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How to Choose the Right Desktop Computer |
| Before you shop |
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 | Decide if you're better served by the PC/Windows platform or the Macintosh. There is alot to decide here. Windows is the more common platform and also comes with a cheaper price tag. Windows platforms are also cheaper to expand (memory, hard drives, video cards, and other components). On the downside, Windows typically has more operating system issues and security issues. If you really have the money, the Apple Macintosh seems to be the best investment. Just make sure it is compatible with any programs you may need or use on a daily basis. Top brands are Dell, Hewlett- Packard, IBM, Gateway and Toshiba. Apple, of course, makes the Macintosh.
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 | Think about whether this machine will need to work with your office or school server. Compatibility is key. Exchanging files between platforms is less of an issue than it used to be, but it's still worth noting.
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 | Ask your friends, co-workers, or relatives what machines they have, where they bought them, if there were any problems, and whether they're happy with their choices. Word of mouth is a valuable source of input.
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 | Expect to spend $600 to $2,000 for a general-purpose machine, although you can find desktop computers for anywhere from $400 to $10,000. Remember, you get what you pay for. You always want to get the most you can afford when it comes to computers. If you get the cheapest model because you think you will hardly ever use it, your wrong. Your computer will be out dated in 1 year or less! If you get a top of the line computer, it can last 4-6 years easy. Usually the higher line computers have more capability to expand. This will allow you to keep up with changes until you are ready for your next pc.
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| The basics |
| Realize that if you buy a super cheap computer at a warehouse store or discounter, you're going to be on your own. Technical support from the major manufacturers tends to be a lot better. It is recommended to get at least 1 year of support. You will always run into some issues when you first buy a computer.
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| Buy as much random-access memory (RAM), or system memory, as you can afford. At a bare minimum, get 1 gigabyte (GB); 2 GB or 4 GB is preferable. Memory is more critical than a faster processor. A shortage of memory is the downfall of most systems.
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| Get at least two universal serial bus (USB) connections and a FireWire (also called IEEE 1394) connection. These will connect peripheral devices, such as a printer, keyboard, mouse, PDA, digital cameras and camcorders, scanners and game controllers. Also try to get ports for SD cards. This makes downloading and printing pictures much easier and quicker!
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| Get a CD burner so you can back up valuable data and make your own music CDs. Look into a DVD burner too if you're involved in film making or editing, but remember that there are multiple competing standards; computer-burned DVDs might not play in your home DVD player. Make sure your machine has a DVD drive if you want to watch movies on your computer. Also look for an internal modem.
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 | Ask about upgradability if you intend to use this computer for a long time, which is considered three or more years. Components that can be upgraded include: memory, hard drive, video cards, sound cards, modems, CD/DVD players, and more.
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 | Choose any current computer model from the major manufacturers with a high degree of confidence if you simply want to send e-mail, surf the Web and do word-processing.
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| Other considerations |
| Get high-quality graphics and sound if you plan to play games. Look for a system that has a graphics card with a coprocessor, and 5.1 Surround sound. You'll want a broadband Internet connection to play online games, and to improve your Internet experience overall.
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| Buy the biggest hard drive you can afford--200 to 360 gigabytes (GB) is now commonplace. Get more than 300 GB if you're storing music and/or editing video. For video editing, you'll also need a video input/output card and a FireWire connection.
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| Add a TV capture card, and you can even have your computer function as a DVR.
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