Buying A Computer

1
Buying A Computer

• Agenda
• What type of user are you?
• Computer Ad Review (Terminology)
• Service and Warranties
• Where to Buy
• Questions?

Steve Garwood Camden County Library 9/7/01
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Buying a Computer
Dont Forget

• You cant know everything (and shouldnt want to)
• Its all a learning experience
• Buy as much as you can (but try to avoid leasing)
• In general the better the computer the higher the
  cost
• The day you buy something something better will
  come out

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Buying a Computer
What type of user are you?

• How Experienced are you with computers?
• Have never owned one/dont use one at work.
• Own a system thats more than five years
  old/rarely used
• Own a system purchased after 1997/use it
  regularly
• Own a two year old computer system that cant
  keep up with present demands

From Consumer Reports
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Buying a Computer
What type of user are you?

• How do you use your current computer or plan to
  use a new one
• For basics like word processing, e-mail, and web
  surfing.
• For all of the above, plus financial management
  andchildrens software.
• To manage and run a home office or home-based
  business
• To play the latest online, CD, or DVD games
  and/or useit for digital imaging and photo
  archiving.

From Consumer Reports
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Buying a Computer
What type of user are you?

• 3. Who will be the primary user of the computer?
• Yourself and/or your spouse.
• Yourself and/or your spouse and young children.
• Mainly yourself in a business capacity.
• Yourself and your children, teenagers in
  particular.

From Consumer Reports
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Buying a Computer
What type of user are you?

• 4. How many hours per week will the computer be
  in use?
• 5-10.
• 10-25.
• 25-40.
• 40 or more.

From Consumer Reports
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Buying a Computer
What type of user are you?

• 5. How do you use or expect to use the Internet?
• Occasionally, mostly for e-mail and research.
• At least once a day, to check e-mail and news
  andto shop.
• Several times a day to communicate for business
  andto access important information and files.
• All the time, for entertainment and socializing.

From Consumer Reports
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Buying a Computer
What type of user are you?

• 6. What types of software are most important to
  you?
• Web browser, word processor, and encyclopedia.
• A productivity suite for home-office use.
• All of the above plus games and financial
  programs.
• The latest DVD-based action games and/or
  photo-editing software.

From Consumer Reports
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Buying a Computer
What type of user are you?

• 7. When you set up your new computer, youd
  like
• Goof-proof instructions and color-coded cables.
• Basic instructions and a users manual.
• A users manual perhaps, but I sort of know what
  Im doing.
• Nothing I can do it blindfolded.

From Consumer Reports
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Buying a Computer
What type of user are you?

• 8. How many years use do you expect from a new
  computer?
• I dont know how many I should expect.
• A minimum of 5 years sounds good to me.
• Three to Five years, and then I know Ill need to
  upgrade.
• Until the newest must-have technology comes
  along.

From Consumer Reports
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Buying a Computer
What type of user are you?

• If your PC has technical troubles, what procedure
  wouldyou follow?
• Call the store where I bought the PC and ask for
  service.
• Call the manufacturers customer service number
  and beled step-by-step through diagnosis and
  repair.
• Have a repair person come to my home, under
  warranty.
• Consult the users manual and/or manufacturers
  web site and try to fix the problem myself.

From Consumer Reports
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Buying a Computer
What type of user are you?

• 10.What do you see yourself doing on your PC in
  the future?
• Banking online and doing web shopping.
• Sending e-mail photos to friends and relatives.
• Running a small business and video-conferencing
  with distant colleagues.
• Downloading MP3 music files, using
  cutting-edgemultimedia software, and perhaps
  doing some digital video editing.

From Consumer Reports
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Buying a Computer
What type of user are you?
Answer Key Mostly As Novice User Expect to
pay 600 to 1,000 Mostly Bs or mix As and/or
Bs Mixed Needs Expect to pay 1,000 to
1,500 Mostly Cs or mix Bs and Cs -
Experienced User Expect to pay 1,500 to
2,000 Mostly Ds or mix Cs and Ds Power
User. Expect to pay 2,000 to 3,500
From Consumer Reports
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Buying a Computer
Comparing Computer Ads
1 Staples Advertisement 9/9/01 Intel Celeron
Processor800mhz 128mb RAM 20 Gigabyte Hard
Drive 48x Max CD-Rom Drive Compaq 15
Monitor Compaq Color Printer Free year MSN
899.94 - 200 in rebates 699
3 Gateway Website 9/9/01 Intel Pentium 4 1.6
Ghz 128mb RDRAM 40 Gigabyte Hard Drive 32x
Max CD-Rom Drive 8x Max CD-RW Drive 17
Monitor (15.9 viewable image size) 64MB NVIDIA
GeForce2 MX400 AGP Graphics 56k modem
Boston Acoustics Speakers Intel Pocket PC
camera Free year AOL 1299
2 Best Buy Advertisement 9/9/01 Intel Celeron
900Mhz computer package 128mb SDRAM 30
Gigabyte Hard Drive 48x Max CD-Rom Drive 8x
CD-RW Drive Intel Direct 3D AGP Graphics V.90
high speed modem 15 HP .28monitor (13.8
viewable image size) Polk Audio Speakers HP
Color Printer Free year MSN 1099 - 300 in
rebates (4 rebates) 799
Anyone else confused?
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Buying a Computer
Comparing Computer Ads Step 1 - Processor
Computer 1 Celeron 800Mhz Computer 2
Celeron 900Mhz Computer 3 Pentium IV 1.6 Ghz

• Processor (also known as CPU)
• The clock speed of the processor measured in Mhz
  and now Ghz determines how fast the computer
  can operate.
• In general the faster you can buy the better
• Some Different Processors
• Intel Pentium (III, IV) and Celeron
• AMD Athlon, K-6 and Duron
• Via Technologies MII and Cyrix

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Buying a Computer
Comparing Computer Ads Step 2 - RAM
First, how computers understand size
Byte 1 Character Kilobyte 1000 Bytes (1000
characters) Megabyte 1000 Kilobytes
(1,000,000) Gigabyte 1000 Megabytes
(1,000,000,000)
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Buying a Computer
Buying a Computer
Comparing Computer Ads Step 2 - RAM
Computer 1 128mb RAM Computer 2 128mb
SDRAM Computer 3 128mb RDRAM

• RAM Random Access Memory
• The memory the computer uses while operating
• In general the more RAM the more programs the
  computer can run simultaneously
• Computers will generally come with between
• 64 and 256mb of RAM (Get at least 64, though
  128 is better)
• DRAM Current Standard
• SDRAM (Synchronous DRAM) Faster
• (Set to work with computer clock speed)
• RDRAM (Rambus DRAM) Even Faster

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Buying a Computer
Comparing Computer Ads Step 3 Hard Drive Space
Computer 1 20Gb Hard Drive Computer 2 30Gb
Hard Drive Computer 3 40Gb Hard Drive

• Hard Drive Memory
• The computers long term memory
• The place where computer programs are stored
  as well as the documents, images, sound files
  you create.
• Desktop computers will generally come with 16 to
  75Gb of hard drive space.
• Think of Hard Drive space like closet space
  (Can you ever really have enough?)

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Buying a Computer
Comparing Computer Ads Step 4 - Monitor
Computer 1 15 Monitor Computer 2 15
Monitor 13.8 Viewable Computer 3 17 Monitor
15.9 Viewable

• Monitor
• General sizes 15, 17, 19, 20-25
• 15 Standard on low priced computers
• Viewable area measured corner to corner
• 17 has viewable area generally 33 bigger than
  15
• Bigger the monitor the more space it takes up
  and the more it costs
• Most computers use Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) like
  TV
• Also Flat Screen (CRT) and Flat Panel (LCD)
  models
• Flat Panel monitors newest, small
• footprint, more expensive, picture not as
  bright
• Beware of dot-pitch you want .28mm or less

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Buying a Computer
Comparing Computer Ads Step 5 CD, CD-R,
CD-RW, DVD
Computer 1 48X Max CD-ROM drive Computer 2
48X Max CD-ROM drive 8x Max CD-RW Computer 3
48X Max CD-ROM drive 8x Max CD-RW
CD Plays CD music and installs programs from
CD CD-R Plays CD music, installs programs from
CD, and allows you to record (burn) your
own CD CD-RW Plays CD music, installs programs
from CD, and allows you to record and
re-record CDs DVD Plays CD music, install
programs from CD, and Play DVD Note DVDs will
eventually totally replace CDs
Recordable DVD is here but very expensiveprice
will come down
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Buying a Computer
Comparing Computer Ads Step 6 Printers
Computer 1 Compaq Color Printer Computer 2
HP Color Printer Computer 3 None

• Printers are generally Inkjet or Laser types
• Unless you run a small business get an inkjet
• Ink costs are your greatest enemy
• Printers are almost given with computers, if
  not included
• a printer shouldnt cost you more than 200
  if you just want basics

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Buying a Computer
Comparing Computer Ads Step 7 Can you Upgrade?

• Upgrade the Processor?
• Memory Sockets
• Expansion slots
• Ports
• Expansion Bays
• Hard Drive or Storage

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Buying a Computer
Comparing Computer Ads Step 8 Internet
Service and Modems
Computer 1 56k 1yr MSN Computer 2 56k
1yr MSN Computer 3 56k 1yr AOL

• Your computer will either need a modem or
  network card
• to connect to the Internet
• Modems are most common and use your phone line
  to connect
• Modems are standard equipment and most
  computers will come with a V90 56K modem
• Network cards are used to connect to cable
  systems and LANs
• Many computers will come with a year free
  service
• Some come with rebates for signing up for long
  term service

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Buying a Computer
Software

• SoftwareProgramsApplications (Generally)
• Most computers will come prepackaged with enough
• software to get you started
• In general youll get
• An Operating System (OS) Windows 95/98/ME/XP
• An Application Suite such Microsoft Works
  Word Processor, Spreadsheet, Database
• Internet Connection Software
• Some basic games

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Buying a Computer
Warranties and Service

• Most major companies will provide you with at
  least one year of service and parts warranties
• Most retailers will try to sell you long term
  warranties (thats how they actually make
  money)
• Do you need a long term warranty? In most cases
  NO
• IF the computer might get used (read abused) it
  might be a good idea (Read if you have little
  kids, but the warranty)
• Also, check into the credit card you use, you
  might get an additional warranty on purchases.
• A note on service if its not convenient for
  you, its no good

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Buying a Computer
Where to Buy?

• Computer Superstores Perhaps best shopping
  fairly knowledgeable staff Decent Service
  beware of long term warranties
• Electronics Superstores The person who sold
  stereos yesterday might be selling computers
  today beware of long term warranties
• Home-Office Superstores Usually smaller higher
  end computers salespeople not experts
• Warehouse Clubs Generally cheap, non-brand
  name computers
• Mass Merchandisers like Kmart and Walmart
  Generally
• lower end machines
• Catalog or Online Retailers Best prices but
  might have to
• mail the computer in for service
• Local Computer Stores Can be good for service,
  but watch out for mixed components

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Buying a Computer
Questions?
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Questions?
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Questions?