Tips for buying a new computer

How to Save Money on a New Computer


As is usually the case in big ticket purchases, the best way to save money buying a new computer is not to buy one. The statement is obvious but it’s worth mentioning. If your current computer works fine, it can be much cheaper to spend money on upgrades than on a completely new machine. If you are still determined to purchase a new machine though, here are some things to help you minimize the impact on your budget.

Figure Out What You Need

Laptops and desktops are available with all the bells and whistles imaginable. A serious online gamer may need the memory and graphics from the high end of the available spectrum. For most users, a much simpler machine can accommodate all our needs and still provide excellent usability. Assess your needs before you go to the store where all those pretty computers will tempt you towards making a purchase that exceeds your parameters.

Part of this process is also figuring out what you don’t need. Unless you plan to use a web cam constantly, you don’t need one as part of your package. Printers are nice, but you can get cheaper ones if you buy them alone. Biometric security features? Fancy but scarcely necessary unless you are a spy or corporate big shot. Minimize as much as possible.

Use Rebates and Sales

Because computers are a technology that is constantly changing, you can usually find great deals on slightly older models. Whether it is an older version of an operating system, a slower drive or less refined screen, most of us aren’t going to notice the difference. On the other hand, these are the models that offer the best rebates and are most frequently on sale as stores try to deplete their inventory. Do keep an eye out for computers with rebates that are more than a similar unit without one, though.

Refurbished Or Out of the Box

There is a growing market for computers that have been returned to the manufacturer for one reason or another. If there is a defect, the manufacturer will repair the unit and return it to the owner. Other computers simply didn’t meet their new owner’s desires and they returned them within the warranty period. Either way, there are some serious savings available on these units. When you buy these, they generally work just like new so it is definitely worth looking at these models.

Avoid Extras

If you are looking at a desktop, you can avoid a lot of pricey extras. Your current monitor, keyboard and mouse should work just fine with your new CPU, so don’t purchase new ones. Extra software added to a standard machine may not be necessary for you, so ask that it not be loaded. Avoid Vista optimization add ons; frankly, I suggest you avoid Vista altogether. Even with a free upgrade, your computer will be faster Windows 7 was freshly installed.

Buying a new computer doesn’t have to break the bank. Personally, I just got my kids a really nice desktop with a monitor, speakers, and wireless internet for $300, so I know you can do it, too.

moneyning

Current computers, even old computers are more than adequate for the needs of most people. Most people really don’t do much more than use a word processor, spread sheet, E Mail etc. Almost any computer will be adequate for that purpose.

My computer is seven years old, it works fine. My son says it is too slow, but I don’t find it too slow. I did recently buy a new computer however, for business. I have many DOS based programs (which I have written), and Vista doesn’t support DOS (or so I haven been told, I have never used Vista myself). They are phasing out the XP, so I thought I would get a computer before they stopped giving XP with it. I assume Windows 7 wouldn’t support DOS platform either.

But the system is so powerful, it is like using a tank to crack a walnut. I only use the DOS based programs on it, a spreadsheet and a word processor. I don’t have internet on it (and hence saved the money by not buying anti-virus software). I do have a modem, to connect with OHIP computer and upload and download files.

But really, even a 386 would have been adequate for my purposes.

I recently upgraded my newest PC to Windows 7 and can't even begin to describe how much better my system runs as opposed to Vista. The system I'm on right now will probably stay Windows XP until the end of its time.

SJP: You always have the option of using a free DOS emulator called DOSBox, it works quite well and better than XP DOS emulation, which is similar to Vista and 7.

You must have a small social circle, if that's what you think most people use their computers for.

Most people that I know use them for multimedia - pictures/slideshows/movies, editing, gaming, etc. Things that take a lot of processor oomph, need a reasonable amount of memory and video memory.

Thanks, I didn’t know there was a DOS emulator, I will check it out. I have been using the DOS platform provided by Windows XP.

I have heard good things about Windows 7, it uses fewer resources than Vista (the first time a newer version of Windows has used fewer resources than the older one) and doesn’t have many problems associated with Vista.

I have been using Windows 7 (release candidate) for about 6 months now and it is a solid OS. Compared to Vista, they basically have the same underpinnings but Microsoft has fixed the driver issues that plagued Vista + they have tweaked or removed various annoyances found in Vista (UAC, usability, greedy system resources etc). All in all, it's a worthy upgrade if you are still running XP.

Do they provide a DOS platform?

Not natively, there is a command line, it's not DOS per se though.

Windows 7 does have "XP Mode" built into it though where you can run a virtualized XP inside of 7, that would allow you to run DOS programs I believe.

Try this: --

I've got it running on XP and Vista machines, with DOS 6.22 and several versions of Linux as guest OSs and they work fine. The only thing that irks me is that the screen display for DOS seems limited to 640x480, which is a bit small on a large LCD panel, but that's probably a fixable issue with the video driver in the virtual machine. They just haven't done it yet.

The DOS platform provided by XP does give you the full screen.

HP (Hewlitt Packard)
I know many people besides myself who have experienced major difficulties with HP desk tos and lap tops, and there after sales service leaves a lot to be desired. However, I have a HP 3 in 1 printer that works great. I just bought 2 new lap tops. Both are Toshiba Satelites. Time will tell ..........

Building it yourself or getting a smart friend to do it and buying all your parts online saves you at least a few hundred on a "full" update.

You stole my thunder. This is the best way to get a new computer other than someone buying you one or looting it during the next AGW disaster.

That is what my son did , he build his computer from parts.

Most of the componets come from China and are assembled to make what ever brand. If the OS and hardware are similiar buy the one that has the nicest feeling keyboard as thats what you'll use the most. Some computers have real garbage keyboards. Only if you plan on upgrading and are computer savvy do you need to worry about what kind of processor you have. Gamers look at ram and graphic cards. The average user will never even tap 10% of what most new computers are capable of nowadays. Buying a brandnew machine to browse the internet and read email is kind of a joke.

I'm still using my logitech G15 keyboard & G5 mouse I purchased 3 years ago, awesome quality and functionality.

Gamers equally look at CPU's as well as you need significant processing power to keep up with the GPU. I have a Q6600@3GHZ paired with 4GB of DDR2 1066 and a nvidia GTX260, allows me to game at 1900x1200 with max setting on most games.

If anyone has a newer Nvidia GPU, checkout badaboom. It's a dvd transcoder that runs on the GPU core, in my experience it cuts down transcode times by approx 50% when compared to a cpu. Usually, I can take a retail DVD and have it converted to 800mb .MP4 files in about 25 minutes.