, |
| monitor and your printer. You can buy whatever size | | | | hard drive size is not as much of an issue. But if you'll |
| monitor and whatever kind of printer you want to go | | | | be putting your music collection or digital photos on |
| with your computer. Unless you're going to buy a | | | | your computer, get as big of a hard drive as you can |
| bundled set, you can choose those later. I'll focus just | | | | afford. You can get hard drives with more than 500 |
| on computer options right now. | | | | gigabytes of storage, and even with a terabyte of |
| Your computer has Operating System on it. This is the | | | | storage or more now, and if you upgrade when you're |
| system that you use to navigate the computer. If you | | | | buying your computer you can often upgrade hard |
| go to a store and buy a PC (personal computer) | | | | drive size pretty inexpensively. |
| today, you're most likely going to get Windows. | | | | If you'll be gaming or using a lot of photo or video |
| Windows is the most common operating system and | | | | editing software on your computer, you'll want to |
| it's a pretty good one. Make sure you're getting | | | | consider the graphics card your system comes with. |
| Windows 7, which is the most recent version of | | | | The average user will be fine with the on-board |
| Windows and greatly improved over the last release. If | | | | graphics your computer comes with. But do look into |
| you're buying a Mac you'll get the Mac OS on your | | | | upgrading if you know you'll be using graphic-intensive |
| computer. You can also order some computers that | | | | games or image editing software. |
| come preinstalled with Linux, often Ubuntu Linux. You | | | | Now that you've considered your computer |
| can get these systems with support from Dell and a | | | | components it's time for the fun of choosing a monitor |
| few other companies. Your operating system depends | | | | to go with your computer - wide-screen LCD's give |
| on your own preference. | | | | great picture quality and they don't take up as much |
| Processor speed is the next consideration, but luckily | | | | room as old, boxy monitors. Have fun picking the right |
| for those of us who aren't technically inclined, it's not as | | | | display. Now is the time to add the printer with the |
| vital to understand as it once was. Even the most | | | | features you'd like, as well. |
| basic machines tend to come with at least a 2.0 | | | | Buying a new computer could never be easier - or |
| gigahertz processor. Generally the processors are at | | | | more budget friendly. Machines are powerful right out |
| least dual-core and most are multi-core. This is plenty | | | | of the box, and just a few tweaks can give you a |
| for a home computer system. If you'll be doing a lot of | | | | computer customized perfectly to your needs. |