It is far easier to buy your next computer than it is to purchase your first one, because those who’ve bought and operated a computer in the past already have an idea of what they require in a new computer, but those who are new to the computer world can easily become lost in the multitude of choices to be had.

The brief reply to “What should I buy?” is “the best”. Of course that response is very subjective because “the best” to one person is not going to be the best to another. Our description of “the best” is the fastest and with the largest memory, but even that can leave the computer newbie perplexed. Here’s a quick rundown of what the computer greenhorn should do and why.

1. Purchase a computer that includes all the fundamental components. Every computer arrangement can be broken down into four major components: CPU unit, screen, keyboard, and mouse. For the novice, it’s best to buy a computer that has all of these peripherals incorporated so that when it’s taken home, assembling the computer is a uncomplicated affair of plugging the bits in where they belong. Save the individual purchase of these peripherals to those who have more understanding.

2. Decide what you’ll use the computer for. If you want to use your computer for investigating the Internet, sending email, or performing straightforward word-processing or spreadsheet tasks, a computer with the basic components that we recently described plus a printer should suffice. If you want to use a computer to help with a career in multimedia however, you’re going to need to increase your system with maybe a scanner, digital camera, tablet, or digicam as well for example. If you want a computer to help with a career in music, you might require a good microphone and array of loud-speakers.

3. Make a budget and stick to it. How much can you afford to spend on a new computer? Even though the price of computers is decreasing, they can still be quite a hefty expenditure especially if you need supplementary components as discussed above. In addition, you’ll have to figure in overheads for Internet access, maintenance, servicing, and insurance.

4. Begin comparison shopping and look for the fastest and largest. By quickest and largest, we mean the computer with the quickest processor, the fastest modem, the largest memory, and the biggest hard drive capacity. Even if you consider that you’ll never require the amount of speed or space obtainable on the market today, it’s important to have in case that you really do need that much in the future. Having such a large reserve will cut down on costs when the time comes to upgrade.

5. Stay with the better-known makes. Venturing off the trodden path with lesser-known brands is again an adventure for those who have more familiarity with computers. Although those better-known brands might be a tad more costly, the computer greenhorn will be grateful for the comfort of purchasing a computer from a shop that has a long history of building quality products, and that has the funds on hand for fulfilling returns, trades, servicing, and guaranties.

6. Select a good store. Once you have an idea of what you want in a computer and what form of computer that you want, the only thing left to do is to select the place where you want to buy it. There are many places, which include computer stores, online stores, auction sites and used computer stores. For the computer greenhorn, we advocate buying a computer from a bricks-and-mortar store. In a bricks-and-mortar store, you have the chance to see the computer of interest itself and ask questions. New computer buyers will also have a store warranty, returns, trades, and services.

These recommendations should give the computer newcomer a helpful start in selecting a good computer for the first time and these suggestions apply to both Windows computers or Apple Macintosh computers. After making these decisions and finally choosing one that fits your needs, you can then venture into the spellbinding world of software – a world that is just as grand as the world of hardware!

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