| One of the primary mistakes made when buying a | | | | more than the one below it. A 500 GB HD can cost |
| new desktop computer is how much you spend. | | | | $100 more than the 250 GB HD. I recommend staying |
| If you spend too little in an attempt to save some | | | | in the 250 - 500 GB range. Going with a big, but not |
| money, you will likely get a machine that is not what | | | | necessarily the biggest HD, will keep you from having |
| you want or need. Economy machines, $300 or less, | | | | to upgrade or buy an external hard drive in the near |
| will end up costing you more to upgrade in the long run | | | | future, so it still saves you money. |
| as your computer skills and needs increase, if | | | | Next you need to look at the memory (RAM) for your |
| upgrading them is even possible. Then again if you get | | | | machine. RAM is one of the most overlooked aspects |
| a machine with all the bells and whistles you will likely | | | | of a new computer purchase. This is the one area |
| never use the power offered and will have wasted a | | | | where more is generally better. If you decide to get a |
| lot of money. This is what too many people mistakenly | | | | machine that is running Vista, I recommend nothing less |
| do in the hope that more is better. Remember | | | | than 2GB. With XP I would get no less than 1GB. Each |
| computers do not appreciate in value. In 2-5 years | | | | 1 GB of memory you add to your machine, before you |
| your high end machine, which can cost well over | | | | buy, will probably cost around $50, so staying in the 1 - |
| $1000, will probably be nearly obsolete anyway. | | | | 3 GB range is satisfactory. The memory helps |
| Set yourself a realistic budget, $400 - $700 should be | | | | determine how quickly your machine can process |
| enough. Then compare the specifications and prices of | | | | information, which is handy for making sure your brand |
| different machines from various manufacturers before | | | | new machine doesn't run slow. |
| you consider buying. Most importantly never let | | | | All new computers come capable of producing fairly |
| someone pressure you into spending more than you | | | | high quality graphics and sounds, so unless you are a |
| want and always ask questions if you don't | | | | true audiophile or plan to play a lot of graphically |
| understand something; the only dumb question is the | | | | detailed games on your PC sticking with the cards that |
| one you don't ask. | | | | come in the base model of the computer is generally a |
| First you need to look at the operating system (OS); | | | | good choice. This is also a good place to save some |
| the program that allows you to make the computer do | | | | money as upgrading the graphics/video and sound |
| what you want. Vista is the newest version of | | | | card can cost $100 or more. |
| Windows and comes installed in most new computers, | | | | DVD+/- R drives, which will play DVDs, CDs, and give |
| but don't discount XP. Windows XP is a few years | | | | you the ability to burn both, come standard in new |
| older but that means Microsoft has had plenty of time | | | | machines and are included in the price. If not, I would |
| to work out the bugs. Some machines still come | | | | recommend buying from a different company. DVDs |
| preloaded with XP, which could save you up to $100 | | | | hold substantially more than CDs and allow you to |
| depending on the manufacturer. | | | | save more data (pictures, music, etc) on fewer disks. |
| Next you should look at the computer's processor | | | | You also have the option of upgrading to a Blu-ray |
| (CPU). The base level processor in many new | | | | drive (DVD +/-RW BD-Rom) for about $200 or less. |
| machines is 2 Gigahertz (GHz). For someone whose | | | | While this is much cheaper than buying a Blu-ray |
| main interest is surfing the net, emailing and maybe | | | | player for your living room, I recommend using the |
| buying a little music on line a 2 - 2.4 GHz processor is | | | | extra $200 to get more memory, a faster CPU, bigger |
| ideal. Keep in mind that upgrading isn't cheap and going | | | | HD or take your family out to dinner. |
| from a 2 GHz to a 2.4 GHz CPU can cost up to $250. | | | | Flat screen monitors are pretty much the industry |
| The hard drive (HD) is the place where your computer | | | | standard and come with most new computer |
| stores all the programs, pictures and other stuff you | | | | purchases, but not all. If you already have a monitor |
| put on it. Choosing one, while important, can be a very | | | | that you are happy with, then you could save $200 or |
| costly. If you buy a lot of music online, download a lot | | | | more if you buy a machine without the monitor. If you |
| of videos, or install numerous programs you are | | | | do not have a monitor already, or want a new one |
| probably going to need at least 160 gigabyte (GB) of | | | | make sure that it is included in the price. If not, you are |
| storage. You can still buy machines with an 80 GB HD, | | | | going to be very upset when you have to spend a |
| but you will be amazed at how fast it fills up. Just keep | | | | couple hundred dollars to get one or you open that |
| in mind that each step up you take will run about $50 | | | | box to find a machine that you can't use. |