What to Look for When Buying a Computer · What to look for when buying a computer. ... – LCD –...
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What to Look for When Buying a Computer AHS Computing Jason Gemmill June 10, 2005
Transcript of What to Look for When Buying a Computer · What to look for when buying a computer. ... – LCD –...
What to Look for When Buying a Computer
AHS Computing Jason Gemmill June 10, 2005
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Overview What type of computer do you need? What brand of computer do you need? What types of things will your computer be
used for? What components to you need, and how to
choose them Where to purchase your computer.
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What kind of computer do you need?
There are 3 basic types of computers.
The Desktop computer
The Laptop computer
The Tablet Computer
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Why get a desktop?
If the computer will not be moved often
If many people will be using it
If you need the extra power, such as video editing, and gaming.
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Reasons to get a laptop
Extremely portable
Compact and idle for places where space is an issue
Can be used for note taking or presentations
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Why get a tablet?
You’re Tech savvy
You enjoy new kinds of technology
The same reasons as getting a laptop.
Space is an issue Easy portability
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What type of computer do you need? There are 2 basic types
of computer – PC
IBM
Dell HP
– Mac
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Why get a PC? They are more upgradeable You can buy off the shelf parts More user friendly More software is designed for PCs than Mac’s On a limited budget
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Reasons to get a Mac
You like the Mac look
Very good with video editing and web design
Money is no object
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What to look for when buying a computer. RAM Motherboard and CPU Video card CD/DVD rom/burner Soundcard, network card, modem Peripherals Monitor
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RAM RAM is your computers
memory The more it has the faster
it can do tasks
How much should you get? – Standard is 2-4GB – Recommended is 8GB
or higher if you have enough money
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CPU
CPU is the computers brains, also referred to as the central processing unit
Processor speed is not everything. A faster processing rate depends on speed and the number of cores. A slower dual core will run at equal or faster speeds than a quicker single core.
Dual (and quad) core processors
are pretty much the standard now
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Video card A video card is where you
monitor plugs into and allows you to see images and text.
A most video cards have there own RAM attached to them to allow them to run fast and not to interfere with your computers activities
The standard video card has 64 MB of RAM, there is really no need to go higher unless you do video editing or play games
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Motherboard
The motherboard is where you put the CPU
It can also have video, sound, network and places to plug in your peripherals
As long as you go with a brand name component you really can go wrong
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Optical Device Typically most computers
come with a DVD burner, if it does not get one
Inexpensive
Practical, burn home movies and pictures on to media, DVD’s are cheap
1 DVD is equivalent to over 3200 floppy discs
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Optional components
Soundcard – chances are its onboard
Network card – if its onboard there is no need to get one
Modem – if you need a modem you will probably need to buy it extra
Mouse and Keyboard - if you already have one then it should work out fine. If not you can purchase them almost anywhere
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Monitors
There are three types of monitors that you can purchase
– LCD – LED – Plasma
LCD Monitor
Pros Light weight and
compact
Low power consumption
Not affected by screen afterimage (permanent discolouring of areas of the display)
Cons Limited viewing angle
Can have brightness
distorted near edge of display
Can develop dead
pixels
Repairs can be difficult Title 18 AHS Computing
LED Monitor
Pros Large viewing angle
Vivid colours because
of having no backlit
Light weight
Cons Expensive
Quality of display
deteriorates over time
Can suffer from screen afterimage
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Plasma Monitor
Pros Excellent colour
Sharp picture
Scales well into larger
monitor sizes
Excellent viewing angle
Cons Can have glare and
reflections
Relatively heavy
Can suffer from screen afterimage
Fragile and can develop dead pixels
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Where to buy a computer Now that you know what
you want in your new computer, all that is left is to buy it.
You can buy a computer 2 ways – From a store in person
– Online
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Purchasing in Person If you go to a store to buy
a computer – Make sure that you have
done some research
– Know what you want
– Don’t get talked into something different by a sales person
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Recommended stores to buy from
Future Shop
Business Depot
Group 4 Technologies
Campus Tech Shop
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Purchasing Online If you purchase online
– Make sure the site you are on is a well
known site
– If you are giving your credit card number out make sure that there is an encryption lock on the page
– Assure that the item is authentic, not a cheap knock off
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Recommended online stores These stores are known to be quite proficient
selling computers online – www.futureshop.ca – www.tigerdirect.ca – www.dell.ca – www.hp.ca – www.ibm.ca – www.apple.ca
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Question & Suggestions… If you have questions or a suggestion, please
contact me at your leisure Jason Gemmill [email protected]
