Computer Buying Guide

With all the choices floating around out there when it comes to personal computers, it's tough to tell just where to start looking.  There are more computer companies manufacturing more models of computers than ever before.  How do you single out your next purchase from the dozens of choices?  Well, we're here to help.

In this book, we'll try to separate fact from fiction, and educate you on what to look for, and what to avoid, when it comes to choosing your next desktop or laptop computer.  While it might appear daunting at first, picking a computer really boils down to a few simple comparisons.  Using a little bit of knowledge about computer components and our library of machines, you'll be able to select your next computer in no time.

So Where Do We Begin?

The first choice you typically need to make when thinking about a new computer is really the most obvious: are you in the market for a desktop or a laptop?  This is, of course, a question of portability.  It also affects pricing, as you'll pay a premium for the small sized parts in the laptop.  These days, laptops are just about as capable as any desktop, aside from a few, very high end applications.

The next thing you'll need to determine is just exactly what the new computer will be used for.  Is it going to be used simply for surfing the internet and checking email, or will you be using it to store photos?  Will you be using it to make videos or play computer games?  Will it be your entertainment center?  Your answers will go a long way toward dictating how powerful a CPU you need, how much memory and hard drive space you require, and what kind of video card you'll need.  But don't worry, we'll delve deeper into these questions later in this book.