Tag: 5THINGSCOMPUTER

So you're buying a new computer? Well, you're in luck, because there's never been a better time -- they're faster, smaller, and more powerful than ever before, and they don't necessarily have to cost you an arm and a leg (in fact, plenty of decent desktops and laptops can be had for less than $500). But should you get a Mac or a PC? Laptop or desktop ? Specs-wise, what difference does ...

EXTRAS (SOFTWARE) Lastly, don't forget about software for your new computer. Generally, the best practice is to get as little as you can installed by the manufacturer and buy (or download) exactly what you need yourself. The reality is, most of the software that's preinstalled on new computers is unnecessary and actually slows down your computer considerably so we're particularly big fans ...

EXTRAS (HARDWARE) If only you were done with your computer-shopping considerations, but there's more to a computer than simply the computer. How will you get online? What's WAN? And what kinds of extra hardware or peripherals -- monitors, printers, keyboards, speakers, and more -- will you need? Wireless: The wireless mess of 802.11a, b, g, n -- that mysterious set of letters and numbers ...

TECH SPECS AND OTHER FEATURES This is the really techy stuff. AMD or Intel processors? What speed? How much RAM (random access memory)? The most important thing to look for is RAM, which has the most impact on the speed of your computer. Accept no less than 2-gigabytes (GB), but if you've got the cash, spring for 3- or 4-gigabytes (GB), just to be safe, especially if you intend to run ...

OPERATING SYSTEM (WINDOWS VS MAC, ETC) Choosing an operating system (OS) -- essentially the tech term for Windows, Mac OSX, or Linux -- for your PC can be a tough decision. Macs are sexy and cool, but can you run all the applications you need on them? Windows is the industry standard, but can be a security nightmare, and Vista is bloated and slow. Then there is the dark horse, Linux, which is ...

LAPTOP OR DESKTOP? When shopping for a computer, you need to decide whether you want a laptop or a desktop. If you need to work from anywhere except the computer desk in your home, a laptop is clearly the way to go -- many portables are as or more powerful than their bulky, stationery desktop cousins. That said, desktops usually offer more bang for the buck -- $1,000 can buy you a pretty ...