FREE ESSAY ON COMPUTER - HOW TO CHOOSE?

COMPUTER - HOW TO CHOOSE?

Today, computers are common. Even the most conservative analysts suggest that over forty
percent of Canadian homes have one, and this figure rises dramatically to well over sixty
percent in urban centers, particularly in homes when there are school-aged children or
adults with professional or managerial jobs. Buying a computer can be a daunting task,
particularly if you're new to the high technology marketplace. You will be spending
anywhere from one to several thousand dollars on the computer equipment alone, so you'll
need to do homework first. According to one old IBM advertisement, the average person
spends fifteen weeks, five days, twenty- three hours and fifty-eight minutes searching
for a new computer. If you're like most consumers, you'll spend that time checking with a
number of sources for the information you need to make decisions. In order to save time
and energy for buying a computer, you must following the three steps: setting you up to
doing your homework, focusing on the homework itself to help you make decisions, and
nailing your decision down to closing the sale. These three steps will not only saving
your time and energy, it will also provide you the guidance you'll need to buy your
computer.
Your fist step along the way to purchase your computer is to do your homework.
Homework might include the following: learning the lingo, doing some research, visiting a
few stores and dealing with salespeople. First, you should learn the lingo. Knowing the
Lingo will save you a lot of times toward buying computer because you will face many
opportunities to use it. For example, without knowing these jargon, you might have
difficulty understanding when you read the computer materials; you might have difficulty
understanding the conversation with computer salespeople. As a result, it is worth of
spending sometime to understand the meaning of lingo. For example: Hardware, Software,
Chip, CPU, PC, ROM, RAM. Second, you should do some research to getting more information
about computer. You can research through local daily newspaper. Local daily newspaper may
have a computer section. There are also monthly computer newspapers. In Canada, there are
a number of free Canadian publications such as the Computer Paper, Our Computer Player
(Vancouver), Toronto Computes, Ottawa Monitor, Winnipeg Computer Post are some of the
examples you can search from. If you have access to the Internet, it might also be a good
place for doing some research. Furthermore, the Internet also has various newsgroups that
specialize in the subject. There are also a variety of independent sites on the Web
hosted by individual with a mission to provide analysis. Finally, we come to visiting the
computer stores and dealing with the salespeople. Shopping around three to five different
computer stores is also helpful toward buying a computer. Many computer stores offer
similar computer products with different price and warranty. It is wise to talk to the
salespeople, asking as many question as you have. Don't fret if you think your expertise
is not the state of the art. In fact, if you are willing to learn as you shop and take
your time, you will end up making an informed choice. 
The second step is focuses on the homework itself by providing distinctions among the
basic hardware options that will help you to make some fundamental choices. As a result,
there are several points that you should know: the type, the feature, and the location of
buying computer. First point, you have to consider what type of the computer do you need.
It is usually the first choice every computer shopper has to make is between an IBM
-compatible, which is also known simply as a PC (for personal computer), and an Apple
Macintosh. The two rivals are built with different operating systems, which until
recently meant that software made for one of them couldn't run on the other. In other
ward, if you want the lowest price and the widest possible choice of software, go with a
PC. If ease of use matters most to you, then you should pick a Macintosh. The second
point you should consider is the feature of the computer. You should ask yourself  How
much computer power do you need?  Whether you commit to a Mac or a PC, you want computing
power adequate to your personal needs plus some room to grow- without spending for
features you'll never use. It's important getting to know the three essential computer
components: the microprocessor, Random-access memory, and Hard drive capacity.
Understanding just those three components might have been enough for you to choose a
respectable computer. But now, home computers can perform far more tasks, there are other
terms that belong on your must-know list. Make sure, for example, that you get a CD-ROM
drive, the device for reading compact disks that was virtually unheard of on home
computers before 1992. Besides, you should also consider how much you should spend on the
computer's video and audio. Much of the latest software comes with sound-ranging from
simple human speech to full orchestras. The third point is the location to buy the
computer. Today, you can buy a home computer at specialized computer shops; electronics
stores that also carry things like stereo system; discount office- supply stores like
Office Depot and Staples; vast computer  superstores like Comp USA; and mail-order
operations of every size and description. Your decision here will depend both on how much
you can afford to pay and on how much hand-holding you need while you pick out your
system. In general, you will get the most personal attention from computer shops and the
least from mail order outlets, with the others somewhere in between. 
The last step is the home stretch, where we will discuss what's involved in nailing your
decision down. At this point, you are almost ready to buy your new computer. You have
created your plan, done some homework, and you have learned what the jargon means. In
this final stage, you should know the several points: budgeting, warranting and getting
the manuals. The first point- budgeting is the first and most important thing to realize
when assessing price quotes. Unless each component is listed and specified by
manufacturer and model, you don't have enough information to make a valid price
comparison. As a result, identifying the components and assessing their position in the
quality and performance pecking order will have occupied most of your homework. The
second point- warranting is also important element while buying your computer. It doesn't
matter how many promises the nice salesperson makes to you. If those promises are not in
writing, they don't exist. So, getting the warranties, guarantees and promises on writing
is very important point to remember. Beside, you should also find out how long the store
had been in business and whether there were any other satisfied customers. Your best
source of information here are your friends, local computer user groups, and Internet
USENET newsgroups. The last steps, getting the manuals to in order to protects 
you in the future. In fact, the manuals are yours by right and they are a basic
protection for you, 
whether you ever want to open the system yourself or not. Think about it, if the retailer
goes belly up, how else will you get someone to fix the system if it breaks? 
As a result, one can see that buying a new computer is not an easy task to do. It
involved a lot of steps for you to do some homework. Lot of problems and even some tears
come from people who never talked to anyone else, didn't do any research, and took the
salesperson's word for everything. Computers are supposed to help you make some part of
your life better, and using them should be enjoyable. If you don't agree with that, we
should be meet in here. Buying one shouldn't be terror, either. Wish you Good luck for
buying a new computer.