Someone asked me recently: I teach the elderly in a free society, the computer lab. They tend to ask what to look for when buying a computer, the software they need e-mail, Internet use basic word processing, etc. Many of them are on a budget limited. What would you suggest they need less?
recommendations for a new computer
The good news is that prices of equipment have fallen dramatically in recent years, and the power to get your money is in place! I do not recommend the equipment used for certain because the rate of change in technology will be the most old systems in nearly three years. If you are a novice, wondering what kind of computer, monitor, hard disk, memory and operating system for ... Here are some tips you can get rolling.
Windows or Mac? </ B> You can have friends, family or neighbors trying to lay on the Mac vs. Windows holy war. In my opinion, the choice of operating system does not really matter. Easy from a point of view, each with a point and click interface which is relatively easy to use. Both will take you to the Internet, and lets you send and receive e-mail. Both offer word processing, and the documents they create are interchangeable. Since Windows that up to 90% of the market, which is less expensive. It is the law of supply and demand in operation. And in some areas, in May it is difficult to find or provide technical support for repair of Apple Macintosh computers. Therefore, if you're budget-minded, and you do not have friends willing to help with Mac problems, I suggest you go with a Windows PC. A good entry-level computer with monitor can be bought for less than $ 400, and sometimes also get a printer in the agreement. So what should we look for a newcomer in terms of speed, monitor, memory and hard drive characteristics? You do not have to be all that confusion ...
What about horses? </ B> CPU (Central Processing Plant, or treatment for short) is the brain of your computer. The sooner the better. Processor speeds are measured in gigahertz (GHz), and at the time of writing models fastest available operate at about 4 GHz. Entry-level machines start at around 1.5 GHz and is more than enough to surf the Web, e-mail and word processing. If you see a computer with a processor that has a certain speed in megahertz (MHz) away - they are older models.
Thanks for the Memory
The next decision that has to do is how much RAM you need. Not to be confused with RAM disk (file) space. RAM memory is temporary work that uses the computer to perform calculations and manipulate files. When you open a document is copied from disk to RAM. As you and your word processor to work on the file, copy the modified exists only in RAM. When you save the file, it is copied from RAM to the hard drive, or permanent storage. And as with CPU power, more RAM you have, the better the team conduct. I recommend that at least 256 megabytes (MB) of RAM, 512 MB, but you will notice improved performance.
Hard (hard) Decisions
your hard disk is permanent storage of files. All his personal files, such as word processing, photos, music and e-mails are stored here, as well as software and operating systems. Most new computers come with a hard drive of 40 gigabytes (GB) or more. I recommend you start with a 80GB hard disk or more, if you store many photos or music on your computer. Go
the big screen
This is the formula: a larger screen = less eyestrain, and less travel. I recommend a 17-inch, or even 19 inches if you do not mind spending a little more. Do not worry about brand names here, they are all more or less the same. Stay away from 14 or 15-inch monitors, which are too small to be practical. What
About Software? </ B> Most software you need is pre-installed on your new PC. Windows comes with Internet Explorer (for Web browsing) and Outlook Express (e). Many PC systems include a word processor like Microsoft Word, WordPerfect, or OpenOffice. If your computer does not come with one of these, I propose to buy Microsoft Works, which will give MS Word, a spreadsheet similar to Excel and other applications. Find a computer that comes with antivirus software pre-installed. If it does not come with an anti-virus packages, contact the manufacturer to see if they offer something for free. If not, you can download for free <a target = _blank href = http://free.grisoft.com AVG package.
Summary
So, in summary, here are my recommendations: <ul> <li> looking for a Windows XP PC with monitor for $ 400 <li> Processor: 1, 5 <li> GHz or better RAM: 256 MB or better <li> Hard drive: 80 GB or more <li> Monitor: 17 inches or more <li> Software: Microsoft Works and AVG Anti-Virus < / Ul>
Where should you buy? </ B> Check your local computer store first, they have some bargains in May and offers local support. Office supply and electronics stores such as Staples, Office Depot and Best Buy are good options to explore, too. If you want to buy online, see Dell.com and Gateway.com offer. BOB Rankin ... is a technology writer and programmer who enjoy exploring the Internet and share the fruits of their experience with others. His work has appeared in Computer World, Netguide, and New York Newsday. Bob is publisher of the newsletter Internet Tourbus, author of several books and creator of the site LowfatLinux.com. For more articles and free technical support, the http://www.AskBobRankin.com http://www.AskBobRankin.com
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