Tech
Talk
We've decided to buy our first home computer. Right now we use the Access
Centre a lot to send email and things, but it's come to the point where we really should have one at home. Do you have any
suggestions or tips on what sorts of things we need to know about in order to buy a pretty good system? We'll be using the
computer mostly for researching school projects, paying our bills and banking, some shopping, sending letters and pictures
to family out west, playing video games and things like that. The kids know more about computers than me or my husband do,
so we might take courses to learn more. We don't have a lot of money to spend. Do you have any advice? Thanks.
-- Stephanie & Bob
The first thing to figure out when purchasing a new computer system, is
what it's going to be used for. You seem to have accomplished this fairly well. Some things to look for when shopping for
a computer to fit these needs are:
USB ports- pretty much standard these days, but needed if you intend on
connecting any devices like cameras and scanners to send your family pictures
RAM- The bare minimum I recommend is 128MB, and since you mentioned that
this machine will be used for games, I would get at least 256MB. This is one option that more is definitely better, and it's
the cheapest part to upgrade.
VIDEO- This really depends on the games that are going to be played on
the machine. If the kids plan on playing any of the latest video games that are out, then make sure that the video card is
NOT integrated and that it's upgradeable. I recommend nothing less than a Geforce 2 or a Radeon (and these are pretty much
bottom line these days).
PROCESSOR- Computer speeds are steadily increasing, and just as soon as
you buy your computer, a faster cheaper one will be available the next week. It's the natural cycle of the computer industry
and must be taken into consideration during your purchase. No one can ever keep up with the latest technologies, so try and
get the fastest chip you can afford, and don't be upset when you find out if you only waited a month you could've gotten it
cheaper.
In the end, it's always a good idea to get the best one that you can afford,
keeping in mind that you will probably also want to get a printer and scanner as well. Digital cameras are also lowering in
price while the quality keeps getting better. You mentioned you may want to send pictures, so this is another option. But
that is a whole discussion in itself.
My last tip is that if you buy from a larger store, chances are the salespeople
don't have a clue about what they are selling, and are just pushing what the store wants them to. Shop around and get prices
for any systems you are interested in, and then compare the prices/features before making any purchases.
Best of Luck,
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