A Guide To Buying A Personal Computer - Brief Article - Buyers Guide

LIKE any major purchase, buying a good computer at a good price takes time, research and a little bit of luck. But you can tilt the odds in your favor by knowing exactly what you need in a personal computer.

The first step in buying a computer begins before you browse through magazines or step foot inside a store. Decide what goals you hope to accomplish with your machine. Students mar want a computer that's capable of word processing and light graphics, while business people may be more interested in a machine for spreadsheet programs or desktop publishing. Whether the computer is for individual, business or family use, you should assess your needs. Will you require a computer system with multimedia capabilities (sound and voice)? Will you need a CD ROM for educational software? Will you need a modern to access cyberspace?

"Make sure you know what you want to do with the computer," says Ron Davis, a math and computer science instructor at Kennedy-King College in Chicago. "Don't buy the [computer] hardware and then say, `Now, what can I do with it?'"

Instead, jot down what you envision as your major golds for the computer--numbers-crunching, playing games, word processing. Then do a little research. Go to the library or local computer store and find out which machines are best for the tasks you have planned. In general, Macintosh computers are easy-to-use and work well if desktop publishing is your primary goal. Windows software has made PCs (IBM-compatibles) just as user-friendly, say some experts, they also excel in computer gaming and mathematical applications.

Next, think about what software programs you'll require. Head to the computer store armed with a notebook and a buy-later mentality. Do some homework and steer clear of salespeople who may talk you into buying a machine you will regret later. Copy memory requirements, often listed on the side of the software box, and include them in your planning. Make sure you get a computer with enough memory for the jobs you'll need.

"Software drives the kind of machine you'll need," Davis says. "The biggest mistakes people make is getting a machine too powerful or not powerful enough to fit their needs. Do some investigation and find out what will make you happy."

There are two main kinds of memory--internal memory called RAM and external memory. Davis compares the difference in the two memory types to components of a car. RAM, he says, fuels the programs you run on your computer. It controls the speed of processing or how fast applications load. If your main objective is just word processing, you don't need much RAM, maybe 8 to 16 megabytes, he says. Graphics consume a lot more memory; you might need as much as 64 to 128 megabytes of RAM, depending on the sophistication of the program.

External memory is the computer's hard drive. Like a trunk, it's where things are stored. If you plan to store photos and graphics, you'll need more hard drive memory than it you only have text. When you think hard drive, think gigabytes--a whole lot of space. Here again, it's best to do some legwork to find out what you need.

After you do your preliminary research, consider where you want to shop for your computer--classifieds, retail stores, computer specialty shops, mail-order. Each option has its own sets of advantages and risks. You might find a great price on a used machine in the classifieds or on the Internet, for example, but you may end up with a dud. Unlike classic cars or fine works of art, computers rarely appreciate in value. As the technology advances, old machines become obsolete. Used computers also rarely come with service contracts and lack the power of newer machines.

"If you get a good deal on a computer because it's old, there's a reason it's a good deal," says one expert. "Some of the newer software programs may not run on it."

Experts also urge computer shoppers to be careful about buying computers from small or newer stores without a long history of computer sales. If your computer dies and the store goes out of business, you may be out of luck when it comes to service and repairs.

"Wherever you go, try to get a feel for how long they've been in business," says Davis. "The major department stores have been around for 100 years; some of the others might be gone in six months."

Service is an important factor for a new computer buyer to consider As a novice, you'll probably be full of questions. So look for a place that offers generous advice, service plans and warranties.

Experts say the bottom line in computer buying is to think smart. Purchasing a computer is an investment that can put you ahead of the competition or land you in the hole. It's a purchase that you'll probably have to live with for years to come.

"You should approach buying a computer like buying a car," Davis says. "You don't just tun out and buy a new car You do your research first. That won't cost you anything."