It doesn’t matter if this is your first computer purchase or if you’re looking to upgrade your current system. Having these basic tips on what to consider can help ease the frustrations of not knowing, what to buy.
Don’t get me wrong, I considering buying a new / used computer just as difficult as purchasing a new home or even a car. Not as expensive but can be very overwhelming, especially since technology changes every few months.
Reading this post can help you determine your needs, performing your research, and obtaining the best machine for the money you were willing to spend. First thing first is to determine what type of computer user are you.
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Basic or Power Computer User?
To be honest there are two types of computer users in the world, a basic user or a high end power user. A Basic user is a user that uses their computers for basic functions like internet browsing, sending e-mails (Yahoo, Aol, Hotmail, or etc), typing papers, working with spreadsheets, doing finances, and web video games. A Regular computer user can get by with a middle computer level. See Video below for full details. This machine will have the following specs that is fast enough for the above description
Basic Computer User Specs
- Intel Core I3-3220 3.3GHz Ivy Bridge dual-core processor,
- 4GB RAM,
- 250 – 500GB 7200 rpm hard drive,
- DVD burner,
- Gigabit Ethernet
- Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
- Pricing Typically ranges between $350.00 – $500.00 for both desktop and laptops (Monitors Not Included)
Power users are computer users that have specific needs that require more resources to get their job done. An example of this would be a computer user that creates or produces new forms of media i.e video-editing professionals, high-end graphic designers and or audio producers. A power user can also be a user that likes to play heavily graphic video games. These users typically build or have their machine built to their custom specifications.
- Intel Core i7-3770 3.4GHz Ivy Bridge quad-core processor,
- 12GB RAM,
- 2TB 7200 rpm hard drive,
- DVD burner,
- ATI Radeon HD 7450 1GB video card
- 802.11n wireless,
- Bluetooth 3.0,
- USB 3.0
- Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
Head to your nearest computer store
Now that we determine what type of user you are and what specs you generally should be looking for, its now time to go to your local computer store and test drive the latest computers on the market
I start by looking at the physical. Is this a machine you can see yourself working with? The next step would be reviewing the computer’s performance through some basic functions. i.e How long does it take to open an applications
Remember not to settle when looking at a machine. I remember purchasing a laptop that did not give me the option to turn off the trackpad. So now every time I type I need to make sure my hand does not hit the trackpad otherwise it will through my typing off.
After your onsite review, it’s now time to compare prices both offline and online. For online price comparison I typically stick to Amazon.com, Newegg.com or Dealnews.com. And if you’re looking to buy a computer at a store, I suggest Best Buy, Wal-Mart, RadioShack.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact me at Reggie@reginaldjennings.com or via phone 1-860-515-8127
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