| |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
Buying a New Computer
Help for Computer “Newbies”
For someone who didn’t
grow up with computers available during their school years, or for
anyone who isn’t directly involved in the IT (information
technology) field, computers can seem like tricky business, especially
when it comes to buying one. How could you possibly know what you
need if you don’t even know what all those silly acronyms
such as RAM, HDD and CPU mean? While a computer salesperson can
certainly help to alleviate any uncertainties, we understand that
it can be quite overwhelming to talk to a salesperson without any
prior knowledge about what you are shopping for. Let us help you
arm yourself with knowledge so you can feel secure about making
the right choice for you.
For starters, let’s distinguish
what we actually mean by ‘computer’. When we talk about
the ‘computer’ we are meaning the box or tower to which
everything else is attached. Everything else is called ‘peripherals.’
These include the monitor, keyboard, mouse, speakers, etc…
They are also called input and output devices since they take in
the information we give them and then display or give out the information
we are looking for. We will mention these peripherals again later,
but for now, let’s use an analogy to understand the different
parts of the computer. |
 |
One way
to understand the different functions of the various computer parts
is to compare a computer to a desk. RAM, or Random Access Memory,
can be compared to the flat, open space on top of the desk. This is
the working space of the desk or computer where we can spread out
our papers or files and work on them. How many MBs (megabytes) or
GBs (gigabytes) of RAM you have determines how many applications or
files you can have open at any given time, without slowing down the
system, or cluttering up the desk. 512MB is an adequate amount of
RAM for the typical home user, while 1GB (1028MB) or more will be
required for more advanced gaming or higher end applications. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| The
HDD, or hard disk drive can be compared to the file cabinet in a desk.
This is where all your programs and files are stored permanently (well,
sort of…see article called backing up your data). The more GBs
your hard drive has, the more information and programs it can store.
The smallest hard drive sold these days is 40GB, which is more than
enough for most users. HDDs up to 1000GB are available for purchase
for those users interested in storing exorbitant amounts of multimedia
files such as video and sound. |
|
 |
The
CPU, or central processing unit, can be compared to your own eyes
and hands in terms of how fast they can look at and manage all the
tasks on your desk, or in the RAM. It also goes into the file cabinet,
or HDD to both retrieve and store information. The CPU is concerned
with speed, not with space. It is measured by how many MHz (megahertz)
or GHz (gigahertz) it cycles through per second. The slowest new PC
sold today runs about 1GHz (or 1000MHz). This is more than enough
speed for the typical home user. |
Pentium
4 Processor |
| For those devoted
gamers or users of higher end applications, it is possible to buy
a CPU that runs about 3.6 GHz. |
Most
computers come with a built in video card and sound card that are
good enough for almost every use. Again, gaming and high end applications,
or doing lots of video and/or sound recording and editing may require
additional capabilities. These can always be upgraded later when
you are certain about what you need. All new computers come with
USB 2.0 ports, which allow you to easily plug in your USB devices
such as printers, cameras, and external data storage devices.
When choosing a monitor, you’ll
want to consider whether you want a regular CRT (cathode ray tube)
monitor with the big back, or a newer, sleeker, LCD display. The
CRT monitors range from 15” to 21” and are quite cumbersome
compared to the LCD display units, which range from 15” to
50”. |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
| Keyboards
come in a variety of styles and sizes, wired or wireless. Some come
with a volume control switch and some with buttons for easy, one touch
access to the internet and email. Most users don’t end up using
these buttons, however, since it is just as easy to get access to
the internet and email through Windows’ menu system. Mice can
also be wired or wireless. The older style with the internal roller
ball has been replaced by the newer optical mouse because it tends
to pick up less dirt and doesn't need regular |
|
|
Close-up
of a motherboard |
|
|
|
cleaning.
The newer optical mouse uses light and therefore has no internal
moving parts, causing it to last longer. The best way to decide
on which keyboard or mouse to buy is to actually try them out and
see which one feels most comfortable for you.
When it comes to software, or
the programs that run all the hardware (parts) on your computer,
you can count on your OS, or operating system, to be Windows XP
(and now, Windows Vista). This is the best OS that is currently
available and is sufficient for most users. If you plan to do any
office work, such as word processing, creating publications, databases
or spreadsheets, you will want to consider purchasing Office 2003
(or newer). This is an excellent suite of programs that will allow
you to perform a wide array of tasks. If you have any special needs
or ideas about how you will use your computer other than for the
most common functions, talk to a salesperson. There is a myriad
of programs out there that are limited only by yours and the programmer’s
imaginations. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basically,
there is absolutely nothing to worry about. If you are a first time
computer buyer, rest assured that you will get everything you need
and more with the purchase of a new computer. There are also many
used computers available that will perform better then most people
would need. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Back
to Magazine page |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
