I consider myself pretty knowledgeable when it comes to purchasing computers and in all my interaction with people and computer related issues I always try to explain things as simply as possible. Sort of like the line in an old movie where the attorney asks the person he is cross examining to "explain it to me like I'm a baby".

So when it comes to purchasing a computer here are 5 tips that will help make your computing experience better.

1. Always check the specifications of the software you are going to run to determine the type of computer requirements you will need. Software specifications always dictate hardware requirements. Most people go out and buy the computer first then spend time trying to upgrade the machine to work with the software.
2. Buy the most current CPU you can afford (whether it be a desktop or notebook). If the software requires a certain processor speed (ex. 1.4Ghz) usually the next speed up can be purchased for a few dollars more.
3. Get as many of the whistles and bells you can on the front side as opposed to the back side even if you don't think you're going to need them at the time of purchase. It's usually easier and cheaper to upgrade memory, hard drive size, DVD writers, sound cards, video cards, etc. at the time of purchase than to have them added later down the road. A good example may be a 200Gb hard drive that can be upgraded at the time of purchase to a 250Gb drive for an additional $15. If you waited and upgraded at a later date when you started to running low on available disk space, because you began using your computer to store videos, music files and games, it would cost considerably more than $15 factoring in the cost of the new drive, having your current data backed up, having the new drive installed and finally having the data restored to the new drive.
4. Consider the extended warranty. Most consumer computers (those not specifically designed for corporate/business use) come with a standard 1 year warranty. The average life of a computer is generally 3 -5 years. Consider purchasing an extended warranty to cover the computer for at least 3 years. These can generally be purchased for $35-$50 a year.
5. If you don't already own antivirus and spyware software make sure you purchase, install and keep current on your computer.

Because computers have begun to play a more integral part in our lives, a few common sense practices at purchase time can go a long way in creating an enjoyable computing experience.



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