The must have for a new computer

I was asked recently, "If we're going to buy a new computer in the next few months, what do you recommend in the "must have" category?"

I will try to make this brand neutral, focusing only on what you should look for when selecting a new computer.

Anyone that has talked to me more than 10 minutes knows that I'm a fan of Dell Computers. In today's rapidly changing computer market, I can't say Dell is any better than an HP, Acer, ASUS or Gateway. I've just always had better luck with them. I know people that have great experiences with other the other manufacturers. I have yet to have their blissful experience with anything other than Dell. ;-)

When you go to look for a new computer, the very first thing you need to look at is....... your pocketbook. You need to determine what you can afford to spend without dipping into your rent or house payment. Plan on spending around $400-600 for a decent computer. If you’re the type of person that only needs to check email, surf the web. You can find computers under $400 that will more than meet your needs. If you like to play the latest and greatest RPG PC games, plan on $1000 or more.

Now you need to determine what you want to do with it. Do you want to play the latest PC games? Do you want to watch movies on it? Store your music collection? Take a few minutes and write down what you want to do. The list will help in determining the type of computer you want.

I'm a huge fan of laptops. You can get great laptops now that meet or exceed what a desktop PC can do. And they are about the same price as comparable desktops. They have screen sizes from 11 to 20 inches, take up less space and they are portable.

Netbooks are.... Well, they are a different breed of computer. I'm not a fan of them. But they are okay if you are just on the internet surfing or checking email. They are small and will fit in a purse or small backpack. The screen size's ranges from 8 to 10.1 inches. Just make sure you look for one that has at least 2 gigabytes of memory and a 1.6 gigahertz dual core Atom processor. They DO NOT have CD/DVD read/writers. So you would have to purchase an external USB one extra for about $50-60. They also have a scaled down version of an operating system. Most come with a version Windows starter edition. This is not a full featured operating system. It’s enough to get you on the internet.

Operating systems are diverse and for the most part the biggest expense. The cheapest operating system you can get is Linux. I don’t recommend it unless you are tech savvy. The other option is the different versions of Windows. The latest and greatest is Windows 7. It comes in different variants starting with Windows Starter, which is on netbooks. Then there is Windows Home, Windows Professional and Windows Ultimate. Unless you are running a network server at home or you are a techie, don’t spend the extra money for Windows Pro or Ultimate.

So, what are the “must have's”?
My minimum recommendation would be.
Operating System:--- Windows 7
Memory:--- At least 4 gigabytes of memory.
Hard Drives:--- At least 300 gigabytes of hard drive space.
Processor:--- Do not get anything less than a dual core processor. (Both Intel and AMD have websites that will ask you questions about what you want to do with the computer and recommend a processor or a computer to look for. I'll post the links at the end.)
CD & DVD players/re-writers:--- These have become common and are included in most computers now. (Just make sure it includes a CD/DVD re-writer because most of the small laptops and Netbooks do not come with them.)Blueray is the new thing. You can now get blueray players for your computer. If you’re not a movie buff, don't bother.
Ports:--- Audio and Microphone jacks, at least 2 USB ports, Multi Media card reader, LAN, VGA, and if you want to hook your computer up to your HD TV, look for a computer that has an HDMI port. (Just make sure you have an HD TV with HDMI. Some of the first HD TV's on the market didn't).
Extras:-- If you get a laptop, look for an integrated webcam.

It’s not easy to pick a system without knowing what you want to do with it.
The more you want to do, the more money you will have to spend. Some of the most expensive computers on the market are specifically designed for people that play high end PC games. Those computers can cost more than $3000. (Yes, that’s three thousand dollars.) Search online for deals from places like Newegg.com and TigerDirect.com. If you want to go into a store, check Circuitcity.com and BestBuy.com before you go. You can usually find cheaper prices online. Also, don’t be afraid of purchasing online. DO NOT buy a computer from Walmart. Yes they sell Dell, HP..etc… But the models are not standard models and Walmart forces them to use substandard parts. I found that out the hard way.

Here are the sites that I mentioned above.

http://www.intel.com/consumer/products/processors/comparison.htm?iid=gg_play+products_processors

http://sites.amd.com/us/vision/help-me-choose/Pages/help-me-choose.aspx

Let me know if you have any questions.