| |
| |
|
Hardware Information |
|
|
|
Buying a New Computer
Someone recently asked me "I teach senior citizens in a community based free computer lab. They often ask what to look for when buying a computer, what software they need for email, basic Internet usage, word processing, etc. Many are on a limited budget. What would you suggest they need as a minimum?" Recommendations For a New Computer The good news is that computer prices have dropped a lot over the past few years, and the computing power you get for your money is going up! I don't recommend used computers for anyone, because the rate of change of computer technology will render most systems nearly obsolete within three years. If you're a computer novice, wondering what kind of computer, monitor, hard drive, memory, and operating system to get... here's some advice to get you rolling. Windows or Mac? You may have friends, relatives or neighbors trying to pull you into the "Windows vs. Mac" holy wars. In my opinion, the choice of operating system really doesn't matter. From a beginner's perspective, each has point & click interfaces that are pretty easy to use. Both will take you to the same Internet, and enable you to send and receive email. Both offer word processing, and the documents they create are interchangeable. Because Windows-based computers make up 90% of the market, they are cheaper. It's the law of supply and demand in operation. And in some areas, it may be hard to find technical or repair support for Apple Macintosh computers. So if you're budget-minded, and you don't have any friends willing to help you with Mac issues, I suggest you go with a Windows-based PC. A good entry-level computer with monitor can be purchased for under $400, and sometimes you even get a printer in the deal. So what should a newbie look for in terms of speed, monitor, memory and hard drive specs? It doesn't have to be all that confusing... What about Horsepower? The CPU (central processing unit, or "processor" for short) is the brain of your computer. In general, the faster the better. Processor speeds are measured in gigahertz (GHz) and as of this writing, the fastest models available operate at about 4 GHz. Entry-level machines start at about 1.5 GHz and are more than adequate for web surfing, email and word processing. If you see a computer with a processor that has a speed specified in megahertz (MHz), steer clear -- these are older models. Thanks for the Memory The next decision you have to make is how much RAM memory you need. Don't confuse RAM with hard drive (file storage) space. RAM is the temporary working memory that your computer uses to perform calculations and manipulate files. When you open a document, it is copied from the hard drive into RAM. As you and your word processor work on the file, the modified copy exists only in RAM. When you save the file, it is copied from RAM back to the hard drive, or permanent storage. And as with CPU power, the more RAM you have, the better your computer will perform. I recommend you have a minimum 256 megabytes (MB) of RAM, but with 512 MB you'll notice better performance. Hard (Drive) Decisions The hard drive is your permanent file storage. All of your personal files, such as word processor documents, photos, music, and emails are stored here, in addition to software packages and the operating system. Most new PC's come with a hard drive that's 40 gigabytes (GB) or larger. I recommend you start with a hard drive of 80 GB or more, if you plan to keep lots of photos or music on your computer. Go For a Large Monitor Here's the formula: Larger Monitor = Less Eyestrain and Less Scrolling. I recommend a 17-inch monitor, or even a 19-inch if you don't mind spending a bit more. Don't worry about brand names here, they're all pretty much the same. Stay away from 14 or 15-inch monitors, they're just too small to be practical. What About Software? Most of the software you need will come pre-installed on your new PC. Windows comes with Internet Explorer (for web browsing) and Outlook Express (for email). Many PC systems include a word processor, such as Microsoft Word, WordPerfect, or OpenOffice. If your computer doesn't come with any of these, I suggest you purchase Microsoft Works, which will give you MS Word, a spreadsheet similar to MS Excel, and other useful programs. Look for a computer that comes with anti-virus software pre-installed. If yours doesn't come with any anti-virus package, check with your Internet service provider to see if they offer anything for free. Failing that, you can download the free AVG package. Summary So in a nutshell, here are my recommendations:
Look at your local computer store first, they may have some good deals and offer local support. Office supply and electronics stores such as Staples, Office Depot, and Best Buy are good options to explore too. If you're comfortable buying online, check out the Dell.com or Gateway.com offerings. BOB RANKIN ...is a tech writer and computer programmer who enjoys exploring the Internet and sharing the fruit of his experience with others. His work has appeared in ComputerWorld, NetGuide, and NY Newsday. Bob is publisher of the Internet TOURBUS newsletter, author of several computer books, and creator of the LowfatLinux.com website. For more helpful articles and free tech support, visit http://www.AskBobRankin.com
MORE RESOURCES:
Hardware - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
The Road Ahead We live in an area that has begun to use GreenBins for household waste. Our regular garbageis picked up every other week and the onlyweekly garbage collection is our green plasticbins, to be filled with leftover food productsand other organic waste. The Merging of Humans and Computers Soon the human brain will be completely interfaced with the computer. The benefit to mankind will be truly significant. Review of Popular Wireless Headphones Just about everyone would I agree, I think, that wires on headphones are just about the most annoying wires associated with any electronic device. When you listen to music you don't want to have to stay in anyone one place, and you don't want to have to worry about cords tripping you are pulling your headphones down. The Newest Thing in Lighting - LED Lighting and What It Can Do The other day my son said to me, what else could anyone possibly invent? Sometimes it would seem that way, but I think that couldn't be further from the truth. Back in the late sixties and early seventies someone realized that light emitting diodes could be used for indicator lights. Adding Serial Ports to a Computer with Only USB Ports So you bought a new computer but you don't have serial ports?It's surprisingly common these days - you find an awesome machine that does everything you want it to do, but then you get home and find out that amongst the lightning-fast processor and terabyte hard drive, you're missing something - a serial port.Most laptop manufacturers have killed RS-232In an effort to enforce newer standards, such as USB and FireWire, many laptop manufacturers have let serial ports fall by the wayside. Your Business versus Mother Nature Business Consultants earn hundreds of thousands of dollars every year showing businesses how to improve their productivity. All business consultants in the Information Technology area agree that the biggest threat to business survival is data loss. Recordable DVD Formats Explained Picking your way through the ton of information available on recordable DVD formats can be a nightmare. To help you out, we've done our best to distill it into this summary. Is A Laser Printer Right For Me? The average home computer user definitely does not need a laser printer. Sure laser printer prices have fallen considerably in the last couple of years. A Look Inside The Elusive Inkjet Industry The Inkjet printer industry is booming. Office supply companies report they make more money on ink sales alone than on printer sales overall. Electronic Schematics Diagram-The Four Commonly Asked Questions I came across quite a number of questions about electronic circuit schematics diagram.Most of the question asked are:a) Do we really need a schematic diagram in order to repair any electronic equipment?b) Will schematic diagram help us to repair faster?c) At where we can get a particular schematic diagram?d) How to read schematic diagram?Well, the answers is as below:a)-Theoretically yes, practically not necessary, it all depends on how good you are in electronic repair knowledge. How To Format A Hard Drive Here's how to format a hard drive (Legal Stuff: We are not responsible for any damages, lost data, or anything of the sort).. Laptop and Notebook Theft Prevention Laptops or Notebook computers are an expensive personal and business asset that are highly sought after by both small time thieves and large complicated theft rings. Keeping your laptop and notebook computers safely in your possession should always be in the back of your mind. A Guide to Refurbished Laptops Computing freedom, independence, and mobility don't have to come with a hefty price tag.Manufacturers refurbish laptop computers that have been returned. Be Free with Wireless Speakers Are you tired of laying wires through your house, creeping through small places just to get the right sound effect? Wireless speakers are the answer to your headaches. With wireless speakers you gain the freedom to move your music to where you want it to be without the hassles of cables. Emergency Response VSAT Internet Communications As 2005 begins, there are a number of products on the market which enable Emergency Response Units to have internet connectivity at remote disaster locations. The products marketed this year mount on vehicles from Fire Rescue units to most any type of truck or van, on specially designed trailers utilizing portable generators and in transportable boxes which can be shipped by UPS or Fed X overnight to most any location in the U. How to Change, Upgade or Remove an IDE Hard Drive Hard drives - Hard drives are a little more complicated. First off, you have to know what you want to do with the hard drive. Can I Use My Old Ink With My New Printer? The quick answer is.. JunxionBox -- WiFi Access Everywhere Now you can more easily access the Internet wherever mobile phone carriers offer high-speed data service coverage.The JunxionBox enables multiple computing devices with Ethernet or Wi-Fi (like laptops, desktops, handhelds and remote computers) to connect with the web through your mobile phone service provider's wireless PC Card modem. Alternatives to Tape Backup You may ask, isn't tape an anachronism in the age of optical disks, removable hard drives and a plethora of whiz-bang, random-access storage media? In many ways it is, but because of the nature of backup it doesn't really matter that tape is slow and sequential-access. Remember, tape is cheap. Ink Cartridges & Printing - Poor Print Quality Solutions Why are there faint areas or gaps in my print out?* Unlikely, but your paper may need changing due to its deterioration due to its age.* Check that the type of paper you are using in your printer matches ('Media Type') the setting in the printer software 'Main Menu' or 'Print' dialog box.
|
| home | site map |
| © 2006 |
