How much money should I spend on a new computer?
Requested and Answered by Gene Amtower [pcbgene] on 25-Feb-2009 11:48 (3294 reads)
I'm sorry to have to say this, but it depends on many things. The cost of a new computer is largely based on the level and quality of the hardware and software in the computer, as well the novelty of the components and features provided. New features will usually demand a premium price until they become more mainstream. Now that I've said that, allow me to explain further...
You can spend very little money to buy a reasonable new computer, or you can spend a lot getting a computer with much more power and features. I like to ask customers just what they expect from a computer, based on what they plan to do with their computer.
If you are going to use a computer for basic Internet functionality (browsing the web, reading/writing emails), then a very simple computer will suffice - careful shopping should find available computers for $500-$600. It will not be extremely fast, the warranty period may be limited to 90 days, and you should not expect anything fancy for this kind of money. Being what we call an entry-level computer, it will have a minimum amount of storage space for your data, just enough memory to run adequately, and more basic software versions than other computers.
Basic business functionality can also be satisfied with an inexpensive computer, but pay attention to the warranty terms if you are depending on it for business needs. However, typical applications used in a business environment will likely not be included, so you will need to also purchase or download additional productivity software to use for business functions.
On the other hand, if you plan on using the computer for any number of intensive activities, such as photo- or video-editing, gaming, or detailed document or design work, then a more powerful computer is recommended. How much you need to spend will depend on several factors: amount of data storage (Hard Drive size in Gigabytes), speed of processor unit (CPU speed in GHz), amount of memory (RAM size in GB), visual output options (video resolution in pixels, RAM in MB), plus the optional components that might be included (such as fancy keyboards/mice, DVD drives, card readers, and similar).
The best advice is to determine your usage needs, figure out a budget for what you can afford, and then try to find the most features within that price range. If you know how much you can afford to spend, then finding the right product for your needs becomes a little easier. Finally, don't forget to consider related issues, such as support and warranty from the supplier.
If you like, PC Backup can help you with the selection process - just call us to get help at (937) 478-7624.
You can spend very little money to buy a reasonable new computer, or you can spend a lot getting a computer with much more power and features. I like to ask customers just what they expect from a computer, based on what they plan to do with their computer.
If you are going to use a computer for basic Internet functionality (browsing the web, reading/writing emails), then a very simple computer will suffice - careful shopping should find available computers for $500-$600. It will not be extremely fast, the warranty period may be limited to 90 days, and you should not expect anything fancy for this kind of money. Being what we call an entry-level computer, it will have a minimum amount of storage space for your data, just enough memory to run adequately, and more basic software versions than other computers.
Basic business functionality can also be satisfied with an inexpensive computer, but pay attention to the warranty terms if you are depending on it for business needs. However, typical applications used in a business environment will likely not be included, so you will need to also purchase or download additional productivity software to use for business functions.
On the other hand, if you plan on using the computer for any number of intensive activities, such as photo- or video-editing, gaming, or detailed document or design work, then a more powerful computer is recommended. How much you need to spend will depend on several factors: amount of data storage (Hard Drive size in Gigabytes), speed of processor unit (CPU speed in GHz), amount of memory (RAM size in GB), visual output options (video resolution in pixels, RAM in MB), plus the optional components that might be included (such as fancy keyboards/mice, DVD drives, card readers, and similar).
The best advice is to determine your usage needs, figure out a budget for what you can afford, and then try to find the most features within that price range. If you know how much you can afford to spend, then finding the right product for your needs becomes a little easier. Finally, don't forget to consider related issues, such as support and warranty from the supplier.
If you like, PC Backup can help you with the selection process - just call us to get help at (937) 478-7624.
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