Buyers Guide 1: Buying a computer system

Before you buy a new computer system you need to consider the following points:

Do you need a new computer?
Upgrading an old computer is rarely economically viable but don’t dismiss it completely. A bigger hard drive and/or some extra memory might see that old clunker survive another year and you can buy something even better next year.

What do you want to use it for?
The primary purpose of your computer system is what determines the type of computer that you need. If you want to play the latest games you will need a high speed 3D graphics card and lot’s of memory. If you will be using a dial-up internet connection you will need a modem. If you’re just using it for basic word processing you can probably get by with a cheap, low-end system. You may not necessarily need the latest and greatest, you can save a lot of money by buying last years technology instead.

Laptop (Notebook) or Desktop?
Laptop’s are very handy if you need to move around but they cost two to three times that of a desktop. They are also more expensive to upgrade and repair so don’t choose a laptop unless you really need to be mobile. There are also some technical limitations, laptop's often have less memory, smaller hard driver and slower cpu's than their desktop counterparts. If you're looking for the best performance a desktop is probably the way to go.

What other accessories or peripherals do I need?
What else do you need besides the actual computer? Well, for starters you may need a printer, scanner, modem, network card, digital camera, extra memory and let’s not forget software (see below). These are all things which may not be included in the basic system price. For more information on buying peripherals, refer to our other Buyers Guides.

How much do you want to spend?
When you start adding on all the accessories and peripherals the cost can get out of control. Set a budget before you start, if you go over you can probably cut back in some areas. If you go way over you may need to re-assess your needs.

What software do you need?
Be careful here because this is where a lot of people come unstuck. Most people want Microsoft Word for word processing and Microsoft Excel for spreadsheets. These are NOT part of the Windows operating system that comes with most systems. Word & Excel are part of the Microsoft Office package which is normally sold separately. Some systems come bundled with the Microsoft Works package which includes Word only. Other bundles include other word processing software which may be suitable for your needs. If you specifically need the Microsoft programs make sure you ask for them. Also, make sure you get the OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) version which is only available with new computer systems and is half the price of the full retail package. (See also Supplement 4: Software Licensing)

Where should you buy from?
If you have a pretty good idea what you want I would suggest shopping around for the best price. If you’re buying a well known brand name it really doesn’t matter where you buy as the warranty is covered by the manufacturer. If you are not so sure, find a store that has a good range to choose from. Not all stores offer extended warranties and some stores don’t have a service department or installation services. Shop around, ask lot’s of questions and make sure the package has everything you need. Then you can start haggling over the price.

Buyers Guide 2: Buying a printer

There are three basic types of printer on the market today, dot matrix, inkjet and laser. Dot matrix printers are rarely used except for printing on continuous paper such as batch invoicing. The more common inkjet (or bubblejet) printers are popular because they are cheap to buy, the print quality is good and they can print in colour. Laser printers generally print faster and in better quality but cost more to buy and only print in black. Colour lasers are available but are very expensive.

Most people opt for the inkjet (or bubblejet) printers because of their low initial purchase price and the fact that they can print in colour. The main problem with inkjet printers is that the ink cartridge replacements are expensive, prices vary anywhere from $30 to $70 per cartridge and most inkjets have at least two (1 black & 1 colour). Laser printers on the other hand use toner instead of ink and although the replacement cartridges can cost between $120 and $140 each they generally last much longer than the equivalent ink cartridge.

Ink cartridge replacements are expensive because most of them contain the print head which does most of the work. On some models, many Canon printers for example, the ink cartridge and head are separate so you can replace the ink without replacing the head. Replacement ink for these models is cheaper but if and when the head finally needs replacing you're probably better off just buying a new printer. The more expensive head/ink combination seen in most other models generally has less problems because you are replacing the head every time you replace the cartridge.

If you don't use the cartridges frequently they can dry out and become blocked. Sometimes these can be cleaned but they usually require replacing. If you're printing mostly black from your colour inkjet it's a good idea to occasionally print something with a bit of colour in it to "exercise" the colour cartridge and stop it from drying out.

If you're looking to purchase a printer for office work, ie mostly black printing then a laser printer is the most economical choice. A laser printer will set you back at least $500 initially compared to $200 or less for an inkjet but the money you save in ink/toner will more than make up for it. If the only colour printing you require is for your letter head, have some printed by a professional printer. It will work out cheaper in the long term.

It's not always obvious but many of these all-in-one devices use inkjet cartridges and not laser toner. They look like laser printers or photo-copiers but they are really just a scanner and inkjet printer combined. If you're only printing/copying/faxing in black then make sure it's a laser, not an inkjet. A multi-function centre is great if you have limited desk space but the individual features may not have all the functionality you require. Ie the scanner might not have the high resolution you need, the printer may not print on envelopes or photo quality glossy paper. Also, you can often buy the components separately for a comparable price. Lastly, if the unit fails you lose all that functionality while it is being repaired. In some situations, your best bet might be to buy a cheap inkjet based multi-function centre for faxing, scanning and colour printing, and a separate laser printer for your bulk black printing.

For more information refer to Quick Start Guide 12: Printing tips

Buyers Guide 3: Buying other peripherals

There are a number of other accessories or peripherals you may wish to consider. If you are using store finance to make your purchase it might be economical to buy all your peripherals at the same time. If not, you’re probably better off waiting as newer, cheaper models will no doubt be released soon after you buy!

Scanner
If you plan to scan and print in photo quality you will need a high quality scanner. If you just want to scan photos to email to your friends then a cheaper scanner will do. You could also consider an all-in-one multi-function centre. Refer to Buyers Guide 2: Buying a printer.

Modem
To dial-up to the internet you will need a modem. Most computers come with an internal 56K modem, external modems are better and may be necessary for some applications but internal ones are usually sufficient - they are also cheaper. If you intend to use a broadband connection your service provider will usually supply a broadband cable or ADSL modem. You may also need a network interface card (NIC) although most broadband modems will also use a USB connection.

Network Interface Card (NIC) and Hub, Switch or Router
A NIC is required if you want to connect one or more computers together on a LAN (Local Area Network). Refer to Quick Start Guide 15: Networking

Extra Memory/Hard Disk Space
New computers typically come with less RAM (Random Access Memory) than you might need, RAM is relatively cheap and you can never have too much. The same can be said for hard disk storage but don’t over do it because you will get twice as much for the same price in six months time.

3D Graphics Card & Speaker Systems
When playing games, the graphics card is probably the most important component in the system. Spend a little extra here if games are your thing. The standard speakers are usually pretty ordinary. If you like playing games or listening to music you can get some very nice sounding speakers for a relatively low price.

CDROM/CD Burner/DVD/ZIP drive
A CDROM is a normal CD reader, a DVDROM reads DVD’s and CD’s. A CDR/CDRW (or burner) is a CD writer/re-writer and a DVD-RW is a DVD writer/re-writer. A ZIP drive works like a floppy disk drive and stores 100mb, 250mb or 750mb compared to a standard floppy disk which only stores 1.44mb. ZIP drives are great for regular backups whereas CDR’s are better for long term storage.