How to shop For a new Computer

Opinions of a Computer Hobbyist

Determine your needsEmail, internet, word processing, social networks, genealogy, picture and audio editing – any modern computer will suffice.

Focus on type – Tablet to DesktopSize of ScreenPortabilityTyping ability and needCostInternet connectability

Large movie, picture or music storage - hard drives size is your driver

Video editing6 core – 8gbytes of Ram – Sata 6

Gaming – Video cards + +

Portability – laptop – netbook

Second Computer -laptop – netbook - tablet

Determine your needs -continued

Large movie, picture or music storage - hard drive size is important

Video editing

multicore, 16 Gb of Ram – Sata 6 – Video Card

Gaming – Video cards + +

Portability – laptop – netbook

Second Computer -laptop – netbook - tablet

Physical Needs

Space for:

Desktop

All-in-one

Laptop

Netbook

Tablet

Cost Range

Upgrade components

Keep Tower – upgrade monitor

Keep Monitor – upgrade Tower

Upgrade Operating System

Add tablet or laptop for portability

Can you wait

If it does what you want and has:XP OS & 756mbs of ram or more – 17 months leftVista OS and 1gb or more ram – 4 years leftWindows 7 OS 1gb or more- 8 years leftNot to slow

Next years technology forecast to use less power

Reasons to Buy Now

New programs will not work on old OS or hardwareWant a second “portable” computerIt's just time to treat myself

Windows 8 – It’s here! You may love or hate it!

Good Deals on Windows 7 machines and better deals on Windows 8 upgrade software until Jan 31, 2013

Windows 7 machines may sell out before that date

New technologies to look for

USB 3.0 ten times faster than 2.0 – reduce backup times

SATA III hard drive interface -4 times faster than IDE

“also called SATA 600”

Solid State Drives – SSDs -to take full advantage of SATA III

RAID – multiple hard drives acting as one

Intel i3, i5, i7 Third generation CPU (Ivy Bridge)

AMD A10

PC Or Apple Computer PC

Multiple VendorsWidest Hardware choicesWidest Price RangeMore Software choices78% Market share

More training availabilityMore hacking attacks

AppleSingle Vendor

Better IntegrationFewer choicesHigher Prices3.7% Market share of PC/Laptops

Larger tablet shareLarge Cell Phone share

More hacking attacks now,But still less than PC Operating system for tablet is different than Mac laptop or desktop

Desktop

Most bang for the buckCheapest and Easiest to Repair or UpgradeWidest choices Least likely to failConsRequires a lot of desk space

All in One

Compromise between Laptop and DesktopSpace of Monitor and KeyboardAvailable in multiple Monitor sizesUses a standard size Keyboard Cons

Medium repair costHigher initial CostLow upgrade ability

All in One Examples

Laptop

Smaller SizePrices have droppedWide range of prices and featuresConsHighest Repair CostsHighest failure rate but much improved Screen sizeUpgrade normally limited to memory and HDBattery costs

Laptops tradeoffs

Screen size versus Battery Life and WeightProcessor power versus Battery LifeVideo Power versus Battery LifeBattery size optionsWeb cam and bio-metric optionsPortability Cost versus powerWireless networking - bluetooth

Netbooks

Laptops designed for the on the go crowdMax screen size 10.1 inchesLow Power ProcessorsBuild in Wi-fi and sometimes cellular interfacesReduced size keyboardLonger battery lifeGreat for internet, email, showing picturesNo CD or DVDMay have Linux based Operating System

Tablets

Touch ScreenGood for email, internet browsing, games

7” to 10” screensWireless

Wireless + Cell Phone

Tablets Continued

Multiple Operating Systems

Android – new version every year

Apple – new version every 2 years

Consider commonality with smart phone

Evaluate the computer

Processor Power -type, # of coresMemory size, type and expandabilityHard Drive size and typeNumber of USB ports and types (USB 3.0)Other interfaces

Firewire -ThunderboltHDMI - Display PortBluetoothWi-fi

Processor Types

Intel, AMD in Desktops and LaptopsDual core to 8 coreEconomy, Standard, Server classes, mobileNetbooks mostly use ATOM single/dual core processorsPerformance Ratings available in Windows 7Good charts at www.tomshardware.com and

Processors

AMDSempron EconomyAthlon, Phenom, A8, A10 StandardOperton Server

IntelCeleron – Exxx EconomyPentium Core2, i3, i5, i7 StandardXeon Server

Mobile versions operate at slower speed to reduce power

How to read Intel CPUsThere are 3 generations of the Core i3, i5, i7 families

For example i5-xyyy

If x is 7 or 6 then first generation

If x is 4 or 5 then first generation mobile

If x is 2 then second generation

If x is 3 then third generation

The yyy is the clock speedhttp://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/All-Core-i5-Models/943

The i3 dual core, i5 quad, i7 four or 6 core

AMD CPU

FX-8xxx – fits AM3 sockets

A4-xxxx – Dual Core fits FM2 sockets

A6-xxxx – Tri Core ,FM 2

A8-xxxx – Quad Core, FM2

A10-xxxx – Eight core, FM2

Memory

DDR3Speeds now 800 mhz to 1600 mhz

4gbs new minimum4 to 8 gbs supplied with 64 bit OS’s

Check to see if all slots are full

Internal Hard Drives

SATA 2 is std, SATA3 new (twice as fast)

3.5” for Desktops, 2.5”

Sizes from 300 gigabytes to 3 terabytes

RAID capability allows additional Hard Drive to be added for

doubling speed or reliability or size

SSDD – Solid State Disk Drive - faster

PCI-e SSDD - fastest

SATA has replaced IDE drives

Monitor

CRT – Oldest technology 17” -120 wattsLCD – Still very popular - 12 wattsLED – Newer technology – 6 watts

Wide Screen – 16/9 width to height ratioGreat for movies and spreadsheets

older screens were 4/3 ratio

Watch for types and numbers of interface – VGA, DVI, HDMI, Display Port

External Touch screens – use USB to transfer touch data – expect bluetooth in future

Extra Features to Consider

Number and location of USB and Firewire ports

HDMI interface – Connect to your HDTV

Built in Webcam

Wireless in desktop and or bluetooth

Camera Chip Reader

BioMetrics – Fingerprint or Eye reader

TV Tuner (Digital or Dual)

Backup

Don’t forget to get a backup driveDon’t forget to get a backup driveDon't forget to get a backup driveUSB 2.0, eSATA, USB 3.0 interfaces (In order of speed)Stand along box (2.5 or 3.5 inch HD)Network drive (NAS)

Single to RAID configurations

Operating Systems

Windows 7 BasicWindows 7 Home Premium (32 or 64 bits)Windows 7 Professional (32 or 64 bits)Windows 7 Ultimate (32 or 64 bits)Windows 8 Windows 8 ProWindows 8 RT – reduced version for low powered ARM tabletsLinux Mac OS 10 (Apple’s version of BSD/Linux)

TabletsIOS 5 – Apple

Android

Windows 8 RT

Does run a version of Office - Word, PowerPoint, Excel, OneNote and Lync

Does not run any other desktop programs

Does have the desktop

Does run WinRT applications that you can download from the Windows Store

When and Where to Buy

Black Friday after Thanksgiving is the biggest sale dayMany pre and Post “Black Fridays Online”

Check papers for ads for local sales.Online –

Check manufactures sites – Acer, Asus, Dell, Gateway, HP, Leno, Sony, Lenovo

www.tigerdirect.com, www.newegg.com, www.amazon.com

Interface – Computer to Monitor

No longer a single standard

Both Computers and Monitors may have multiple interface choice.• EGA / VGA – same connector

• DVI

• HDMI

• Display Port

• Apple Video

Laptops

Low end – Dual Core 15.6” lcd $350Mid range – Dual Core 17” $525

Intel i3, 6gb memory, webcam, micUltra Light 15” $900 Mac Air 13” $1300Gaming laptop 18” $1990

Others

Netbooks - $229 -$499 Windows or LinuxTablets - $250 - $500 android & web OSApple Tablets – IOS5 $499-$899

After you Buy

Remove all of the junk – io bit uninstallerTrial Programs including Anti-VirusToolbarsBrand UtilitiesISP utilities (sign up for AOL, MSN, etc)Clean start up using msconfig.exeClean up registry using Ccleaner (portable ver.)

After you buy

Make Recovery DVDs

Found on hidden partition – read manual

Load programs you want

Run Easy Transfer Wizard

Transfers files and setting from old computer

Make Disaster Recovery Backup

Start the year out right -Backup, Backup