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How to shop For a new Computer
Opinions of a Computer Hobbyist
Determine your needsEmail, internet, word processing, social networks, genealogy, picture and audio editing – any modern computer will suffice.
Focus on type – Tablet to DesktopSize of ScreenPortabilityTyping ability and needCostInternet connectability
Large movie, picture or music storage - hard drives size is your driver
Video editing6 core – 8gbytes of Ram – Sata 6
Gaming – Video cards + +
Portability – laptop – netbook
Second Computer -laptop – netbook - tablet
Determine your needs -continued
Large movie, picture or music storage - hard drive size is important
Video editing
multicore, 16 Gb of Ram – Sata 6 – Video Card
Gaming – Video cards + +
Portability – laptop – netbook
Second Computer -laptop – netbook - tablet
Physical Needs
Space for:
Desktop
All-in-one
Laptop
Netbook
Tablet
Cost Range
Upgrade components
Keep Tower – upgrade monitor
Keep Monitor – upgrade Tower
Upgrade Operating System
Add tablet or laptop for portability
Can you wait
If it does what you want and has:XP OS & 756mbs of ram or more – 17 months leftVista OS and 1gb or more ram – 4 years leftWindows 7 OS 1gb or more- 8 years leftNot to slow
Next years technology forecast to use less power
Reasons to Buy Now
New programs will not work on old OS or hardwareWant a second “portable” computerIt's just time to treat myself
Windows 8 – It’s here! You may love or hate it!
Good Deals on Windows 7 machines and better deals on Windows 8 upgrade software until Jan 31, 2013
Windows 7 machines may sell out before that date
New technologies to look for
USB 3.0 ten times faster than 2.0 – reduce backup times
SATA III hard drive interface -4 times faster than IDE
“also called SATA 600”
Solid State Drives – SSDs -to take full advantage of SATA III
RAID – multiple hard drives acting as one
Intel i3, i5, i7 Third generation CPU (Ivy Bridge)
AMD A10
PC Or Apple Computer PC
Multiple VendorsWidest Hardware choicesWidest Price RangeMore Software choices78% Market share
More training availabilityMore hacking attacks
AppleSingle Vendor
Better IntegrationFewer choicesHigher Prices3.7% Market share of PC/Laptops
Larger tablet shareLarge Cell Phone share
More hacking attacks now,But still less than PC Operating system for tablet is different than Mac laptop or desktop
Desktop
Most bang for the buckCheapest and Easiest to Repair or UpgradeWidest choices Least likely to failConsRequires a lot of desk space
All in One
Compromise between Laptop and DesktopSpace of Monitor and KeyboardAvailable in multiple Monitor sizesUses a standard size Keyboard Cons
Medium repair costHigher initial CostLow upgrade ability
All in One Examples
Laptop
Smaller SizePrices have droppedWide range of prices and featuresConsHighest Repair CostsHighest failure rate but much improved Screen sizeUpgrade normally limited to memory and HDBattery costs
Laptops tradeoffs
Screen size versus Battery Life and WeightProcessor power versus Battery LifeVideo Power versus Battery LifeBattery size optionsWeb cam and bio-metric optionsPortability Cost versus powerWireless networking - bluetooth
Netbooks
Laptops designed for the on the go crowdMax screen size 10.1 inchesLow Power ProcessorsBuild in Wi-fi and sometimes cellular interfacesReduced size keyboardLonger battery lifeGreat for internet, email, showing picturesNo CD or DVDMay have Linux based Operating System
Tablets
Touch ScreenGood for email, internet browsing, games
7” to 10” screensWireless
Wireless + Cell Phone
Tablets Continued
Multiple Operating Systems
Android – new version every year
Apple – new version every 2 years
Consider commonality with smart phone
Evaluate the computer
Processor Power -type, # of coresMemory size, type and expandabilityHard Drive size and typeNumber of USB ports and types (USB 3.0)Other interfaces
Firewire -ThunderboltHDMI - Display PortBluetoothWi-fi
Processor Types
Intel, AMD in Desktops and LaptopsDual core to 8 coreEconomy, Standard, Server classes, mobileNetbooks mostly use ATOM single/dual core processorsPerformance Ratings available in Windows 7Good charts at www.tomshardware.com and
Processors
AMDSempron EconomyAthlon, Phenom, A8, A10 StandardOperton Server
IntelCeleron – Exxx EconomyPentium Core2, i3, i5, i7 StandardXeon Server
Mobile versions operate at slower speed to reduce power
How to read Intel CPUsThere are 3 generations of the Core i3, i5, i7 families
For example i5-xyyy
If x is 7 or 6 then first generation
If x is 4 or 5 then first generation mobile
If x is 2 then second generation
If x is 3 then third generation
The yyy is the clock speedhttp://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/All-Core-i5-Models/943
The i3 dual core, i5 quad, i7 four or 6 core
AMD CPU
FX-8xxx – fits AM3 sockets
A4-xxxx – Dual Core fits FM2 sockets
A6-xxxx – Tri Core ,FM 2
A8-xxxx – Quad Core, FM2
A10-xxxx – Eight core, FM2
Memory
DDR3Speeds now 800 mhz to 1600 mhz
4gbs new minimum4 to 8 gbs supplied with 64 bit OS’s
Check to see if all slots are full
Internal Hard Drives
SATA 2 is std, SATA3 new (twice as fast)
3.5” for Desktops, 2.5”
Sizes from 300 gigabytes to 3 terabytes
RAID capability allows additional Hard Drive to be added for
doubling speed or reliability or size
SSDD – Solid State Disk Drive - faster
PCI-e SSDD - fastest
SATA has replaced IDE drives
Monitor
CRT – Oldest technology 17” -120 wattsLCD – Still very popular - 12 wattsLED – Newer technology – 6 watts
Wide Screen – 16/9 width to height ratioGreat for movies and spreadsheets
older screens were 4/3 ratio
Watch for types and numbers of interface – VGA, DVI, HDMI, Display Port
External Touch screens – use USB to transfer touch data – expect bluetooth in future
Extra Features to Consider
Number and location of USB and Firewire ports
HDMI interface – Connect to your HDTV
Built in Webcam
Wireless in desktop and or bluetooth
Camera Chip Reader
BioMetrics – Fingerprint or Eye reader
TV Tuner (Digital or Dual)
Backup
Don’t forget to get a backup driveDon’t forget to get a backup driveDon't forget to get a backup driveUSB 2.0, eSATA, USB 3.0 interfaces (In order of speed)Stand along box (2.5 or 3.5 inch HD)Network drive (NAS)
Single to RAID configurations
Operating Systems
Windows 7 BasicWindows 7 Home Premium (32 or 64 bits)Windows 7 Professional (32 or 64 bits)Windows 7 Ultimate (32 or 64 bits)Windows 8 Windows 8 ProWindows 8 RT – reduced version for low powered ARM tabletsLinux Mac OS 10 (Apple’s version of BSD/Linux)
TabletsIOS 5 – Apple
Android
Windows 8 RT
Does run a version of Office - Word, PowerPoint, Excel, OneNote and Lync
Does not run any other desktop programs
Does have the desktop
Does run WinRT applications that you can download from the Windows Store
When and Where to Buy
Black Friday after Thanksgiving is the biggest sale dayMany pre and Post “Black Fridays Online”
Check papers for ads for local sales.Online –
Check manufactures sites – Acer, Asus, Dell, Gateway, HP, Leno, Sony, Lenovo
www.tigerdirect.com, www.newegg.com, www.amazon.com
Interface – Computer to Monitor
No longer a single standard
Both Computers and Monitors may have multiple interface choice.• EGA / VGA – same connector
• DVI
• HDMI
• Display Port
• Apple Video
Laptops
Low end – Dual Core 15.6” lcd $350Mid range – Dual Core 17” $525
Intel i3, 6gb memory, webcam, micUltra Light 15” $900 Mac Air 13” $1300Gaming laptop 18” $1990
Others
Netbooks - $229 -$499 Windows or LinuxTablets - $250 - $500 android & web OSApple Tablets – IOS5 $499-$899
After you Buy
Remove all of the junk – io bit uninstallerTrial Programs including Anti-VirusToolbarsBrand UtilitiesISP utilities (sign up for AOL, MSN, etc)Clean start up using msconfig.exeClean up registry using Ccleaner (portable ver.)
After you buy
Make Recovery DVDs
Found on hidden partition – read manual
Load programs you want
Run Easy Transfer Wizard
Transfers files and setting from old computer
Make Disaster Recovery Backup
Start the year out right -Backup, Backup