THINGS TO THINK ABOUT
WHEN BUYING A COMPUTER
Casey Krogman
What
do you plan to do with it?
 Desktop
or Laptop?
 Processor speed
 Memory (RAM)
 Hard Disk Storage
 Operating systems
 Manufacturer


Available customer support
Warranty
 Cost
DESKTOP OR LAPTOP?
Desktop
Ease of upgrades
 Many hardware
devices to add on
 Components may be
upgraded to keep up
with advancements in
technology

Laptop
Ease of mobility
 Fewer peripherals like
the separate
keyboard, mouse or
monitor
 Decreasing in weightusually about 5
pounds

PROCESSOR
 Chip
connected to the motherboard of the
computer
Works to process the necessary steps to use
any type of software
 Maintains the operating system, icons, and
desktop
 Higher megahertz or gigahertz value indicates
a better ability to handle running programs
and the operating system

PROCESSOR SPEED
 The
processor speed needed depends
upon what you plan to use the
computer for

The more things you want to do at once
on your computer, the faster the
processor speed you need
 Processor
chips have been developed
with more than one core

Each core acts as a separate processor
MEMORY
 RAM
is found in the form of chips
installed on the motherboard

RAM is expressed as megabytes or gigabytes
 Amount
of RAM needed is also dependent
upon what you plan to use the computer

If you plan to use the computer with multiple
media applications or use several programs at
once, more RAM is needed
HARD DISK STORAGE
 Hard
disk space is where files and
programs are stored on the computer

The operating system is also stored on the
hard disk
 The
amount of hard disk space needed
depends on what you plan to do with the
computer

The more pictures, songs, and video files you
plan to store, the more hard disk space you’ll
need
OPERATING SYSTEM
 Most
computers come with an operating
system pre-installed
 3 major operating systems-Linux, Mac OS
X, and Windows


Each operating system has it’s good points
and bad points
This decision can be based upon both your
experience level with computers and what you
plan to use the computer for
MANUFACTURER
 Most
manufacturers have some type of
customer support.
 Look at the warranty
COST
 Decide


what your budget is...
As processor speed, RAM, and hard drive
space increase, so does price
Depending upon what is important to you, you
may have to either compromise cost or find a
happy medium
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
 Which
is most important-processor speed,
RAM, or hard drive space?

Why?
 Comparison
SOURCES
Best Buy. Web. 11 June 2010. <http://www.bestbuy.com>.
Brooks, Eric. "How to Choose a Computer - by Eric Brooks Helium." Helium - Where Knowledge Rules. Web. 11 June 2010.
<http://www.helium.com/items/1438205-buying-a-new-computer>.
"Choosing a New Computer | Computersight." Computersight |
Computers, Hardware, Software, Operating Systems and
Programming. 18 Oct. 2009. Web. 11 June 2010.
<http://computersight.com/hardware/choosing-a-new-computer/>.
"Operating Systems: How to Choose." Consumer Reports: Expert
Product Reviews and Product Ratings from Our Test Labs. Oct.
2007. Web. 11 June 2010.
<http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/electronicscomputers/computers-internet/software/operatingsystems/operating-systems-10-07/overview/operating-systemsov.htm>.
Pieterse, Janet. "How to Choose a Computer - by Janet Pieterse Helium." Helium - Where Knowledge Rules. Web. 11 June 2010.
<http://www.helium.com/items/964538-how-to-choose-acomputer?page=1>.