If you’re a first-time computer buyer, you probably have a lot of questions. If you’re like most other people, you buy a computer when yours breaks or gets old. This article is going to make the process easier.
Join an online group for people who know about computers. They can help you find a desktop computer that suits your needs. And because they know computers, they can help you avoid the brands that will not serve you well. Try to soak up as much information as you can, and you’ll get a computer you can be proud of.
Dust the interior of your computer once a week to keep it running well and make sure that the fan is providing proper cooling. Desktop computer cases are really easy to remove. All you then need is compressed air to spray the dust. This will prevent dust from entering the computer and will lower its temperature.
Consider what type of media you’ll want to play on your desktop computer.
Do you have need of a Blu-ray player? Or is a DVD enough? Or maybe you tend to stream everything and have no need of any sort of optical drive. These will all factor in on the make you get and the price.
As you look for the right desktop computer for your needs, pay close attention to your intended type of Internet connection as well as whether or not a potential desktop model has a modem. If you are not able to connect to broadband due to your location, you will need a modem. Otherwise, you can purchase a computer that does not have one.
How much hard drive space do you need? Look at the sizes available in terms of how many photos they can hold for an easy reference. A 500GB hard drive holds 100,000 photos, for example, or the equivalent of 38 hours of video or 125,000 MP3 songs, which is more than enough for most.
When searching for a new desktop, go into it with the idea to maximize your buy based off of your specific needs. Desktop computers come in a ton of shapes, sizes, and processing speeds and abilities. There’s a huge variety, so it’s important to take a look at your workflow to make the best choice based off of you. Don’t get fooled into a more expensive item than you need.
What you pay for a computer is going to have much to do with the timing of your purchase.
You should definitely be taking advantage of the best sales and special deals. If it were something you buy all the time, it might be hard to make that happen. However, a computer is a less frequent purchase, so you should be able to time your purchase to finding an offer you can’t refuse.
Though you may be intimidated by the prospect, it really does pay to verify that you have actually received the equipment for which you bargained. It is not uncommon for unscrupulous sellers to fudge the statistics on a computer’s processor or memory. Therefore, it is important to perform a real inspection yourself.
Do not buy computers that are very cheap. In most instances, you get what you bargain for. Choose your desktop from among the better brand names out there and at stores that have good reputations. Any price that seems too good, probably is. Certain independent merchants may have attractive offers, but their machines may be less than advertised or may require repair.
Find out if the desktop computer you want has included programs. You need to know what they are. You need to know if it has a word processor or spreadsheet program that you will use. This is important to many for their work. Also, find out if the software included are full versions or demos. The demos expire after 30 or 90 days, which require you to buy the full versions yourself.
Find out what kind of support you get with the desktop computer you wish to purchase. You need to know this in case you encounter an issue with your purchase. Find out what their hours are and what days they are closed. You also need to know if they are available by phone, email, chat, etc.
If you have shopped around online and in retail stores for your ideal computer and have not found it, consider ordering a custom build. Local independent shops and certain online firms specialize in making individual computer systems. The prices of such systems are comparable, and even sometimes cheaper than overpaying for what you don’t want to get what you do.
To understand a bit more about hard drives, it’s important to understand that are two key types. There is a newer SSD hard drive option aside from the standard HDD drive that is generally available. SSD drives will be faster but also hold less data and cost more.
Prior to buying that desktop, make sure you try typing on the keyboard that comes with it. An uncomfortable and weird keyboard can really ruin the entire experience of a desktop computer. You need to find one that works for you, or at least be ready to buy a third party keyboard that you like soon after buying the desktop.
Ports on your computer can be very confusing, so it may help to label them as soon as you successfully set it up. Use small pieces of tape to identify “printer” and other ports, so that you don’t have to play guessing games from then on. Many ports look the same, but serve different purposes so labeling them can avoid confusion.
- Know whether or not you will hook up to the Internet via an Ethernet cable or wirelessly. Wireless connectivity is standard in modern laptops, but not an included feature in all desktops.
- If you don’t plan on using it, you really don’t need to look for it, but if you do plan on going wireless, look for a system with a wireless card already installed.
- There are many questions that you may still have about desktop computers.
- Most employees who work in the desktop computer section of your local electronics store are specially trained to understand how each system works. Best of luck to you!