How to Buy a Computer

1
How to Buy a Computer

• Leah Stahlsmith
• Computers_at_Sea

2
Words of the Salesperson

• Maintenance-free
• Impossible to fix
• Years of development
• We finally got one that works
• Performance proven
• Will operate through the warranty period
• Meets all Standards
• Ours, not yours

3
What Well Cover

• Determine what you need/want for a home or small
  office computer.
• Cost estimates.
• The four main components for price comparison.
• Other features.

4
What Are Your Needs?
High End Digital Photography?

• Routine
• Internet, Email
• Word, Excel
• Financial
• Digital Camera
• Music (MP3s)
• Additional Applications

Music Collections?
Gaming?
Conferencing?
Digital Video Editing?
Home Entertainment?
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Meeting Your Needs
0K
500
1000
1500
2000
Value/Entry
Multimedia
Desktop
Gaming/Video Editing
Home Entertainment
Value/Entry
Thin/Light
Notebook
Desktop Replacement
6
Price Ranges

• ( 500) Home office minimum
• ( 1000) Photo editing
• (1500) Video Editing
• (2000) Home Entertainment
• Laptop add 500

7
Laptop versus Desktop?

• Over 25 of all PCs sold are laptops.
• Laptops more portable (take your computer on a
  cruise).
• Laptops more expensive and difficult to upgrade.

versus
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Example from Gateway

• Gateway Sb-4100-C 1000
• Intel Pentium 4 Processor 2.4GHz
• 512MB PC2700 DDR SDRAM
• 80GB Ultra ATA100 7200rpm hard drive
• 3.5" 1.44MB diskette drive
• 48x/24x/48x CD-RW/DVD Combo Drive
• Microsoft Windows XP Professional
• 1 year parts, labor and on-site service, limited
  HW and SW tech support for as long as you own it.

9
PC Corner Mac Corner

• Cheaper
• More software titles available
• Compatible with work computer
• Easier to upgrade parts

• More expensive but cooler looking
• Best for artists and other left-brained people
• Excellent graphics for professionals
• Compatibility options may cost more

10
The Four Main Parts

• Processor
• CPU (Central Processing Unit
• the Chip
• Hard Drive
• Memory
• Operating System
• Windows 98, Windows XP
• Mac OS 10

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The Motherboard

• For the curious

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The Numbers Game

• 1 bit 0 or 1
• 1 byte 8 bits
• 1 kilobyte (KB) 1024 bs
• 1 megabyte (MB) 1024 KBs
• 1 gigabyte (GB) 1024 MBs

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Central Processing Unit (CPU) What is it?

• Developed by Intel in 1974.
• Responsible for handling instructions from
  programs running on the PC.
• The higher the GHz (Gigahertz), the faster the PC
  will process commands.

14
The CPU Recommendations

• Types, speed and manufacturers.
• AMD Athlon equivalent of Intel Pentium
• AMD Duron equivalent of Intel Celeron (cheaper)
• Processor types and speeds from Intel
• Pentium II or Celeron 2.4 GHz
• Pentium 4, 2.66 GHz
• Pentium M Designed for Laptops
• 64bit processors (from Apple)

15
The Hard Drive

• Physical storage space
• Where the operating system is loaded or
  installed
• Where the applications are installed
• Where you save your stuff
• You can add new hard drives to old computers

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The Hard Drive - Recommendations

• Minimum 20 GB
• Recommended 40 GB or as much as you can
  afford
• Latest Can purchase more than 120 GB or
  multiple drives

17
Memory

• Programs are loaded into memory when computer
  booted up.
• More memory faster acting computer
• Not permanent storage.
• Various types and speeds DRAM, DDR SDRAM

18
Memory What to buy

• Minimum 256 MB
• Recommended 512 MB or more
• Latest 1 GB or more
• You can revive old computers cheaply and easily
  by adding more memory.

19
Operating System

• Windows 98 still ok!
• Windows XP Home Edition for most home use.
• Windows XP Professional if using multiple
  users on one machine or for office.
• Avoid Windows ME
• Free Operating System Linux 2.6
• Harder to configure and use

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What you need to Upgrade to XP

• Processor 300Mhz Pentium 3 or higher
• Memory 128 MB
• Hardware compatibility list www.microsoft.com/hcl
  /default.asp
• Consider clean install
• File and Settings Migration wizard
• Convert to NTFS if you need file-level security
  (more on this to come)
• Activation 30 days, required

21
Whats under my old computers hood?

• Right click the My Computer icon.
• Choose Properties
• Tells you your Operating System, Processor type
  and Speed, and Memory

22
Hard Drive Size and Available Space

• Open My Computer, right click on C drive, choose
  Properties.
• Gives you size of hard drive and free space
  available
• Measured in GBs.
• Choose View gt Status Bar if you dont see hard
  drive space info

23
Monitor

• Measured in inches from diagonal corners.
• Get the largest you can afford.
• Flat panel vs. CRT
• Check native resolution
• 1280X1024
• higher native resolution

24
Printers

• Look for highest dpi
• Laser black and white for home office
• Color ink-jet (tri-color cartridge with separate
  for black ink)

25
Optical Drives

• CD ROM drive standard
• CD-RW Re-Writable
• CD-RW/DVD combo 48x/28x/48x
• DVD Recordable burn DVDs

26
Internet Access

• Network adaptor card for high-speed internet
  access and sharing thing like printers and
  internet connections.
• WiFi for wireless home networking
• Modem for internet access through your phone
  line.
• DSL vs. Cable

27
Things that plug into your computer

• Scanner for scanning photos, designs
• Look for USB 2 for faster transfer
• Digital camera USB connection
• External drives USB 2.0 Key or Jump Drive
• Web cam!

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Move Bells and Whistles

• Graphics card (if using for games or video
  editing, minimum 128 MB)
• Sound card for high quality sound
• Speakers as part of package
• WiFi card built-in (laptops)
• Consider leasing agreements

29
Web Cam!

• Use as motion detector
• Create web page from cameras feed.
• Create animations and record videos using
  software that comes with camera.
• Hold video conference by downloading internet
  chat software.
• Tracks facial features to lock in on face.

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Physical Package (Expansion)
Desktop
Notebook
Six USB 2.0 ports Three PCI expansion
slots Parallel and serial port VGA
Two USB 2.0 ports Type II or III PC Card
Slot Parallel port VGA One modular bay
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Warranty and Support

• Basic warranty 90 days parts/labor and no onsite
  technician
• Desktop Three-year warranty.
• Laptops Minimum three-year warranty and consider
  an extension and screen insurance.
• Support considerations Onsite technician versus
  shipping computer.

32
Learn how to use your computer

• Complimentary class Using a Computer for the
  First Time T
• Basic Computer Skills for Beginners
• Create a letter using Word
• Manage Files and Folders

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Other classes

• List additional classes here, times, venue, etc.
  Also, feel free to come up with a catchier title
  for this slide.