Buying a Computer What to look for What to avoid Where to buy.
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Transcript of Buying a Computer What to look for What to avoid Where to buy.
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Buying a Computer
What to look for
What to avoid
Where to buy
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First Steps
What do you want to do with it? What are your needs? What is your budget? What are your wants?
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SPEED
How fast of a computer do you really need? Look at what CPU it is, how many MHz,
and what cache it has Do you need video acceleration? Recommendations
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CAPACITY
How much RAM? How much Hard Drive? How expandable? Recommendations
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RELIABILITY
What is the warranty? What is their reputation? What quality are the components? Do they offer technical support? Is it free? On-site service? Is support local?
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All-In-One Computers
Monitor and CPU all one box Examples: iMac, eMac, Gateway Astro How expandable is it? If the monitor dies, expensive repair Saves a lot of space Fewer wires hanging out
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Slim Desktops (half-height)
Don’t take up as much space on desk May have fewer expansion slots More components integrated on the board
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Full size desktops
Lots of room for expansion Sets monitor up high Bulky
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Mini-Towers and Towers
Saves desktop space if you can put the computer on the floor or inside desk
Most expandable Largest cases
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Laptops
Of course, they are portable Are very expensive for the same power Adding drives, memory, etc. can be
expensive.
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Integrated vs. Non-integrated
The more integrated components, the less expandable.
The more integrated components, the more proprietary.
The more integrated components, the higher the service costs.
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MONITORS
17” is standard for mid-line systems, 15” for budget systems
Your eyes will appreciate the larger monitor if you have the space for it.
Get a dot pitch of .28 or less (the lower the better)
Look at the monitor for yourself before you buy.
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Keyboards
Size of keys How many keys Programmable? Integrated track pad / track ball The magical “Windows” key Ergonomics
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Mice
Can have more buttons Can have specialized buttons Differences in quality and control USB vs. PS/2 vs. Serial Optical mice
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PRINTERS (Chap. 6 PC Bible)
Ink Jets-– Very cheap to buy– Support Color printing– Ink is very expensive
Lasers-– Expensive to buy, very much so for color– Toner is cheaper in the long run than ink– Last much longer than ink jets
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DRIVES
CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW DVD-ROM, DVD+R, DVD-R Floppy? Zip? SuperDrive? Tape Backup?
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SCANNERS
You get what you pay for, to some extent. Budget $100-$190 Get 1200dpi SCSI vs. USB vs. Parallel
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MODEM
56K v.90 is industry standard Ask your Internet provider which works
best with their service 3Com, Supra, and ZOOM recommended Modems are at the end of their usable life
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NETWORK CAPABILITY
Do you need Ethernet? 10/100 base-T Ethernet 3Com, Apple cards recommended
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USED COMPUTERS
Not recommended for first-timers Very risky
– Fraud– Repairs– Overpricing
Be sure to check prices on the Internet
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REFURBISHED COMPUTERS
Some have had good experience, I have not Check warranty Check price Remember it’s still a used computer!
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Where to Buy?
Mail Order Catalog Factory Direct (Internet & phone) Computer Store Department/Discount Store Educator Buys Internet used & refurbished