Buying a new computer can make your pits sweat — what’s onboard RAM, what’s a gigahertz and why does it matter? Forget about all that for now. Let’s start with:
1. How much do you want to spend?
Is it $600, $1000, $1800? Look at your finances and decide how much you can and want to spend.
2. What brand do you want to go with?
Have you had a good experience with an Asus? A Mac? A Dell? If you’re not happy with what you’ve had in the past or you just want a change, ask your friends what they’d recommend. Email them, poke them on Facebook, Twitter your heart out.
People are happy to share their experiences — good and bad — with their computers. It’s like any relationship — you feel that glow when you first get home together, everything is shiny and lust-worthy, dying to please, then there’s that first annoyance. But you ignore it because you can live with it, right? Sometimes the ignoring is the right thing to do and other times you have to cut the hardware loose.
3. Select your computer.
Okay, you know how much you’re willing to spend and you know the brand you want to spend it on. Now buy the computer with the highest number of everything within those parameters: the most RAM, the fastest processor, the graphics card with the most RAM and the fastest processor. Just look at the numbers. The only confusing thing here is the decision between a dual- or quad-core processor. Right now, the consensus seems to be that quad-cores aren’t worth the money.
Next, does this deal include the monitor? Do you need a new monitor? Look at your current monitor before you shop for your computer. Are you happy with it? Does it have a built-in camera so you can Skype with Oprah if she calls you? Remember, the monitor is part of your budget, not on top of it. The same goes for speakers or any other peripheral (extra) device that might seem like it’s indispensible once you’re actually doing the buying.
CAVEAT! If you’re a hard-core gamer, then you need to check and make sure the computer’s processor and graphics card are compatible with your game(s). (But you already knew that if you’re a gamer, because your computer is never good enough.)
4. Talk to a person.
Whether you buy your computer in a store or online, try to talk to a person. They’ll know about every discount available.
When I bought my last laptop (a Lenovo), I made the deal through a customer service person on the phone rather than using the online form. He saved me an additional $100 on top of the special deal I was already getting (I had been following the price of this computer for months and waited until December when the price dropped $300).
5. Stick to your price point!
The first thing you did was decide how much you wanted to spend. Stick with that number! You’ll be mightily tempted to spend “just” a few hundred dollars more. Don’t do it.
Yes, you’ll have this computer for a couple of years. Yes, by that time computers will be twice as fast and yours will be twice as slow. But it’s unlikely that a slightly faster machine (higher gigahertz) with slightly more memory (RAM) will noticeably improve your computing experience. Besides, you can always add memory (RAM) and storage space is much cheaper than it used to be. So if you need more backup space, buy an external hard drive when that time comes (it might not).
NOTE: Sticking to your price point is especially important if you’re bidding on a computer on eBay. (Buying used can be a good option — especially after the holidays when people are selling their old computers and most buyers are tapped out and not bidding. I bought my second-to-last computer used, off eBay, and was very happy with it.)
Stick to your guns! Remind yourself of what you can spend those extra $$$ on.
That’s it. As always, let me know what you think, and I hope your next computer purchase is calm, cool, collected and cheap.