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Where
to start
So, where do you start? You'll want to consider
whether you're looking for a PC that runs Microsoft Windows or an Apple
Macintosh. If you're replacing an existing system, it's probably not much of
a decision: unless you have a compelling reason to change your mind, it's
sensible to stick with what you know. Educate your self ,ask questions
before u buy, shop on the WEB, compare.
Reducing Dependence on
Proprietary Systems What?
Dependence? Proprietary ? Proprietary hardware?!! Proprietary software?
First lets look at the meaning of this word
- Of, relating to, or suggestive of a
proprietor or to proprietors as a group:
had proprietary rights; behaved with a proprietary air in his friend's
house.
- Exclusively owned; private:
a proprietary hospital.
- Owned by a private individual or
corporation under a trademark or patent:
a proprietary drug
I think
that explanation nr 2 fits best, after you buy (MANU*) hardware you can't
just go and buy any memory to upgrade your computer ,and if u do and install
this memory you Warranty is VOID. And the price difference its sometimes 4-8
times more expensive to buy accessories from (MANU) than is from store like
BEST BUY. Some people think if they buy from (MANU) they get better quality
hardware. This used to be true maybe before but not any more, in order to
compete most (MANU) are buying third parity and buying big quantities so the
quality is not better.
To be
honest I think that most manufactures where working hard and where selling
quality until they got to big to care.
So how do I reduce manufactures
dependency without changing my religion? Buy custom computers, computers
that are build that fit your needs, now Dell and some other manufactures are
trying to brake into the custom computers field and even let customers to
select they own components. You are still buying preparatory hardware and
not tested one by that, backlash of this is that not all components will
work with each odder and every OS combinations.
Warranty. Do I need the warranty for my
computer? This is big question. There is huge difference in the warranty
that you get from (MANU)'s,warranty is not necessary if the computer is
build right ,I know that quality hardware will work two-three years without
failing, but there is a lot of other factors involved in this: Software
is one of them (NOT covered under warranty) wrong configured software will
cause hardware to fail. Maintenance very important for longevity of
your computer. But like I seed before best way to test someone warranty is
to try to call them. After you wait for a couple of hours on HOLD you will
get to talk to TECH Level1 (most of the time people that read instructions
from manual in front of them self and walk you thru check-up procedure)
after one hour or two of research they will put you on HOLD again and
transfer to TECH level 2 who may help or not and so fort. Hours and
hours of fun, to tell you that they will send someone over to fix the
problem this may be covered under your warranty or NOT ,but you cold be
without computer for a week or two. On the end you find out that problem was
the part that cost 15$ in your local store but it took this long because
(MANU) was shipping his hardware from Alaska. So before u buy please try to
call they Technical support Nr and test me on this.
Think freedom before u buy, you will thank
me later .
By MANU I mean all the brand names like
HP, DELL, COMPAQ, IBM, AST, PACKARD BELL, etc..
Price, processor, and
memory considerations
The good news for desktop buyers is that today's PCs
are so powerful that it's hard to go wrong. Even a basic model has
phenomenal capabilities. Such PCs are often wholly adequate for business and
basic home use unless you're heavily into digital imaging, MP3 music, and CD
recording. For a bit more money you'll get a system with more capacity for
handling those multimedia applications. You'll also get components like a
larger hard drive that will help extend the life of your PC and stave off
obsolescence. And if you're willing to spend more, you can get a
no-holds-barred system that's loaded with everything you're likely to want.
Your first choice should be processor class. A Pentium
4 or AMD Athlon processor is most appropriate for power users, multimedia,
and gaming, and it will provide the longest useful life for your PC. But the
earlier-generation Celeron, Pentium III, and AMD Duron chips are all capable
choices for budget systems.
It pays to make sure you have enough memory (RAM), however. What's more, as
software advances, you're likely to find that the things you want to run
demand even more memory than you have, necessitating an upgrade.
When it comes to hard disks, you don't need a lot of space simply to store
applications and documents. A 10 GB drive is minimally adequate for basic
office or limited home use. But start experimenting with digital imaging or
music, and space requirements will explode. We've found that when it comes
to hard disks, bigger is better in the long run, and that extra space is
surprisingly inexpensive.
Graphics cards and monitors
There is a lot of mystique around the graphics
subsystem, the part of a PC that's responsible for producing the images you
see on your monitor. For certain applications, mostly games, the mystique
makes sense. If you're doing extensive 3-D rendering (i.e., designing your
dream house or playing a lot of shoot-'em-up games), you do need a
sophisticated and high-performance graphics card, preferably with 32 MB of
dedicated RAM. But for the majority of users, any graphics card, or even an
integrated graphics system (where the graphics controller is attached
directly to the system's motherboard and shares memory with the processor)
will be more than adequate.
If you're on a budget, consider putting your money toward a good monitor
rather than a fancy graphics card. After all, you'll be looking at the
screen whenever you're using the computer, so it pays to get one you'll be
happy with. A large, good-quality monitor can well last long enough to use
with your next new computer. In our book, a 17-inch monitor (measured
diagonally) is a minimum, and a 19-inch model is definitely preferable if
you can afford it. Larger 21-inch monitors are more of a luxury but may be
justified for graphics-intensive work and power users; likewise, flat-panel
LCD displays offer brilliant images and occupy minimal desktop space, but
they're substantially more expensive than traditional CRT monitors.
Optical drives: CD, DVD, or both?
Another big choice is what kind of optical drive to
get with your system. There are a number of options:
CD-ROM drive: The least expensive
option, CD-ROM drives are read-only, meaning that you can't use them to
record. This is fine if you're planning to use them solely for loading
software.
CD-RW drive: For a little more than a
basic CD-ROM drive, you can get a CD-RW drive that also lets you record and
rerecord discs.
DVD-ROM drive: There's not much PC
software that really requires a DVD drive, so the big benefit of a DVD-ROM
drive is that it lets you play back DVD movies on your computer.
DVD-R drive: A handful of computers have
DVD-Recordable drives that can actually write DVD discs
Combination CD/DVD drives: For the most
flexibility, consider a combination drive that offers both a CD-RW and a
DVD.
Note that CD and DVD drives come with speed ratings expressed as the number
of times faster they transfer data than standard audio CDs or video DVDs.
This rating becomes a concern primarily if you're writing large amounts of
material to your optical drive.
Internet connectivity and
sound capabilities
There are a couple of other hardware
components that are essential to consider. First off, how will you get on
the Internet? You may need a modem to establish a dial-up connection to your
ISP, or an Ethernet connection if your system will be connected to a network
or to a high-speed DSL or cable modem. Think about getting a system with
networking built in, even if you don't need it now. Sooner or later, you
will.
You'll also want a sound card and speakers. A basic pair of speakers will
suffice if you're using the system mostly for productivity applications like
word processing and Web surfing. If you want to enjoy music, consider a
three-piece system that includes a subwoofer for better bass response. For
games, a four-speaker surround sound system is a good investment. And if
you're getting a DVD-equipped system and want the PC-theater experience, you
could go all out for a 5.1-channel surround sound system, though that's far
more a luxury than a necessity. |
