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How to Buy a PC

How to Buy a PC. Choosing the Right Stuff 23 January 2013. Determine Your Needs. General usage Web & email Office work High powered applications Image/Video/Audio editing CAD/CAM Gaming. Select Computer Style. Tower Larger More configurable Small desktop Less space required

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How to Buy a PC

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  1. How to Buy a PC Choosing the Right Stuff 23 January 2013

  2. Determine Your Needs • General usage • Web & email • Office work • High powered applications • Image/Video/Audio editing • CAD/CAM • Gaming

  3. Select Computer Style • Tower • Larger • More configurable • Small desktop • Less space required • Limited expansion • Laptop • Portable

  4. Brand Choice • Major Brands (HP, Dell, Gateway….) • Reputation • Variety • Service • Availability • Local Brand (Whitebox) • Local Service • Complete customization

  5. Processor • Intel or AMD? • Relative cost • At least dual-core • Latest models cost more $$$ • Usually buy a couple steps down • Consider your computer’s purpose

  6. Graphics • Onboard • Cheaper • Less powerful • Generally can be replaced with board • Dedicated card • Lots of variety • Larger/faster video RAM • More outputs

  7. RAM • You can (almost) never have too much • XP – min 512MB, better at 1GB • Vista/Win7 – min 1GB, better at 2GB • Linux – min 512MB • OS X – min 1GB, better at 2+GB (?) • Laptops often take some RAM for video • Increased RAM costs more from maker • Consider adding RAM later

  8. Storage • Hard Drive • Estimate your needs – Double that! • Consider multiple drives • RAID • Separate programs and data • External backup • DVD/BlueRay • Get most current capability

  9. Media Reader • Adapter to read memory cards • Digital cameras • PDAs • Cell phones • MP3 players • Ensure your current media supported

  10. Keyboard & Mouse • Corded or Cordless • Extra functions on keyboard or mouse • Laptop – touchpad or pointing stick • Placement • Configurability • Tablet (ink) capability • Touch capability

  11. Display • LCD or CRT • LCD smaller, lighter, less electricity • CRT often preferred for high end graphics • Size – bigger is better • Wide screen 16:9 or standard 4:3 • Multiple Displays?

  12. Peripherals • Speakers • Printer • Scanner • USB hub

  13. Operating System • Windows • XP still available in some forms • Windows 7 most common • Home Premium • Professional • Ultimate • Linux • Available from some big brands • OS X – if you buy Mac

  14. Included Software • Trial versions often bundled • Office • AntiVirus • Media creation • Full versions available as options • May be better priced than retail • How much crapwareto delete?

  15. Where to Buy • Direct from manufacturer • Web or Physical store • Check “outlet” store for refurbs • Big Box stores • Variety of brands • Variety of models • Third party web vendors

  16. Homework • Select a computer to “buy” • Brand • Model • Features • Source • State your reasons • Price • Availability • Suitability

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