Computer
Buying Tips
Developed By:
VFAC Technology Committee
Terri Ryan
Technology Committee, Chair
Joi L. Brown
Technology Committee, Co-Chair
DSQ
VFAC TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE
Table of Contents
3.Shopping in Store
4.Shopping Online
5.Online Discounts
6.Buying a Laptop?
7.PC or Mac?
8.SONY vs. Dell?
9.How much RAM?
10.Hardware/Software
DSQ
VFAC TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE
2
Shopping in Store
(BestBuy, Walmart)?
Take advantage of weekly store
specials
∆ Computers are largely commodities, so chase a
low price point aggressively. There are new
models of computers coming on the market every
few weeks and differ very little in any meaningful
way. While technology changes quickly, it doesn’t
change dramatically month-to-month
∆ Take advantage of retailers moving "old stock" as
they most likely are just as good as the “new”
stock. Treat it like the Ann Taylor blouse that is
moved to the 40% off rack two weeks after it
arrives at the store. Also look out for other
incentives for offering special price cuts from the
PC manufacturer.
∆ The bottom line: Shop for price somewhere in the
range of $500 - $750 and you could almost go to
the store blindfolded and still make a good choice.
DSQ
VFAC TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE
3
Shopping Online
(BestBuy.com, Dell.com)?
Take advantage of online specials
∆ Bestbuy.com, CircuitCity.com and Walmart.com
are suited for the less-skilled on technology jargon
customers. What you see is what you get.
∆ Dell.com is for the person who is more advanced
and has specific needs from a functionality
standpoint. However buying on Dell.com allows
you to take advantage of add-ons like free
printers.
∆ The bottom line: Shop for price somewhere in the
range of $500 - $750 and you could almost go to
the store blindfolded and still make a good choice.
DSQ
VFAC TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE
4
Couponmountain.com
∆ Special Tip: If buying online, go
to couponmountain.com and you can
usually find an online coupon
code that’s valid.
DSQ
VFAC TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE
5
Buying a Laptop?
Shop for a laptop in-store, first
∆ You need to test drive the keyboard, mouse and
monitor since they are integrated. You can always
change the monitor, keyboard and mouse on a
desktop PC but not on a laptop unless you have it
tethered to a desk.
∆ Check the keyboard for good key action — the
amount of travel from top to bottom of a key press;
more usually feels better.
∆ Laptops use many different kinds of mouse pointing
devices so make sure you like the one your new
laptop uses.
∆ And of course check the brightness of the
monitor. Make sure you have a bright display and
one that seems large enough to your eyes.
∆ Barring a really good sale (eg Holidays), expect to
pay $800-$1,000 for a laptop
DSQ
VFAC TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE
6
PC or Mac
There are differences between the
two but your choice should be based
on your needs, affordability and
preferences.
PC
DSQ
Macintosh
Pros
Cons
Pros
Cons
Most widely used
platform
Windows
environment
requires more
keystrokes to
complete an
action than the
Mac but has
come a long way
from the c:
prompt days.
Easier platform
to work in, drag
and drop
High out-ofpocket cost for
hardware. The
basic computer
costs $1,500 vs.
$600 for the
comparable PC
Compatible with
every peripheral
(e.g. printers,
mp3 players,
scanner)
Highly
susceptible to
viruses, bugs,
and webcrawlers (need to
install firewall/
antivirus
protection)
Very difficult to
corrupt with a
virus!!
Limited
compatibility with
peripherals and
software. Many
vendors will not
provide support
for Macs
More affordable
than Macintosh
Current version
of Windows Vista
has many bugs
and problems.
Best advice is to
continue with
Windows XP for
now.
Best platform for
creative
people/careers
(web designers,
graphic artists)
Costly to
maintain. Apple
care does not
supply any free
support. Must
buy an
AppleCare
package
VFAC TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE
7
SONY vs. Dell?
Don't get hung up on brand names
∆ Businesses have known this for years and buy
whatever brand gives them the best price when they
deploy thousands of machines across an
enterprise. So buy like the pros and don't get hung
up on some concept that a certain brand of PC is
necessarily faster or better built than another.
∆ Check the warranty, support section of web site, and
even call their toll free support number with a test
question to see what the people are like on the other
end.
∆ Bottom line: Like cars, the guts are basically the
same while the case is different. Don’t shop for the
name on the case, shop for the functionality you
need with the best customer service/support
program. Even a SONY Vaio malfunctions and it will
not fix itself, nothing is more frustrating than having
a malfunctioning computer and nobody to call for
help.
DSQ
VFAC TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE
8
How much RAM?
Make more RAM (random access memory)
your main priority with any PC (more
is more)
∆ CPU speed and hard drive space are usually OK,
memory is what's often skimpy on a new
machine. All too often what is perceived by users
as their computer being too slow is actually not the
CPU speed but the amount of memory.
∆ When a computer has too little memory, it usually
doesn't alert you until it’s about to totally shut down,
it just starts using hard drive space instead.
∆ Buy at least 2GB to run any of the latest operating
systems with all their features. Consider 3GB if you
can afford it because there's almost no such thing
as too much RAM
DSQ
VFAC TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE
9
Hardware/Software Needs
Hardware:
CPU – The computer itself
Monitor – Suggestion is at least a 17” screen
minimum, 19” minimum for graphic
professionals
Printer – All in one’s are handy
(printer, fax, scanner, copier)
Laptop - If smaller is important because of weight, go
with a 15” screen, but for visual comfort go
for 17”
Software:
Operating System - Microsoft XP Professional or
Home, Vista (still buggy)
Software – Excel, Word, and PowerPoint, Adobe
Reader (must haves)
Adobe Acrobat, Imaging software (nice to
have)
Tip: If you are an educator, retired educator,
student or you home-school your kids you should
purchase the Education edition of the software.
It is the same but costs half the price! You may
be asked to show appropriate ID to purchase
DSQ
VFAC TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE
10