This To Consider When Buying A New Computer

I thought this article may be useful to those of you trying to decide what type of computer to buy and so forth. For me, the main deciding factor for buying a computer is the purpose or intended use for the computer.  It’s much easier to decide how much hard drive memory or RAM (random access memory) you will need if you first establish what you are going to be using the computer for. Whether a desktop or laptop is better for your needs will be clear to you as well once you establish the intended use.
The technical specifications and considerations are also made easy by considering the programs and applications that you are planning on running on your new computer. These days most basic computers come with more than enough hard drive space and RAM to store music, pictures, documents and run some of the commonly used programs and apps. Unless the programs you plan on running require more RAM or hard drive space, you are better off with the most basic computer on the market. Anything more can be a waste of your money because you will be paying for resources that will not be utilized.
One of the most important things to consider when buying a new computer is the “Operating System.” If you are planning to upgrade from Windows Vista to Windows 7 (for example), here are things that are helpful to consider:

• What necessary programs were you running on the old computer?

• Are those programs going to be compatible with the Operating system on the newer computer?

• If not, can you find updated versions of the programs you need to run on the new computer?

Asking these questions can save you a lot of trouble and here is why:  Windows has two versions of each operating system from Windows XP on up. There is a 32bit (bit – “binary digit” the smallest unit of information that can be stored or processed on a computer) version of Windows and then there is the 64bit version. The main difference is that the 64bit version of windows can handle more information than the 32bit version. Many programs and applications are designed to run on the 32bit version of windows. If you buy a 64bit operating system, you may not be able to use any of your programs that are designed to run 32bit system environment. While a 64bit operating system would be nice to have, it is nevertheless always wise to make sure that you will be able to use it with the programs that you cannot do without. Otherwise you may find yourself having to spend more money to buy new programs, if you can find them at all. It’s safe to stick to the 32bit operating system if that that’s what you have been using.
Most computers on the market now come with a minimum hard drive space of 250GB and at least 1 or 2 gigs of RAM. This is sufficient for most uses. Computers used for gaming, professional photo editing, video editing or design may need more RAM and in some cases do better with a 64bit system than with a 32bit system. If used for such professional purposes or gaming and the programs you need are available for a 64bit system, then that is the best way to go as long as you will not need any programs that only run on a 32bit system. I am sure there are more things to consider when buying a new computer. The ones I have listed in this article are those that are commonly overlooked. I hope you have found this information useful.