Buying the right computer

I know this isn't done. I may never finish it. There are simply a lot of things to cover. If someone wants to write more spoilers for different parts in a computer, that'd be great. Just try to keep the information as timeless as possible.

Having built and purchased many computers over the years, I've become accustomed to the ways in which salesmen will rip you off or special features shown online are nothing more than hogwash. I'm here to impart some of my experience and knowledge so you guys don't get ripped off too. I tend to charge between $25 - 35/hr for my knowledge in helping people pick out a computer, and I often end up paying for myself and then some. So, take that into consideration while reading this article.

When first sitting down with a client, I want to know a few things about them and why they want to purchase a computer. The basics:

1. Who will be using the computer? Who will be footing the bill?
2. What will the computer be used for? What applications and accessories may be required? What equipment and programs can be salvaged from old PCs and what equipment cannot?
3. Where will the computer be placed? Does it need wireless internet connectivity? Is the person handicapped? Are there portability concerns?
4. When will the computer be used? At night? During the day? Only at college?
5. Why do you even need a computer now?
6. How much are you looking to spend? How often will you use the computer?

The amount of questions that can be asked when purchasing a new computer is rather daunting. In the end, you want the perfect tool for the perfect job. So, before buying a computer, sit down and write about what you expect to get out of it. Answer the Who/What/Where/When/Why/How. Most computers cost between $500 and $1500 USD, so this is no small amount of change. You will save a lot of time and money by doing this because salespeople would love to fill in the answers to these questions for you.

Once you have what you want figured out, now you can begin to work out what type of computer would be the best for you. Each type of computer has its pros and cons that you need to consider.

Netbook:
- Pros - Highly portable, long battery life, very cheap
- Cons - cramped screens, small keyboards, slow processing power, no upgradeability, limited selection, very little customization
- Most important components - Battery life, wifi connectivity

Laptop:
- Pros - Portable, decent battery life, bigger screen, better customizability, higher choice between vendors
- Cons - Limited upgradeability, weighs 5 - 7 pounds, often the most expensive choice
- Most important components - CPU power, battery life, wifi connectivity, hard disk speed, Graphic card (if gaming), USB/Firewire plugin

Desktop:
- Pros - Highly configurable at checkout, very customizable, highest performance, can salvage most parts
- Cons - Limited mobility, must buy all components separately (monitor, speakers, mouse, keyboard), takes up the most space
- Most important components - CPU power, Memory, Graphics card, Monitor

Here are some things to watch out for about each component. I'm going to try to keep this as timeless as I can.

 Monitors

The most important thing is to use a well-known brand. The brand is an indicator of quality. I prefer Samsung, Hitachi, Viewsonic, and Dell monitors.

Some important features:

Glossy or not? - Monitors tend to come in the non-glossy and glossy variety. It's difficult to explain the difference between them in words, but the difference is very noticeable to the eye. The non-glossy version has a layer of plastic film over the screen to protect its internal crystals from the outside world. The glossy version uses a more transparent glass which costs more but makes colors more vibrant. The glossy version always costs more, but I think it's worth it.

Screen size - This is the most obvious difference between monitors, and it's also where my clients get tripped up the most. They usually want the biggest size monitor they can get. "But wait! Stop!" I tell them. Monitor size isn't everything. You also want to look at the native resolution of a monitor. A larger resolution means that text may be more difficult to see. If the resolution or the screen size is too high, you'll have a hard time reading the text, and this will require you to go into your control panel to change the setting for Dots Per Inch.

Furthermore, you will want to pick your monitor at the same time you pick your graphics card. You can have an absolutely huge monitor, but something has got to render those pixels. If you get a 29" monitor but have a crappy graphics card, you won't have the horsepower to pump out all those beautiful pixels especially in graphically demanding games.

Another thing about Screen Size is that sometimes smaller is more expensive than larger. The reason is due to how production lines work. The vendors may be able to produce more of a larger variety than a smaller variety which affects the price. So make sure you check prices between sizes of monitors and make sure you get the best bang for your buck.

There are other aspects that can influence a monitor, but the three big ones are glossy, screen size, and native resolution.

 Sound Card

Do you need one?

Lemme ask you this way, do you have the stuff to make it useful?

You can have the greatest sound card in the world, but if you hook up cheap headphones to the computer it not going to make a damn bit of difference in your audio experience. So if you're just going to be using the built-in tinny laptop/netbook speakers or you just have cheap 2.0 speakers, forget getting a sound card.

Some ask me, "What's the difference between integrated audio and a dedicated sound card?" I say, "Plenty". Often, a dedicated sound card will come with a highly useful software package that will allow you much finer tuning in how the sound comes out of your speakers. Also, sound cards also have support for higher definition sound standards than the regular integrated sound.

Here are some things to look for in a sound card:

Number of speakers? - How many does it support? Pretty simple question.

What's the software package like? - This one is harder to preview. All sound cards come with a software package that allows you to edit your audio experience from within your operating system. This is one of the most important factors in a sound card. If the software package sucks, then you won't want to use the sound card. Usually you can look up the model number of the software card and figure out what the name of the software package is (usually it's a pretty honky name) and look that up on the internet. See what other people have to say about it. Ideally the software package is easy to use and does not bog down the system.

 Keyboard

There are gaming keyboards (usually support macros), regular 104 key keyboards, comfort keyboards.... etc. etc. etc.

The question is, what will you be doing with the keyboard?

Gaming - For this, a flat 104 key keyboard works the best. Do not get a comfort or slanted keyboard. You need to have all of the keys equidistant from each other so you can tap hotkeys better. This tends to work better for muscle memory and decreases the possibility that you will hit the wrong button in the heat of battle. A gaming keyboard may work just as well - usually these can record specific macros that you can use in games to repeat repetitive tasks. For me, though, I usually recommend standard keyboards.

If you're getting a gaming keyboard, go online and check out the driver package. See what the UI looks like and what the gaming keyboard will give you that a standard 104 key can't.

Business - Comfort or slanted keyboards are the best. These keyboards have keys which are naturally slanted to work well with the human hand and so that your wrist isn't cramped, especially after long periods of use.

If you don't use your computer often, then the cheapest keyboards are usually fine. Make sure to get a keyboard which is "soft" or "quiet" so you don't hear CLACK CLACK CLACK as you type. I really don't have a preference one way or the other.

For god's sake, do your homework and read reviews on any and all keyboards before you test them. Go to a brick & mortar store and touchtype on them for a bit. See how it feels. This is one area where you absolutely need maximum comfort and total understanding of what you will be doing with the keyboard. Read reviews on Amazon. Google the product name.

Do you need a wireless keyboard? Usually the answer is "no". When someone asks me if they need one, my real response is, "How often do you use your computer where not having access to the keyboard for 10 minutes is an issue?" For gamers, a wireless keyboard is a big no-no. Having your keyboard go out in the middle of a game truly blows. For business people I'd also say no. If you're in the middle of a conference call taking notes and your keyboard goes out, that blows too. A wireless keyboard is best for a person who casually uses a computer and enjoys having the flexibility of putting the keyboard whereever they want.

 Mice

Same dealio as the Keyboard - there's gaming mice and just traditional mice.

Personally, I would never buy a mouse that wasn't optical - no rollerballs allowed.

Gaming - Get an optical or laser mouse. Get the laser mouse if you have the money for it. More expensive gaming mice tend to have more buttons and comfort grips. Some gaming mice also allow you to adjust DPI. Lower amounts of DPI are good for coarse actions such as quickly moving your mouse to see what's around you. Higher DPI is better for sniping where smooth movements are better. So, more DPI isn't always better. Get the right tool for the right job.

Business - Get a cheapo optical mouse.

Do you need a wireless mouse? - See the similar question under Keyboards