Series one – Getting to know your computer

“Getting to know your computer” is the first of a series of tips on how to get the most out of your computer. Tech Tips assume that the reader has no knowledge of computers. Hence, we are starting from bottom up. Feel free to quote or print any of the materials published herein for the purpose of helping someone.

In this series we will look at:

1. How to buy a computer.

2. How to get the most out of your computer.

3. Nails done, hair done, everything Google.

4. Create a restore DVD

How to buy a computer

Introduction

Everyone wants a computer. I remember as a child I would visit the office of my aunt just to play cards on her computer. Now, children who are just about 10 years old, even less, are asking for and about computers.  Every visit I make to my hometown, Mahaicony, I am greeted with a host of questions about purchasing a computer.

There is one question I want you to ask yourself when purchasing a computer, what will I do with the computer?

Here is my recommendation.

Know your lingo

Processor speed and Ghz – Gigahertz is the term used to measure the processing speed of the computer. The higher the Ghz is the faster the computer.

RAM – Random Access Memory is where the computer stores pieces of information temporarily while in normal operation.
The RAM is not where your documents and songs are stored. More RAM increases the speed of the computer.

Hard Drive size and Gig (GB) – Gig is short for Gigabyte. The hard drive is where the documents and songs are stored. One Gigabyte can hold about 300 – 400 songs. You may hear the term “Crash”. This is when some file on the hard drive, a part of the hard drive or the entire hard drive is damaged.  We will look at this in more details later but for now, just know what it is.

Disk drive – optical drives are used to read and burn cd/dvds. It’s not necessary but convenient to have. Most standard computers come with a DVD burner. Speed and all that is not necessary, instead know this: A DVD Burner can do everything,

A DVD Rom can only read DVD/CD, A CD burner can only burn/read CD while the word Combo refers to a CD burner and a DVD/CD reader.

Now, don’t go thinking that all these parts have to be bought separately. No. All are housed in the case. When you buy a complete computer system, everything is already installed.

Monitor – the screen that you see everything on. Standard these days is flat panel. Enough said.

Do not listen to the sales person.

Now some sales people try to prop the computer with some crazy specs that you really don’t need to know about. VGA, Wireless N, Wireless G, ACP500, ACP750, DDR2, DDR3, Sata, IDE, etc. are all some those terms they use which will not improve your computer.

Don’t worry about warranty. 

Conclusion

So I ask again - what will you do with the computer? 

Students get a netbook. Dell mini, Compaq, HP all sell Netbooks. Cost G$40,000 online, $60,000 retail. 

Home users get a nice desktop computer custom built or even a brand name would be nice. Just remember the specs. If you plan on moving around, buy a laptop with DVD burner. Desktop $90,000 while laptop is $140,000. 

Office users, get some nice desktop computers. Link them on a network and operate your point of sale, accounting and emailing software - $140,000.

It’s all about the use. When you are going to buy a computer, print this article, strike what you need.

Next week, after you would have bought your computer I will give you Tips on “How to get the most out of your computer.”