Buying a new computer is no easy task, and with the different brands and hardware available, it can
seem like choosing one to fit your needs can be a daunting experience. I have found that by narrowing
down your choices based on what you will need the computer to do, the task can become less complex.
Desktop, Laptop, or Tablet?
This will probably be your simplest choice to make, and one that can have the biggest impact on the
overall cost of the computer. Simply put, if a desktop and laptop have the same specifications on
hardware, the desktop will be cheaper. It might not make sense, since it’s a bigger piece of hardware,
but the ability to cram a lot of components into a small space and the need for a battery is what ups the
price of the laptop.
If you plan on having a dedicated home computer, and don’t need to have a computer that is mobile,
consider getting a desktop and saving yourself some money. Additionally, it’s easier to change out parts
and upgrade components in a desktop, which will keep your machine from falling behind the constantly
increasing demands of the digital world.
If you need your computer to be on the go, your choices would be either a laptop or tablet. Laptops are
great computers for working at home, and will do most things a desktop computer would do, but offer
the added bonus of being mobile and wireless. Tablets are great for viewing media, using the internet,
and checking email, but they lack some of the processing power needed to perform some of the tasks
you would otherwise find easy on a desktop or laptop.
What type of processor should I get?
Processors are the brains of the computer. The better the processor, the faster it’s able to perform the
tasks you assign it to compute. Intel Core i5 and i7 processors are great for desktops and laptops, but if
you are looking at a tablet, the features of the tablet will be more important than the processor,
especially since your choices on tablet processors will be limited anyway.
What is RAM? And how much Hard Drive space do I need?
If you think of your computer as a factory, taking in orders (your commands) and spitting out products
(completing tasks) then it only makes sense that the more factory workers you have, the more orders
you can take in and the more products you can churn out at any given time. The more RAM you have in
your computer, the better your computer will be equipped to handle more tasks at the same time, and
your computer will feel and perform faster. 8GB of RAM is a good starting point these days.
With Hard Drive space, it really depends on how you will be using the computer. If you want to be
storing loads of pictures and videos, the more space you will need. You really can’t go wrong with
storage space, it’s pretty cheap, so I would recommend going with as much as your budget allows.
500GB is a really good place to start.
Do I need a video card?
Well, it depends really. Processors these days come with an embedded co-processor used for graphics
called a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) with enough power to handle most of your basic computing
tasks. However, if you are wanting to purchase a computer with enough power to handle playing video
games, video editing, or anything else pertaining to graphics, getting a computer with a separate
processor and video card cannot be recommended enough. Choosing the right video card will increase
the longevity of the computer as well. I recommend getting anything better than an Nvidia GTX 950 or
AMD Radeon R9 270.
Where can I get more information?
There are loads of information online for purchasing a new computer, and there’s always the option of
going into a store and checking out the merchandise before purchasing. We will also be going into more
detail on purchasing new technology in our November Cooperative Conversation, so if you have any
questions, feel free to attend. Hope to see you there!