First-Time Buyers’ Guide

This is the first and most important question you need to ask yourself as it dictates just about everything else.

Are you just looking to get online, send emails and maybe write the odd paper? Then you don’t need to spend a fortune on a powerful machine.

Generally speaking it’s the software that you intent to use that will dictate the strength and therefore the price, of the PC that you should purchase.

Children (and many adults) will probably want to play video games, remember that these are very ‘memory hungry’ programmes so you will need plenty of RAM and good sound and graphics cards (see below) to get the most out of it.

Similarly if you intend to use your PC to run other programmes such as video editing software or sound production you will need to look for features that will give you the ability to do this.

PCs today come with loads of exciting features but there is no point in paying for them if you think that you probably won’t use them. Do really need an optical drive (DVD/CD Player) or will you just stream content from BBCi Player? Will you actually use that webcam or will it just collect dust?

What about speakers? Do you intend to watch movies and play music? Write down what you want to do with your PC first and work backwards from there.

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This relates strongly to the question above. Traditionally new customers were encouraged to find the most powerful processor, the largest hard drive and the maximum amount of RAM that they could afford.

While this still holds true in general, remember that with today’s ability to store documents and files online you might find that money is better spent on a nice set of speakers of speakers or a wider screen.

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When buying a computer the main thing that you should familiarise yourself with are the chief components that make up the overall functionality of the PC. Here’s a quick overview:

Processors

The CPU means Central Processing Unit and operates as the brain of the PC, sending out instructions from one component to another. When you see the phrase ‘dual core’ or ‘quad core’ this essentially means that the PC contains more than one CPU- giving it a higher clocking speed (the speed at which a processor can execute instructions).

RAM (Random Access Memory)

This is where all your open programmes are placed while they are running. The more RAM you have the more programmes you can run without your PC slowing down or crashing. Anyone who uses large programmes regularly, such as a committed gaming enthusiast, needs a lot of RAM to keep their machine running smoothly.

Hard Drive

This is the memory where all the files and programmes are stored when not in use. It is quite cheap to buy extra memory these days in the form of external storage devices, and there are many websites where you can store documents images and videos.

Sound and Vision

Graphics cards and sound cards translate the stored data on your programmes into sound and vision. The better the graphics card the better the graphics. If you plan to watch lots of movies, play games and listen to music then you should get a good graphics card. Likewise sound cards can provide surround sound which may be important to you as well.

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Yes. It’s worth reiterating this as many people tend to just spend the maximum without thinking it through properly. Some software programmes can cost as much as a computer so think about your software first then work backwards.

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Having a PC in this day and age without anti-virus software exposes you to many threats. There are sophisticated gangs of cybercriminals out there who are always developing new ways to get money.

Additionally there are random viruses that can get into your computer when you download a video, image, and link or open an email.

Unfortunately the growth in cybercrime means that to protect the money spent on your new PC you should seriously consider budgeting for an annual Internet protection programme. This will protect your privacy online, prevent hackers from accessing your computer, block worms, Trojans and viruses and warn you if you are visiting an unsafe website.

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You probably already know the answer to this question, as it really is a matter of personal preference.

Desktop pros and cons

Value for money is the biggest selling point when it comes to desktops. Not having to squeeze all that technology into a small space saves on design costs which means that you get faster memory and processing power for your money.

Desktops are also easier to upgrade and customize as you can buy new keyboards monitors and mice etc, and you can also swap system components. It is also cheaper and easier to repair desktops as laptops generally have to be sent to the manufacturers rather than the local computer repair centre. They are also harder to damage as they tend to remain in one place.

Laptops pros and cons

The benefits of a laptop are pretty obvious. Portability, space saving – check your emails whilst lying on the sofa etc – they have a battery so you can use them anywhere you like and most come with wireless devices so that you can connect to the Internet anytime, anywhere.

They can be small and sleek and come in different colours; they look good, feel good and fit neatly into a shoulder bag. Perfect.

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Images by Mzacha, Vertige, Axonite, Sarej.