If you already own a computer it may very well be adequate to use for starting your business. If you are starting from scratch or if your computer is not up to snuff then buying a new computer would be advisable. Fortunately, these days you can get a great machine with lots of features for a very reasonable price. By the way, I don't recommend buying refurbished equipment, equipment which is used and has been cleaned up for resale. The lifespan of such item is not very predictable and the warranties are not usually as good as a new item. Start with new items and you will at least know what you have to begin with.
If you don't know a lot about computers, there is no need to get anxious. These days it is very easy to learn all about them, online of course. Before you purchase your new computer you must first decide on what your needs are for the business you have chosen. The following are things to consider in advance of this most important purchase.
Laptop or Desktop?
This is becoming a classic question and to decide on the answer let's take a comparative look at the two choices:
• Laptops are obviously more mobile, can be packed up and taken anywhere; therefore you can conduct your business wherever you happen to be sitting. A real advantage for someone who makes their living on the net, you can take work on vacation with you (that is, if you really want to).
• Generally, you will probably pay a bit more for a good laptop, something around $300 to $400 or so for the same capabilities you would find in a comparable desktop model. Also, a desktop has greater expandability compared to a laptop.
• A laptop is easier to damage because it is more mobile. They get dropped and things get dropped on them and they are stolen more often than desktop models. Bottom line, you have to watch them more closely.
• You can use any software you like on either type of machine. In this way, they are pretty much equal. However, while they will both run any software package, some software requires a lot of RAM and this is usually more expensive for a laptop.
• Desktop computers typically are at the forefront of the technology curve. Whenever something new is developed, it can be found in a desktop computer first. And keep in mind, even when considering the mid-level models, you still get a lot of machine for your money with a desktop computer.
My recommendation? If you are beginning a new business then a nice desktop model is a great place to start. You can get more features for less money and if you are just starting out that's a serious consideration. After your business is established a laptop would make a great addition.
Features, Features, Features
Now let's look at the various features available to choose from in today's computers.
Warranty/Support: Ha, I'll bet you thought I was going to start with processor speed or RAM. Nope. The life-span of a computer is about 2-3 years. After that, your machine is on borrowed time. What if it fails sooner than expected? With that in mind consider the following:
• Look for a warranty which is at least 3 full years (you may have to purchase a warranty extension). Try and get one that covers hardware and software issues.
• Is service on-site and if not is there a service center near you? Packing up your machine and mailing it someplace for repairs is a big deal. Try for at-home service if humanly possible. Also, what is the time-line for repairs? Can the company give you a computer to use during that time?
• Is support available 24 hours, 7 days a week? Holidays? How do you contact them? Telephone? Email?
Please keep in mind that there is something to Murphy's Law. If and when a computer breaks down it will likely do so at the worst possible moment. You need a warranty and service program that can help you when the situation is really bad. This is a very important consideration when purchasing a new computer, don't overlook it.
Alright, so now we can talk about the machine itself. One final comment before we dive into the particulars of computer features, you should know what software you will need before you buy your machine. Don't buy a machine which comes with a lot of extra software you probably are not going to use. Free software is a great thing but if it is software you are not going to use then you will end up paying more money for something you just don't need.
Processor Speed/Memory: Whatever processor speed you choose please be aware that there will be a faster one available by the time you get yours out of the box. Marketing cannot keep up with research and design and therefore we always get technology which is dated when we buy it. That being said, the processor speed you choose should be based on what you will be doing with your computer. Currently, processor speed is measured in gigahertz (GHz). I say "currently" because not long ago it was measured in megahertz (MHz) and someday it will likely be measured in terahertz (THz). A processor with a speed of 2 GHz will run most basic programs but for really fast gaming programs with a lot of complex graphics 3 GHz or faster is the way to go.
RAM (Random Access Memory) dictates how fast your machine can access and run programs. Therefore, processor speed and RAM go hand in hand where computer performance is concerned. RAM is described in megabytes (MB) and gigabytes (GB). My suggestion is that you buy as much as you can afford, at least 2 GB. It is easier and usually cheaper to buy a machine with the RAM you need already installed rather than upgrade later. And often, a seller will offer a nice amount of RAM as a feature to sweeten the deal.
Hard Drive Storage: Your hard drive will be where you will store all of the software and files on your computer. These drives grow in size constantly and there are a few in the terabyte (TB) range now. Keep in mind that graphics and photos take up more space and a bigger drive is needed for this type of storage. Look for a hard drive with 60-80 GB or more. Again, more is better.
Other Types of Disk Drives: Most of us are familiar with disk drives. These drives read data stored on compact disks (CD), and DVDs (digital video disks). Most computers today come with one of these drives as standard equipment. There are, however, differences in the capabilities of these drives to be aware of.
• CD-RW/DVD: This is a combination drive which will allow you to both play and record CDs as well as play DVDs. It will only write to a CD and not a DVD.
• DVD+/-RW: This drive will allow you to read and write to either a CD or a DVD.
Another factor to consider is drive speed, the rate at which a drive can read or write data. The convention at present is to express the rate as a number followed by an "x". You will likely see CD drive speeds expressed as, for instance, 52x-32x-52x. This translates into 52x write speed-32x re-write speed-52x read speed. By the way, at the time I wrote this web page this was the fastest drive available and you can write a 60 minute CD in under 3 minutes. Re-writable DVD drives top out at about 20X and are currently priced very reasonably in the $75 range.
Fat versus Flat, Choice of Monitor: Flat screen monitors are the thing right now and for good reasons. They are very light weight; the old CRT monitors were basically small televisions and weighed a ton (a hernia waiting to happen). Also, they are now very reasonably priced and many of the computers out there already come equipped with them. I personally like a large screen and I find I have less eye strain with a monitor 17 inches or larger. Monitors vary in the resolution they offer. I would suggest going for a higher resolution like 800 x 600 or 1,024 x 768 as these will give you sharper images but keep in mind that the higher the resolution the higher the amount of RAM needed by the computer.
Keyboard and Mouse: Whichever computer you buy will probably come with a mouse and a keyboard which will work fine for whatever you are doing. I like an optical mouse as it doesn't have a cord to get tangled and it will last longer because it has no moving parts to wear out. I also use a wireless keyboard so I can sit anywhere in the room that I please as I write. That's really just a matter of preference on my part and the keyboard that came with my computer would work just fine.
A Few More Basic Points to Consider
• Get a good surge suppressor: A good one will actually come with a guarantee stating the manufacturer will replace your equipment up to a stated dollar value should their suppressor fail. The last thing you need is to buy a nice computer and possibly several other pieces of equipment and have it all destroyed during a thunderstorm and surge suppressors are not very expensive.
• Check into some extra insurance: Do this to cover your computer equipment for theft and other unexpected problems. Safeware Insurance agency (Safeware.com) offers several options for insuring computer equipment and will give a free online quote. They handle individual, small business, educational and commercial insurance needs. You can't be too careful and this is your business we're talking about. If you take the time to do some research and are careful in your selection you can a great machine at a great price.
William Utley is a physician and an entrepreneur. He has a great many interests including online business. For more advice concerning online business visit http://www.Tools-Of-The-Trade.net
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