PC or Mac? Desktop or Laptop? PC Buying Tips - Shelly Palmer - MediaBizBloggers

I39ve had a bunch of people ask me about buying a computer this week So here are a few simple tips that will help you choose one that fits your needsDesktop or Laptop Unless you know why you need a desktop computer production business design web stuff etc you should probably purchase a laptop They are portable wireless if you purchase one with WiFi built in and generally powerful enough to do most of the things you tend to do with a computer They are also relatively cheap In fact the main reason for this article is that computers are so inexpensive right now many people find themselves only shopping priceIt39s important to save money but it39s also important to make sure that the computer you buy is going to be properly suited for the things you want to do If you39re the kind of computer shopper who is comfortable purchasing your hardware from Walmart or Best Buy as opposed to a computer specialty store these tips are specifically for youIf you39re shopping a big box store the quotMac or PCquot question probably does not apply The words quotinexpensivequot and quotMacquot cannot be used in the same sentence However the words quotcost effectivequot very accurately describe a Mac If you like getting things done with your tools as opposed to fighting with them buy a Mac For your information I am Bidigital I use both Mac39s and PC39s everyday If you are an experienced PC user and you just want a new computer or if you are a slave to a PCbased business or you are looking to get the least expensive computer you can get then you39re a PCAnother possible decision Notebook or Netbook Netbooks are supersmall notebooks They don39t have many features so they are pretty cheap Many are under 350 Just say no If you need a computer buy a notebook If you want a netbook as a second or third computer to throw in a briefcase or purse knock yourself out Doing anything substantial on a netbook is tortureBack to our story if you mostly need a computer to browse the Internet do email some word processing a few spreadsheets and a PowerPoint or two than almost any computer will do When you hit your big box retailer just grab something that appeals to you with Windows 7 installedIf you want to do yourself a favor ask the tech guys at the store to take 100 of the preinstalled thirdparty antivirus software off of the computer before you take it home Geek Squad offers the service for a few bucks and if you39re not a tech it is really worth it Removing all of the annoying demos and preinstalled junk you don39t need can in some cases make your new computer work 2550 percent fasterNow even if you are just buying the computer for light home or business use there are some specifications you will want to pay attention toThe first is the processor One of the easiest ways for a manufacturer to lower the price of a computer is to underpower it It39s sort of like putting a lawnmower engine in a passenger car If you are buying a laptop as your primary computer you will want the most powerful CPU Central Processing Unit you can afford However do not spend extra money for a fractionally more powerful CPU it39s usually not worth it For example you might find two identical computers one featuring a 28GHz Intel Core 2 Duo CPU and the other featuring a 306GHz Intel Core 2 Duo CPU for an additional 300 Don39t spend the extra money for the faster processor unless you personally know why you need the extra processor speed CPU speed alone does not make a computer run faster What you as an average computer user will perceive as a fast computer requires a combination of features including a fast hard drive ample RAM Random Access Memory WiFi and video cardMake sure the computer you are buying has at least 2GB of RAM per processor An Intel Core Duo 2 has two processors that means you want at least 4GB of RAM There is a technical reason to have more RAM that is outside the scope of this writing For most users this rule of thumb will sufficeSince your goal is a the most powerful fastest computer you can get for your money make sure the computer comes with a 7200 rpm or faster hard drive No matter how fast the processor is if it39s waiting to get data off the hard drive you39ll think your computer is slow Can you live with a 5400 rpm drive Yes but you39ll be happier with the faster one Like I said we need to balance a combination of features to achieve the best deal Seriously don39t buy a computer with a hard drive slower than 5400 rpm it will make you very unhappyIf the computer has WiFi built in make sure it is specified as 80211n compatible Less expensive computers usually feature slower 80211b or 80211g WiFi interfaces A quotgquot compatible interface is OK try to stay away from quotbonlyquot compatible computers It39s old slower technology Personally I would not consider buying a laptop without WiFi built in You may think it does not matter it doesn39t except for the time you really need to connect and you can39t find your external WiFi cardLastly try to get the fastest video card for the money The faster the video card is and the more memory it has the faster your screen will write and the faster you39ll think your computer is working This is especially important if you do heavy Internet browsing like to watch video on your computer or play a game now and again With many laptops the video card is integrated this is not a problem just ask the salesperson to let you compare two different computers one with a faster video package and one that is less expensive and slower Open a browser on both and go to your favorite rich media website and poke around You will easily determine which video cardcomputer package suits you bestSo let39s reviewamp183 A good fast CPUamp183 2GB of RAM per CPUamp183 The biggest 320GB500GB 7200 rpm hard drive you can affordamp183 80211n WiFiamp183 A fast video card with as much RAM as possibleIf you balance these features you may spend a little more but you39ll get the most for your moneyShelly Palmer is the host of MediaBytes with Shelly Palmer a daily show featuring news you can use about technology media ampamp entertainment He is the author of Television Disrupted The Transition from Network to Networked TV 2008 New York House Press and the upcoming Get Digital Reinventing Yourself and Your Career for the 21st Century Economy 2009 Lake House Press Shelly is also President of the National Academy of Television Arts ampamp Sciences NY the organization that bestows the coveted Emmy Awards For information about Get Digital Classes visit httpwwwshellypalmercomseminars Watch Digital Life with Shelly Palmer Tuesdays at 10p ET on WNBC39s NY Nonstop httpwwwshellypalmercomdigitallifeRead all Shelly39s MediaBizBloggers commentaries at Shelly Palmer MediaBizBloggersFollow our Twitter updates MediaBizBlogger

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