What Type of Computer Best Suits Your Needs?
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4/5/2017 Which computer is right for you? To log in live from home go to: https://kanren.zoom.us/j/561178181 The recording of this presentation will be online after the 18th @ https://kslib.info/1180/Digital-Literacy---Tech-Talks The previous presentations are also available online at that link Presenter: Nathan, IT Supervisor, at the Newton Public Library 1. Protect your computer •A computer should always have the most recent updates installed for spam filters, anti-virus and anti-spyware software and a secure firewall. http://www.districtdispatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/triple_play_web.png http://cdn.greenprophet.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/frying-pan-kolbotek-neoflam-560x475.jpg Personal computers have become more and more prevalent over the years and their forms and functions change daily. http://media.peachworks.com/BuildBuyGraphic.png http://cdn.computerhope.com/big/computer.jpg To pick the right type of computer for you the first time let’s ask some Both buying and making your own computer has questions about your priorities. advantages and disadvantages. • Do you need to be mobile? (ex: laptop/smartphone) The main body of this presentation offers some advice • Do you need high end video and gaming? (ex: desktop gaming rig) for those interested in purchasing their own computers • Do you move massive files within your network? (ex: media server) (because if you are building your own you will need • Are you concerned more with cost, quality or something in-between? more knowledge than just a 1 hour powerpoint) http://www.wikihow.com/Buy-a-Computer-to-Suit-Your-Needs 1 4/5/2017 Buy it or make it? Buy it or make it? • Reasons to make your own computer. • Reasons to buy a computer. –You enjoy the process of spending time and energy on – Buying and opening a box takes a lot less research, time and energy. research for each individual component. – The warranty covers the whole computer instead of just the individual –Bragging rights and the satisfaction of finally having a components computer up and running that you “designed yourself” – The drivers are preselected and tested to work well together. can be euphoric and – Usually more cost effective (for systems less than $8,000) showing it to those http://www.wikihow.com/Buy-a-Computer-to-Suit-Your-Needs that you know will appreciate and can commiserate the effort you put into it can be as well. http://www.smallbiztechnology.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/computerbuying.jpg http://www.wikihow.com/Buy-a-Computer-to-Suit-Your-Needs http://coolcomputersetups.com/images/bb54b5.jpg Know your computing power needs. Choose a computer that fits your needs now and in the ht t p: //i.kinja- img. com /gawker -m edia/image/upload/s-- 9GI eFRxz-- /c_scale,fl_pr ogr essive, q_80,w_800/17wr7s3hgl52zjpg. jpg ht t p: //i.kinja- img. com /gawker -m edia/image/upload/s-- 9GI eFRxz-- /c_scale,fl_pr ogr essive, q_80,w_800/17wr7s3hgl52zjpg. jpg future; don't buy just any computer! • Think about what you'd like to accomplish on your new computer. Generally the computers you will come • For example, are you a casual Internet user (facebook) or a high end gamer with special video/audio needs? across can be labeled under the following • Do you play games online, or do you play the latest retail games three categories of quality when they are released? • “Consumer Grade” or "Value" line computers. • Do you regularly alter High Quality video or large scale • “Business Class” or even "Enthusiast" line computers. photographs? • “Professional” or "Gaming" line computers. • Do you watch HD online streaming video or download massive If it's an expensive computer, optimized for something such as video editing, amounts of media? and you're not going to use it for editing videos, then don't buy it! http://www.wikihow.com/Buy-a-Computer-to-Suit-Your-Needs http://www.wikihow.com/Buy-a-Computer-to-Suit-Your-Needs “Consumer Grade” or "Value" line computers. These PCs are good for checking emails, surfing the web, and word processing, but they are not geared towards much else. Dell, HP (Compaq), Gateway, and other large-volume retail computers offer excellent values for a complete value series package. – There are some lemons out there but by-and-large most of the low priced brand new computers will work fine for most things you will do day-to-day on the internet. – Cheap may not always mean low quality, it could just be a little slow or last years technology. (usually good enough) – May not have anything but the “Manufacturers Warranty” they will replace hardware if you can prove you have not done anything to it like opened the case or dropped it. https://granitecreekblog.files.wordpress.com/2014/09/smallmoney.png https://s3.amazonaws.com/lowres.cartoonstock.com/computers-new_computer-computer_shop-gadget-computer_store-store-mba0558_low.jpg 2 4/5/2017 “Business Class” or even "Enthusiast" line computers. • Computers of this category are suitable for most power-user “High End”, “Professional” or "Gaming" computers. tasks, multimedia, and casual gaming. – These are best for media creation, workstation publishing, and intensive Again, Dell and other major brands will be a good choice. gaming. – More likely to have “Drop-Kick” Warranty and “American” English speaking tech Typical tasks that require a fast computer include recording high quality support. music and making Flash movies. – Discounts for buying in bulk. – Larger brand name computer builders may not be the best choice, but a – More likely to have docking features few of them such as Dell's XPS line, Dell's Alienware brand name, and – Better keyboards and batteries Falcon Northwest, might be good choices. – More security features built-in – Most users with needs in this category typically build their own PCs, • Finger print readers purchasing individual parts from a computer component retailer such as • Matte screens Newegg.com and cdw.com . – Pro version of OS allow sharing http://www.thepost.co.ls/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/computers.jpg http://www.wikihow.com/Buy-a-Computer-to-Suit-Your-Needs Look for purchasing alternatives. Learn your stuff: compare speeds, prices, brands AND compatibility. • It's easy to miss out on opportunities if you're not looking for them. • Do you have friends (fb?) who are computer savvy? What about (will that version of office run on windows 10 with a 32bit processor and 4Gb Ram)? your neighbors? Do they build their own PCs? • Spend time comparing the : • If you're looking for a powerful computer, purchasing all of the – processor speed – and brand components and assembling it yourself is often less expensive than – Memory purchasing a package deal. – Hard disk space • If a friend is willing to help you build your own (or sell the one they – Video card made last year) it might be a worthwhile purchase experience. – and other components and features of each model that interests • Avoid this if all you need is a value line PC, because major brands you. Then you can concentrate on finding the best deal. will often get rid of their older components by bundling them in value line PCs. http://www.wikihow.com/Buy-a-Computer-to-Suit-Your-Needs http://www.wikihow.com/Buy-a-Computer-to-Suit-Your-Needs http://thumbs.dreamstime.com/x/cash-background-14072719.jpg Check compatibility. • If purchasing components to build your own, double check each Purchase your new computer. component's compatibility. • Major brands such as Dell provide a web-based – For example, if you want to purchase a motherboard with an LGA775 socket, make configuration tool for customizing a PC before you purchase. sure you buy an LGA775 socket CPU. • This may be a more relaxing experience than being rushed • If in doubt, read user comments on products and research the different standards online. The most important compatibility considerations: by a sales representative over the phone. – Motherboard: CPU socket type, graphics card slot type (PCI-E or AGP), and memory type and speed • If there is something you don't understand when configuring • CPU: Intel or AMD, and the socket type (ie: AM2, LGA775, 478, etc.) your PC, call or chat online with that company's sales • Memory: Type (DDR or DDR2) and speed (ie: PC3200/DDR400 or PC2-6400/DDR2800) department for answers • Power supply (often included with a case): how many watts do you need for (if you have the time and your phone is fully charged)) your components? Are you planning on extra video cards, hard drives and peripherals http://www.wikihow.com/Buy-a-Computer-to-Suit-Your-Needs http://www.wikihow.com/Buy-a-Computer-to-Suit-Your-Needs 3 4/5/2017 Parting Shot on the topic of speed and price • Have the mentality that your computer is going to last 3 years or less, not The 5 years or more. After 3 years, either your hardware will start to fail, Operating System software will demand more, or you will want more. In the long run, it What is best costs more to repair than it does to replace a computer, so don't invest in Question for you? a computer to last, invest in a computer to use. • Understand that Operating Systems upgrade, disks eventually die, and disk space is never enough later. This means, do NOT buy an enormous hard drive for your computer. Store your data on an external hard drive. (or NAS) This would not only make repairing your computer easier by not worrying about data, but also gives you the security of having data stored separately. Use a hard drive just good enough to run necessary programs, so all you will lose in worst case is your software (much easier to recover than your authored data).