Having been an IT practitioner for close to 13 years, I have watched consumers of technology making unwise buying decisions. I have been both a consumer and a of late a supplier of technology. I thought I would share some of the “intelligent” probing questions you can ask whoever wants to sell you a computer (new or refurbished). Based on your needs you will be able to make a decision you will not regret. Greatness encompasses the issue of maximizing the use of your financial and information resources. This could well be IT Buyer’s Guide 101.
Considerations when buying a computer
Processor – Type, Brand and Speed- Ask what processor is in the machine. The most common processor manufacturer of all time is Intel who came up with the popular Pentium series. Other competitors are AMD and Cyrix to mention the top three. I will not use this as a platform to advertise any particular manufacturer. Get your supplier to explain the various processor types and merits of each one. There is not enough space to exhaust the comparison. In the Central Processing Unit,(processor), that is where processing takes place. The processor works on millions and billions of instruction cycles person commonly referred as Megahertz (MHz) or Gigahertz (GHz). The more the faster. On desktops it can be possible to change the processor without having to change a whole unit. See upgrades below. This is one important aspect to look at in comparing one machine to the next. You are able to check the processor speed on the computer’s properties. Ask to be shown the speed of the processor. I have seen people duped to believe the machine is 2.4GHz only to realize it was actually 1.4GHz.
Permanent Storage space – Hard disk drive capacity. All storage is in bytes. Commonly referred to as Megabytes (MB), Gigabytes (GB) or Terabytes (TB) meaning millions, billions and trillions of bytes. Depending on user’s needs a 40GB Hard drive may be adequate for home use but not proper for a graphic designer with advertising agency. Consider this, a 40GB Hard drive can only contain 9 DVD movies.
Temporary Storage – Commonly referred to as memory. It is also technically called RAM (Random Access Memory). This is where programs and data are stored temporarily as the computer processes. It is the equivalent of your workbench in the office. When you bring files from permanent storage (cabinet) to the desk to work on them, when you open many files and folders and leave them on desk. This tends to slow the computer just the same way it confuses you when you open several files and folders at the same time. The more RAM you have the faster your machine can be. This however combines with the processor speed and free space on Hard drive as well.
Optical Storage Drive – Compact Disk (CD) or Digital Video (DVD). Some optical drives simply read information off disk or DVD but will not write. Some read DVD and will only write CD (normally called CD/DVD Combo). In general choose a DVD Writer which can not only write DVDs but CDs as well. Most software is installed from the optical drive. If this does not work you can connect an external USB DVD drive for the same purpose
Monitor type – A monitor is a screen where your information is displayed. LCD (liquid crystal display) is recent technology compared to CRT (cathode ray tube). CRT is obsolete, take more power and occupies more space. The wider the screen the better it is to view graphics, gaming etc. It is measures in inches or cm just like the television set.
Portability / Mobility – This is a consideration in terms of whether you want to be able to access computing facilities away from The office or home. If you need that kind of flexibility then you need to invest in a Laptop or palmtop or The latest mobile phones which have PC functionality instead of buying a desktop which can not be taken around and used anywhere else other than in office or home.
Durability – This is where you check whether The computer is a clone or branded – Clones are not expected to be as durable as branded machines. Clones are literally made of parts from various manufacturers that are put together sometimes in a hurry whereas branded machines are tried and tested in laboratories. They carry warranties and guarantees. They are higher in quality than clones. Clones are for situations where budget for IT is low and you want a quick solution for The season you are in as a business. I recommend clones for home use and Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs). If you are serious about information security, good value for money then go for branded machines. Common brands are HP, Dell, IBM, Apple, Toshiba etc. Still on durability, consider the age of the computer as you buy. A 2001 desktop will not give you much mileage, in fact you should ensure tou backup your data as all components on the computer have a life span. A new computer should give you a minimum of 3 to 4 years of excellent output. Branded machines can go beyond that time.
Cost Element – Cheap is sometimes expensive. As a college student, one does not need a high powered 300GB Hard drive machine etc. A simple 40GB Hard drive laptop with 512MB RAM is adequate. This is as of 2010. It is certain that in a few years this will have changed somehow. Cost plays a pivotal role in decision making. Realize that the lower the budget the lower the quality of computer you expect to buy except where the buyer is desperate for cash. Cost should not be the only determining factor on which computer you eventually buy. Rather wait, save more then buy something that will last you three to four years than rush it.
Purpose for purchasing – You ask yourself “Is this PC for Home or business use?” If you are using it in the business, which area? Mission critical situations require robust high capacity computers whereas a home computer needs no sophistication as it is usually for basic computing, printing etc. Businesses get fooled with cheaper new computers not realizing that they are meant for basic home use. In no time they flood the company with computers that will soon be overtaken by the needs of The organization
Possibility of upgrade – Consider this if you are someone that follows newer versions of software. In that case you need a computer whose hardware you can easily upgrade. Laptops are not as easy to upgrade as desktops. Sometimes the compartments where RAM is installed require technical knowledge. Do not attempt to open laptops and desktops without adequate training. It may cost you the entire machine. Give it to the experts who can advise you.
Most computers are OK as long a they still run on the same software that was loaded when they were bought. The problem comes when you want to always look at software upgrades each time a new products comes along without realizing that The newer software packages have increased demand on the hardware you may have in place. Wise buying is what I desire from you from this day forward.
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