Choose Your First Computer

So you want to buy your first computer? This will show you how to find the right computer for you. You have to buy a computer that fits your budget, your needs. You may or may not need a powerful computer depending on your needs.

Steps

  1. Make a budget. Think about how much money you are willing to pay for a computer.
  2. What purpose will it serve. If it is for basic applications like word processing, then look for a cheap model. If you want to play games, you'll need something with a fast processor, lots of RAM, a large hard drive, and good sound and graphics cards.
  3. Where will it be used. If you need to take it all over the place, you'll need a laptop. If you intend to leave it in the office or at home on the desk, then buy a desktop.
  4. Who is going to use it? If it's for an office and you have to share it, you might need one with more memory and Windows 7 Professional or Ubuntu. If you will be the only one using it, and mostly for playing games, then Windows 10 or Windows 7 will serve you well.
  5. Choose an operating system.
  6. Choose the hardware. Decide whether you want a desktop machine, a laptop that you can take with you, or a netbook. A netbook is a smaller version of the laptop but more portable and with fewer built-in devices such as CD and DVD drives.
  7. Decide on the amount of memory. Decide how much RAM memory you want your computer to have. Many software have a minimum RAM requirement in order to run. So if your software say it requires 2 GB of memory, and your computer has only one GB of memory, it will not run. The more RAM the better, but it will be more expensive. You should at least have 2 GB or more RAM, unless the only thing you are using the computer for is connecting to the internet (in which case you can do with only 1 GB).
  8. Research. Scan the Internet, and become more knowledgeable. Compare prices, and whether the computer can be upgraded as needed. Then you are ready to order, either online, or in a computer store.
  9. Finished.

Tips

  • If you find a computer you like, compare all the prices. You don't want to pay £700 and find the same thing on eBay for £300.
  • If you're only doing basic things like word processing, see if you can use a friend's computer, or go to a library.
  • The different OS's each have their own general use. Windows is usually bought by gamers as many PC games are made for Windows, however Windows is sometimes considered bloated. Also, if you do not have an antivirus program installed, Windows is vulnerable to many viruses. Macs are generally used for multimedia or for people who just want something simpler, however it only legally works on Mac computers, which are more expensive usually. Linux is very open and free, making it great for those who want the computer to surf the internet and edit documents; however it can get technically involved, which is great if you want to learn more about your computer but not so good if you don't really know about computers.

Warnings

  • Never pay any money for something unless you are a 100% percent sure you need it.
  • Always buy from a trusted vendor, and always check return policies before buying.

Related Articles

References

  • The computer techs guide - a directory on all computer problems
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