So you’ve finally chose it’s time for a change. No matter what advice you follow that ancient workhorse of a desktop computer you have has outlived its usefulness with slow loading applications and a continuous rise in operation noise.
Searching for that Perfect Computer can be about as much fun as purchasing a new car and about as frustrating also when sorting through the various brands while trying to choose which “bells and whistles” best fit your needs. Besides all that trying to return something that is so large can be both inconvenient and very hard to do. So making the right choice the FIRST time is the wise path of choice.
For starters you’ll need to choose what you want to do with your computer. Are you into the video game scene or are you someone who likes to just surf the internet and occasionally do some book keeping with simple word processing software?
If you’re into video games you’re going to want a machine that can handle the high level of graphics and superior sound quality. On the other hand if you’re not into all that high adrenalin stuff you can probably get by with a less expensive system. Although, if you want to stay on the safe side I would recommend going with something more “high-end” so you don’t have to spend another large chunk of change to upgrade the system you just bought.
There are two basic routes you can take when purchasing a new computer.
1) Buy a “Brand Name” Computer
2) Buy a “Clone” Computer
A “BRAND-NAME” computer is one that is manufactured by a company that is recognizable by name.
Some Advantages/Disadvantages of “Brand-Name” computers include:
Advantages-
Customer Support- If you are experiencing problems with your computer you will have the option to contact a representative of the company that you bought the PC from to get help in solving your problem.
Customer support is probably the best reason to buy a brand-name computer.
Warranty- Having a warranty is always nice since it acts as a type of security blanket for you.
In case a part on your computer should fail you should be able to get the item fixed at no charge just as long as the warranty has not expired.
Read and know a company’s warranty policy BEFORE you buy a computer from them.
This way you’ll have a excellent understanding of the procedures to follow in case a problem should arise.
Pre-installed Software- Many companies will include software packages that are all set up and ready to go for you on your computer.
Although, a disadvantage of buying a brand-name computer with software pre-installed is that you usually end up with more than fits your needs and usually just results with the wasting of space on your storage device.
Additional Support- Most brand-name computer companies are also able to provide you with web sites that may provide you with current software updates, user manuals, or basic troubleshooting help.
Disadvantages-
The use of Proprietary parts- the term Proprietary refers to products that are unique to an individual company and that company only.
So if a part was to malfunction on your computer after warranty and you needed to replace it you could not just go to your local computer store and buy any ancient part even if it was intended for the same function as the item that failed.
You would be forced to buy the exact same item that came out of the computer or else the computer would more than likely stop to function correctly.
Having to buy proprietary parts usually involves the need to place an order which means you’ll have to wait for the part to arrive or you’ll have to send your computer into the company or an authorized dealer of that company for repairs.
People with a home based business would probably not be too pleased with that situation at all.
Integrated/On-board parts- In the computer world when you hear the word integrated or on-board it means that a particular part such as the modem or sound port where you plug in your speakers, is built-in or part of the computer main board (Also known as the Motherboard).
This means that if any of these items should fail, you can’t just remove them from the computer and replace them with a new part. They are usually soldered directly to the main board and are stuck there.
Although, some computers do provide a way to disable a malfunctioning device which will allow you to install your own store bought device to take the place of the broken part.
