Computers Continued…

If you choose to stick with a PC, you must decide what brand to go with. Do you want Dell, Compaq, or Sony? What about Toshiba? Before you decide on a brand, look into reports about that company's customer service. Do they offer home repair services? Do they have a 24-hour helpline? Do they have a help page on their website online? Try to find consumer reports about specific brands. These will often give you a good clue into how the company operates.

Desktop vs. Laptop

You will also have to decide whether you want a desktop or a laptop. Since you can get the same components either way, this decision is usually based one how you plan to use the computer. Desktops are bigger and more difficult to move around, but they are also less expensive. If you plan to stay in one place for a while, and only intend on using your computer at home, than desktops are way to go. If you move around a lot, travel for business, or will want to bring your computer with you to work, meetings, or even coffee shops, you'll need a laptop.

Components

There are a variety of built-in components and add-on components that you should be informed about before you purchase a computer. Processors, RAM, and hard-drives are all built-in. If you want the top of the line (the fastest processor, the most RAM, and the largest hard-drive), then you will have to pay more. Be realistic about how important these things will be to you in the long run.

Another component is a CD/DVD reader. You can get computers that just read CDs. You can get computers that can read CDs and DVDs. You can get computers that read them both and can burn CDs. And, these days, you can even get computers that can do all that and burn DVDs as well. Again, make sure that you will actually use the component before you spend extra money on it. If you will only be using your computer to do work on Microsoft Excel and Word, and won't be watching DVDs on it, then don't spend the extra money.

Other decisions will be a matter of preference. Do you want a flat panel monitor or will the regular bulky monitor suffice? If you're getting a desktop, do you want a regular tower, a mini tower, or an all-in-one? These decisions don't affect the quality of the computer, just the way the computer looks and how much space it takes up.

By Christy Patrick