Everything You Need to Know Before Buying a Computer

Common sense talk- money saving solutions

Dr. Jan Pittman VanderpoolEmail: vanderj@wlac.edu

PC (Windows) Versus Apple (MAC)

PC MACCost X

Available Software (Business)

X

Available Software (Home) X

Ease of Use X

Reliability X

Vulnerability (viruses, etc.) X

Desktop versus Laptop (Notebook)Desktop Laptop

Cost (relative) X

Performance (raw power) X

CPU X

Portability X

Screen Size & Clarity X

Permanent storage X

Memory X

Definitions-Desktop• Desktop computer-May consist of five or more

components;– Main frame which houses the CPU, memory, permanent

storage, DVD or CD drive, video adapter, sound adapter, Ethernet connector, keyboard, mouse, speakers and display

– Non-portable configuration whose components may weigh more than twenty pounds

• Review sites– http://reviews.cnet.com/desktop-computers/– http://www.pcworld.com/products/computers/desktops.

html

Definitions-Laptop (Notebook)• Personal computers designed for mobility in five

broad categories as defined by size & weight;– Netbook/Subnotebook: <10.5" x <1.5" x <1.3" @ <3.5

lbs– Ultraportable: 9-11" x 8-10" x <1.5" @ 2.0-5 lbs.– Thin and light: 11-15" x <11" x 1-1.7" @ 5-7 lbs.– Desktop Replacement: >15" x >11" x >1.5" @ >7 lbs.– Luggables: >18” x >13” x >1.5” @ >12 lbs.

• Review sites– http://reviews.cnet.com/laptops/– http://www.notebookreview.com/

Definitions-CPU

• CPU(Central processing unit)- This is the brains of the computer and its power is generally measured in clock speed (cpu cycles). Today’s CPU’s clock speeds will exceed 2 GHz on desktops and 1.6 GHz on laptops.

• Caveat-Rated clock speeds are not linear measurements- a 3.0 GHz P4 is actually less powerful than a 2.0 GHz Core 2 Duo

Definitions- Memory

• Memory (RAM)- non permanent storage measured in megabytes (MB) or preferably, gigabytes (GB). Desktops should have at least 2 GB of RAM while laptops may have 1 GB but should have 2 GB of RAM

• Caveat- Windows XP can only recognize 3.28 GB of RAM. Anything more is wasted. Windows 7 (32 bit) can recognize 4 GB and Windows 7 (64 bit) can recognize 192 GB

Definitions-Storage

• Permanent Storage (Hard drive) – Unlike RAM, data stored in permanent storage remains after the power is turned off. Storage, like RAM, is measured in gigabytes (GB). Desktops should have at a minimum 500 GB of storage while laptops may suffice with 250 GB

• Caveat- If you plan to store pictures, videos or music, you should opt for as much storage as possible (terabyte plus)

Definitions-Display

• Desktop display (monitor) – New systems should have an LCD flat panel display of at least 19” diagonal with a minimum resolution of 1280 x 1024. Higher is better.

• Laptops display – Depending upon the size laptop the screen dimensions will vary from 7” to 19” (too heavy) Minimum resolution of 1280 x 1024

• Caveat- The video card must have its own fast processor and enough memory to support active screens

Definitions-Display• Screen size

– The screen size is the measurement of the displayable area of the screen from the lower corner to the opposite upper corner of the display (7”-20” notebook, 15”-30”+ desktop)

• Aspect ratio– The aspect ratio refers to the number of horizontal pixels to vertical pixels in a display.

Traditional displays used a 4:3 aspect ratio. Most new widescreen monitors use either a 16:10 or 16:9 aspect ratio.

• Native resolution– All LCD screens can actually display only a single given resolution referred to as the native

resolution. This is the physical number of horizontal and vertical pixels that make up the LCD matrix of the display..

• Contrast ratio– Basically a higher contrast ratio will mean that the screen will tend to have deeper blacks and

brighter whites.• Connectors

– Most LCD panels have an analog and a digital connector on them. The analog connector is the VGA or DSUB-15. The common digital interface is the DVI connector.

• Stands– Many people don't consider the stand when purchasing a monitor but it can make a huge

difference. There are typically four different types of adjustment: height, tilt, swivel and pivot.

Operating System

• Windows is the predominant operating system found on PCs– Windows XP-released October 30, 2001 and is

currently the most widely installed PC operating system (est. >400 million worldwide)

– Windows Vista-released January 30, 2007 and has been plagued by problems ever since its release

– Windows 7- released October 22, 2009 purportedly to fix all past mistakes (installed on all new, major brand computers)

Manufacturers• PCs are manufactured (assembled) by either 1st tier, 2nd tier or whitebox

companies (53% of all systems sold)– 1st tier companies

• HP• Dell• Toshiba• Lenovo

– 2nd tier companies• Acer• Sony• Sharp

– Whitebox companies• Your local computer store

• Caveat- Buyer beware; smaller stores may not be there when you need them but conversely, may be able to provide you with personalized service when you need it

Software

• Productivity-Paid– Microsoft Office (generally does not come

included with the computer, just a 60 day trial)• Word-Wordprocessing• Excel-Spreadsheet• Powerpoint-Presentation• Outlook-Email• Access-Database

– Adobe Acrobat –PDF maker – Act or Goldmine-Contact manager

Software-Free• Productivity

– Open Office-Microsoft Office open source software from Sun Micro Systems http://www.openoffice.org/

– Adobe Reader 9.1-read PDF files http://download.cnet.com/Adobe-Reader/3000-10743_4-10000062.html

– Avira-Anti virus http://www.free-av.com/– Antispyware- AdAware

http://download.cnet.com/Ad-Aware-Free-Anti-Malware/3000-8022_4-10045910.html?part=dl-ad-aware&subj=dl&tag=top5

– Registry repair-Spybot-Search and Destroy http://www.safer-networking.org/en/spybotsd/index.html

Home Software-Pictures

– Adobe Photoshop https://www.photoshop.com/– Web Picture Creator

http://software.informer.com/wpc/– Flickr http://www.flickr.com/– Shutterfly

http://www.shutterfly.com/photo-books– Snapfish http://www.snapfish.com/

Home Software-Music Catalog• Apple iTunes

– http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/• Limewire

– http://www.limewire.com/• Rhapsody

– http://www.rhapsody.com/home.html• Napster

– http://free.napster.com/• Kazzaa

– http://www.kazaa.com/

Home Software-Movies

• Windows Movie Maker– http://desktopvideo.about.com/lr/windows_movi

e_maker/90641/2/• Apple iMovie

– http://desktopvideo.about.com/lr/apple_imovie/90641/3/

• Free video editing software– http://www.desktop-video-guide.com/top-5-free-

video-editing-software-review.html

Home Software-Music

• Audacity– http://audacity.sourceforge.net/download/

• Wavosaur– http://www.wavosaur.com/

• Free Digital Audio Editors– http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/25-free-digital-au

dio-editors/

Educators Discount Sites

• Online academic sites– Academic Superstore

http://www.academicsuperstore.com/– Viosoft http://www.viosoftware.com/index.php– Royal Discount

http://www.royaldiscount.com/index.cfm?stateful

– Journey http://www.ccvsoftware.com/– Needsoft http://needsoftware.com/– Gradware http://www.gradware.com/

Wholesale sites

• Online sources where retailers shop– Nextag http://www.nextag.com/– Newegg http://www.newegg.com/– Froogle http://www.google.com/products– Ebay http://www.ebay.com/– Geeks http://www.geeks.com/– The Nerds http://www.thenerds.net/

• Refurbished computers– Overstock http://www.overstock.com/