|
|
|
When you're calling around to check prices for a new system, see if the dealer will buy used equipment. Yesterday's PC (or monitor) may earn you a credit towards your purchase. If you can't find a dealer to take your old PC off your hands, consider donating it to a nonprofit organization. You may save a few bucks when Uncle Sam comes calling by writing off a charitable donation. Make sure you receive a signed and dated receipt.
Scouting for a new computer? Check the fine print to determine if a monitor is included. Also, don't take the monitor that comes bundled if it's not what you want. Don't accept 14" models either—specify at least a 15" model or shop elsewhere.
Buy Windows 95 pre-installed on your new machine. While Win95 is for everyone, it works especially well with PCs with the latest and greatest hardware. Though it will run in 8MB of RAM and requires less than 100MB of disk space, look towards the future and purchase 16MB of RAM and at least a 750MB hard drive.
Before you hit the stores, browse the Web to compare the latest system offerings. Many company Web pages, such as those of IBM, Compaq and AT&T, include detailed specifications and photos of their systems. The Yahoo site (http://www.yahoo.com), which maintains a list of computer companies' web sites, is a good place to start.
Manufacturers offer a variety of software and hardware bundles that can usually be customized to meet your needs. Home entertainment, graphics or productivity combinations are much cheaper as a package than as individual applications. Select the options you want and get them pre-installed.
Figure out where to shop based on your experience, budget and needs. Dealers or resellers offer the highest level of service, usually at higher prices. Retail computer chains offer a certain amount of security with their generous return policies, but you may find less technical know-how and individual attention. Buying direct—also known as mail order--or from a small PC shop is usually the least expensive route, but after-sale service can be an exercise in phone tag. Avoid retail chains that carry computers as an ancillary business. The salespeople are often less informed.
Even if you don't feel the urgent need for one now and you'd like to keep the cost down, buy a CD-ROM drive with your PC. CDs are becoming the preferred distribution format for most applications including suites, games and edutainment titles. More and more applications ship only on CD or cost more in the diskette version.
Before plunking down your hard-earned cash, see what type of memory the system uses. Look for 72-pin SIMMs since they are the most readily available. Also, check for available SIMM slots so you don't waste money discarding chips to free up space. Try to get a system that uses two 4MB SIMMs, for example, instead of four 2MB SIMMs.
Today's top-of-the-line PC is tomorrow's clunker. Figure that sometime in the future you'll be buying an add-in card to upgrade your PC. Find out how many slots (PCI, ISA and/or VL) are available on the system. Smaller slim-line units are notorious for having fewer expansion slots, so make sure the expandability matches your expected needs.
The quality of the user manual says a lot about a system and its vendor. Fly-by-night vendors provide minimal documentation, often consisting of photocopied pages and booklets for each component (I/O card, hard disk, motherboard and so on). A single well-illustrated manual indicates a well-planned design and will save you lots of time troubleshooting.
Word of mouth is usually the best way to find out how good a manufacturer's products are. Check with your PC-smart friends and neighbors to find out their experiences with PC makers and their products. Also, check with area user groups (you can find their newsletters in malls and shopping centers) and on-line areas like CompuServe forums to get a cross-section of opinions.
"Little" things like the warranty and return policy contribute to the value of a PC, so factor them into the purchase decision. Vendors are becoming more competitive by offering multiyear warranties and same day or on-site exchanges. A fast computer is not productive if it's inactive, so make sure you minimize the turnaround time for repairs.
Notebook computers have matured into true competitors for desktops. Pentium notebooks with all of the communications options of their sedentary counterparts no longer carry a large price premium. Purchasing a docking station for port replication and expansion and using your existing monitor gives you the best of both worlds-- performance and portability.
Just as when you're grocery shopping, it's best to make a list before you shop for a PC so that you return with what you really want. It's easy to be overwhelmed with the spec sheet data and razzle dazzle, so write out all of the software and peripherals that you need, and make note of the tips provided here. Be open to what your salesperson suggests, but stick to your guns. Come prepared with magazine system reviews and make sure the system you're choosing comes with the same equipment listed in the reviews.
|
|
|