Buying a computer is a major purchase and you should study the options carefully. The two main types of computer systems are the PC (Windows) and Macintosh. Since PCs dominate about 90% of the market, this report will focus on them, although many of the tips will also apply to the Macintosh computers.

Factors to Consider:

Buy from a reputable dealer. ( I recommend Dell for most users because of their superior support) Before you buy your next computer, check the warranty. One year is average, three is better. Will the technician come to you or do you have to bring the machine in? What is the average turn around time for their repairs? If you are expected to deal with telephone technical support, test the number to see if you get constant busy signals. Check out Consumer Reports and other publications dedicated to evaluating warranties and computer quality. Buy locally if the price is anywhere near what you can get via mail order. Also, an extended warranty is usually worth it. Stay away from online auctions.
You might get lucky and get a great deal but you won't get the support.

How will you use the computer:

Knowing how you'll use your computer will help you determine what type of minimum requirements the computer needs to have. For example, computers that run graphic design programs generally need more memory (RAM-512 megabytes is minimum you should have for operating systems like Windows XP) than computers used for simple word processing operations. The kinds of software you plan to run will often dictate how much memory your computer should have so ask what software is bundled with the computer. Salespersons will often try to make you feel as if you need more than you really do, after all they work on commission. An office suite such as Microsoft Office is essential and most new computers come with all the software you'll ever need.
Whatever you choose RAM is the cheapest upgrade you can install for your system so don't skimp. I buy my after market RAM from Crucial

How Much Should You Spend:

Depending on your needs, be prepared to spend between $500 for an entry-level computer to $3,000 for a high-end computer but you should be able to buy a good system including a monitor, keyboard, mouse and printer for $800.00 to $1200.00 that will serve most users very well. Take into consideration whether the monitor is included or costs extra. Sometimes printers, scanners and software are included in the deal. Be sure to purchase a surge protector, a software backup system (CD burner or Zip drive )along with a good antivirus software. There are many good free antivirus programs out there and I recommend AVG Free Edition (my personal choice) or Clamwin. Clamwin is free, open source and has an excellent reputation for protecting your system.

Setting up your new system is usually simply a matter of unpacking and plugging it in. Getting things to work exactly the way you want them to may be another matter and that's when we can save you time and money.

Remember if you have any questions regarding your new system we are only a phone call away at 631-771-3121 and ready to help.