Searching for a new computer today can be a little daunting – after all, there are so many different options to choose from. Luckily, the list of questions you need to consider when shopping for a computer is relatively short.
Are You a Mac or PC?
The first decision you need to make is which operating system you’d prefer to use – Windows or Macintosh. Both offer their own advantages and disadvantages. The majority of computer owners use Windows as their operating system and most computer programs will run on Windows. The cheapest computers on the market also tend to run Windows. However, its popularity makes it particularly vulnerable to security risks like spyware and viruses and many users find the latest operating system, Vista, to be a hassle.
Macs have been around about as long as PCs and are slowly gaining ground in popularity. The machines themselves are sleek and the operating system (Leopard) has far fewer security issues than Windows does. They tend to be among the more expensive computers available and are not compatible with all software (though the latest Macs can now run Vista or Windows XP through a program called Boot Camp, somewhat eliminating this problem).
Do You Need a Desktop or a Laptop?
This is the second question you need to ask yourself. Desktops offer a larger hard drive (some now come as large as one terabyte in size) but are anchored to one place and not easily transported. Laptops are far more portable and necessary for anyone who works away from a desk or needs to bring their work with them between home and the office. Laptops are also more expensive than a desktop, so you may end up paying more money for a computer that cannot do as much as a desktop. For many, though, the advantage of a portable computer more than makes up for the price difference.
What Specifications (Specs) Do You Need?
How much RAM (your computer’s thinking-power) do you need? Do you pick an Intel or an AMD processor? It depends. For those who simply need a computer that will surf the internet, email friends and coworkers and type up documents, a computer with 1-gigabyte of RAM and an AMD processor should be fine, and relatively inexpensive to purchase. Intel processors are more efficient and 2 to 4 gigabytes of RAM will give you a faster computer – ideal for the computer gamer or person who runs many programs at once.
