Tips When Shopping for a New Computer - Part 5 of PC Buyers Guide

Rebates

Ask the retailer you’re buying the computer from if there are any manufacturer rebates available.

Consider a custom built computer

This is the best way to get the most BANG for your buck. Having a computer custom built to your specific needs means the components are interchangeable and therefore cheaper to replace or upgrade. Many manufacturer’s limit the options to upgrade and require you to replace failed parts with their costly replacement parts. Custom built machines allow you to upgrade or replace parts at a much lower cost.

Shop at the right time

Pre fall, the holidays and midsummer (July) are good times to shop. New models are introduced and promotions to move inventory mean you can find great deals. If a computer you like isn't on sale, ask for a better price.

Test drive

Especially when buying a laptop. Punch the keys, navigate different programs and test web surfing. Make sure the touchpad is large enough to allow your finger to cover the span of the screen with one swipe. Test the weight buy carrying the laptop around for a few minutes and make sure it fits in your existing or new case.

Ask a lot of questions

The only dumb question is one that isn’t asked, so don’t hesitate to ask questions. Some good ones are:

·         What is your return policy?

·         Does the price include any office programs like Word,  Excel, Power Point, etc?

·         Do you offer any free technical support?

Ask about recycling discounts

Some retailers will offer a small discount if you give them your old computer to recycle.

Are Extended Warranties and Service Plans for Computers Necessary - Part 4 of PC Guide

Part 4 of our computer guide covers extended warranties (service plans) and whether it's a good idea to buy it or say "no thanks".

Congratulations...you did it! You've found a great computer at a great price and the stock boy is bringing your computer to the check out. But just as you approach the check out... the salesperson goes into their pitch on the benefits of insurance and why you should buy their extended warranty.

But is the extended warranty (service plan) worth the extra money? It depends on how you look at it and your past experience with them.  Extended warranties are the same as insurance policies, you may need it or you may not.  But why are retailers so insistent you buy them? The truth is simple....They make an enormous profit on them.

Essential Software for a New Computer - Part 3 of PC Buying Guide

Part 3 of our computer guide covers software and the essential software you'll want to have installed.

There's a multitude of options to choose from but the core software you'll most likely use on a daily basis consist of:

• The operating system
• Office/school productivity software
• Virus & spyware programs
• Maintenance utilities
• Web browsers

Part 2 of PC Buyers Guide - Selecting the Right Hardware

Part 2 of our computer guide covers the internal hardware components and what you should look for when buying a new computer. Quality components play a key role in the performance and life span of a computer, so knowing what to look for will help you avoid problems with your computer in the future.

Throughout this guide I’ll be referring to computer users in two groups:

Average user: Surfs the internet, sends & receives email, downloads & prints photos, creates, views and edits documents, occasionally watches video online.

Advanced user: Works with multiple programs open simultaneously, frequently watches online video, uses video and photo editing software, occasionally plays video games.

Now let's look at the internal components and some minimum requirements

1) Processor
Often called CPU (central processing unit), is the “brains” of the computer and processes information. Performance is determined primarily by the number of cores it has and its clock speed.
Minimum requirements
Average user:

• Any dual core
• 2 GHz clock speed

Advanced user:

• High end dual core or better
• 3GHz clock speed or higher

2) Memory (RAM)
RAM temporarily stores data while the computer is running. The more memory a computer has the faster it can access files and programs... up to a point.
Minimum requirements
Average user:

• 4GB (gigabytes)

Advanced user:

• 6GB or more

3) Operating system
You have several versions Windows 7 to choose from and each has its own hardware requirements. Whether you’re an average or advanced user, we generally recommend the Home Premium version of Windows 7. If your computer will be used for business we recommend Windows 7 Professional.

4) Video outputs
VGA (analog) is fine for most users, but if you watch a lot of video or have a large monitor, a DVI or HDMI will give you better quality and much crisper images. You may need to purchase the DVI or HDMI cable separately.

5) Hard drive
The hard drive stores your programs, documents, music, photos, and videos. Hard drive’s measure in gigabytes(GB) and commonly range from 250GB to 2TB (terabyte).
Minimum Requirements
We recommend no less than 500GB. If you download a lot of music, photos or videos, opt for 1TB hard drive

6) Monitor/Display
Purely a personal choice. Go with a larger screen if you plan on watching movies.
Ports
Allow you to connect external devices and cable to your computer.
Minimum number of ports
Average user:

• 1 Ethernet port
• 3 Front USB ports
• 2 Rear USB ports
• 1 S-Video or HDMI port

Advanced user:

• 1 Ethernet port
• 3 Front USB ports
• 2 Rear USB ports
• 2 or more HDMI ports
• 1 eSATA port

The hardware requirements listed above and your requirements may vary, so remember to carefully evaluate your needs before choosing your hardware options.

Next up in part 3 we’ll discuss the best options for programs/software to install on your computer!

Guide To Buying A Computer (Part 1 of 5): Types of Computers

Welcome to part 1 of our 5 part guide on buying a new computer. The holidays are fast approaching and with computers being a hot gift, I thought it necessary to put a little something together to give you the information necessary to make an intelligent computer purchase, ask the right questions and maximize the money you plan to spend. 

We’ve broken the guide into 5 parts:

Part 1 - The Different Types of Computer
Part 2 - Hardware Options
Part 3 - Software Options
Part 4 - Warranties
Part 5 - Shopping Tips

Part 1- Types of Computers

The choices seem endless when buying a new computer. Desktop vs. laptop vs. netbook, hard drive space and brand are a few of the factors people consider when they need a new PC. It all comes down to how you’re going to use the computer. Desktops aren’t mobile but allow for future upgrades to increase performance and capacity. Meanwhile, laptops are made to travel with some offering features and capabilities that compare with desktops. The three types of computers to consider are as follows: 

Should You Turn Your Computer Off At Night?

Here is a very common question we get asked by our customers. “Should I turn my computer off at night?” 
Some people often think that if you keep your computer on overnight, that somehow malicious “hackers” will try to infiltrate your system. 
The fact is that if your computer is full of malware and spyware, the cyber criminals can access your computer any time it is on, even if you’re using it! Having good anti-virus, anti-spyware and anti-malware programs is vital. If you have these scheduled to scan your computer at night, when you aren’t using it, then it is actually beneficial to keep your computer running during the night time.
The problem with keeping the computer on has less to do with security and more to do with power consumption and lifespan. Although mininimal compared to other electrical devices, computers cost money to run. 
So what’s the solution? The answer is in setting your computer’s power options to suit your usage.
First you should make sure that your monitor is set to turn off when it isn’t in use for a set period of time. The steps are different depending on the version of Windows you are running, but basically you will want to go to the control panel, look for your power options, then change how long it takes before the monitor goes to sleep when the mouse or keyboard isn’t being used. Two and a half hours is safe if you plan to watch movies often and for most people 30 minutes is more than enough time to keep the screen “awake”. 
Another important setting is the standby and hibernate options. These are modes where the computer seems to be turned off, but is actually on but in a low-power state. Here are some basic differences between stanby, hibernate and a full shutdown/startup: 
Standby: fastest to startup and shutdown, consumes the most power, aside from being completely on of course. (Important when running on laptop battery power)
Hibernate: takes longer to shutdown and startup than standby-mode but faster than from a full shutdown, consumes less power than standby but more power than a full shutdown.
Full Shutdown/Startup: takes longest to shutdown and startup, consumes the least amount of power when off.
I set my computer to standby after 4 hours, but the optimal setting varies from user to user. It all depends on when you prefer for your computer to “sleep”. 
I don’t like waiting for my computer to boot up. I usually want to just briefly look at a website or check my emails, something that will take 1 or 2 minutes. It wouldn’t make sense for me to wait two minutes to do something that only takes two minutes. Sometimes I will restart my computer when it is acting up. Standby or hibernate won’t fix those issues.
The only time I do a full shutdown is when I am transporting my desktop computer or when I am putting my laptop away for a long period of time and don’t want the battery to drain. Any other time, I am using standby mode. I don’t use hibernate because it just does not seem that much faster than doing the full restart and does not offer the benefits of the full restart (clearing the ram to make the computer run more efficiently.) 
So should you keep your computer running at night? Probably not. Should you turn it completely off? Not unless you like waiting for the computer to bootup. Should you put it in a lower power state? Yes. Standby works the best in most situations.

Signs Your Computer Has A Virus

Internet surfing and connecting other devices to your computer are the most common ways viruses are able to access your PC. With the increase in the number and severity of malware (viruses, trojan horses, etc), identifying an infection can mean the difference between saving and losing your important data.

Like human viruses, most computer viruses have symptoms which can tip you off that your Laptop is infected. These symptoms are easy to remember and keep a look-out for. The most obvious sign your computer has a virus is the reduced performance of your computer, but other signs may show up earlier, giving you time to back up and save personal data.

Other signs a virus may be infecting your computer are:

• Applications running stop responding suddenly, freezing the computer and requiring a restart to work.
• Performance and input response is slow - you attempt to open an application and it takes a long time to open or there’s a delay in mouse clicks & keyboard strokes.
• Computer restarts on its own while you’re using it - screen freezes and then shuts down or restarts.
• Unusual error messages and pop-ups - you may notice unusual Windows pop-ups without being online or coming up from the task bar notification area. The pop-ups may ask you to take certain actions immediately (Don’t act on these!) If you follow these instructions you will be in a worse situation so be aware.
• Your antivirus may be disabled without your permission.
• Unfamiliar icons or shortcuts may show up on your desktop. Don’t click these either!
• Unfamiliar Windows system error messages will pop-up.
• You can’t access devices connected to your computer or they may show up as unrecognized devices.
• Programs and applications may be unavailable or removed without your permission.

If your computer shows the above symptoms your PC may be infected with a virus. First, Back-up your important files and documents to an external storage device like a flash drive. Next, scan and remove any viruses using your computers anti-virus program.

If your computers anti-virus program doesn’t fix the problem, shut the computer down and bring it to a computer repair professional. They have access to advanced malware removal programs and knowledge that can remove the infection and get your computer running properly.