Quarter 2 – Week 7

Criteria In Buying A Computer

Nowadays, computer has become necessary for everyone. People can
use to do some jobs, shop, surf the Internet, write essay, and search
information, etc. Almost everyone has a computer. Those who don’t own now
also will possess later.

But some people ask what they should consider when buying a
computer or what questions to ask when buying a computer.

In this lesson, we'll discuss criteria to consider in buying a personal

computer system.

Five Criteria To Consider When Purchasing A Personal Computer

System

https://5.imimg.com/data5/XY/SP/MY-55357604/hp-desktop-computer-500x500.jpg

1. Brand

• For a lot of people, brand really matter and for a good reason. Some
brands are straightaway winners while others not so much. If you are
the type of user who takes pride in the brand of your gadgets, or who
believes some brands are simply superior to the competition, this
should be your priority.

• Each popular PC brand often excel in different areas to minimize as

much as possible so if you can’t decide on what brand to pick, you can
further break down your needs by asking whether one offers better (and

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 sometimes longer) warranties than its rivals. Some brands may not
have best warranty offers but they may offer better software packages.

2. Quality

• The quality of a product is essentially its goodness or “badness.” You

can determine quality by asking yourself the following questions:
▪ How well does this product meet my specific needs?
▪ Does it have the features and functions I require?
▪ How well is it made?
▪ How long will it last?

• Online reviews can help you answer these questions, especially those
found on respected sites such as Newegg.

• Doing your research and reading reviews is an important component of

gauging a product’s quality. If a product has good reviews and comes
from a respectable brand, you may be tempted to pull the trigger on
your purchase. However, you also need to understand how the product
will interact with the technology you already have in place. Getting a
second opinion is an absolute must, whether it be from a managed
services provider or another type of IT consultant.

3. Price

• Everyone has a budget, but that doesn’t mean buying cheap is

necessarily the way to go. After all, if you purchase a product that
breaks easily or doesn’t fully meet your needs, you’ll end up needing to
replace it, thereby busting your budget.

• Keep in mind that the actual cost of a product is only one part of the
Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) – the sum of all costs incurred over the
product’s useful life. In addition to the initial price, quality and service
after the sale also impact TCO, reaffirming that buying based on the
lowest available price alone is not a smart move.

4. Specification

• Computer hardware specifications are technical descriptions of the

computer's components and capabilities. It includes the following:

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 ▪ Processor is an essential part of a computer since it can affect the
performance and speed of your computer. Usually, a good Processor
can bring good read and write performance. For some cheaper
computers adopting the low-end processor, do some light tasks such
as internet browsing may be okay. But if users load several
applications at the same time, the performance will be affected, and
your computer may be stuck in. Of course, a good processor can
bring an extraordinary experience, but it also costs high.

▪ Random Access Memory (RAM) is also an important component of the

computer. RAM is like the temporary scratchpad or canvas where a
PC performs its real-time operations and calculations. The more the
RAM in a computer is, the better performance the computer enjoys.
So, if you can afford it, the more RAM you can get.

▪ Hard disk capacity and speed for most users are the most important
things. If you have a lot of files to save, you should choose a larger
capacity. And for the speed, if you have enough budget, you can
choose a computer which is built-in SSD. In this way, you can enjoy
better read and write performance and speed.

▪ The Graphics Card handles how video is processed in your computer.

When shopping for computers, you will encounter two types of
graphics cards: integrated and dedicated. Integrated graphics cards
are built into your computer's motherboard. Dedicated graphics
cards are installed separately. In general, dedicated graphics cards
are more powerful. If you're planning to edit video, play games or
watch high-definition movies on your computer, a dedicated graphics
card is recommended.

▪ Other specifications might include network (ethernet or wi-fi) adapters

or audio capabilities.

5. Service after the sale

• All other criteria are important consideration in buying the personal

computer, but you need to consider them alongside service after the
sale to get the full picture. Here are a few aspects you’d be wise to look
into before purchasing:

▪ Return policy: If the product isn’t satisfactory, how much will it cost
to return, including shipping costs and restocking fees? How much
time will your staff waste dealing with a cumbersome return

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 process? Will your operations be impacted by not having a working
product in place? Since many IT purchase decisions are made to
mitigate costly problems, the financial hits will likely continue until
the issue is resolved, so it’s best to avoid returns whenever possible.
Most importantly, make sure you can return your purchase in the
first place! Sometimes, products are final-sale – especially those
that are very low-cost.

▪ Warranty: Warranties apply to the state of the product when you

purchased it. If something is wrong with the product, the vendor
will repair or replace it at no charge, as long as the warranty – or
subsequent warranty extension – is in effect. Does the seller you’re
interested in offer a good warranty, or any warranty at all? Check
reviews to make sure the company stands behind its warranty
policy and is easy to reach when problems arise.

▪ Service agreement: When you’re dealing with IT hardware and

software, you can expect ongoing improvements to be released and
applied in the form of updates and new versions. These updates are
made for a variety of reasons, including boosting general
performance, introducing specific features and addressing recently
discovered security vulnerabilities. Service agreements are essential
for IT products that are critical to business functions because
operational losses due to outdated hardware or software can be very
costly.

• Usually, the more complex an IT purchase is, the more service after the
sale impacts TCO. If you’re not careful, the cost of poor service can
easily exceed the initial investment.

References:

Department of Education “Internet and Computing Fundamentals: The

Strengthened Technical-Vocational Education Program Curriculum
Guide.pdf” p.16

Department of Education. “STVEP 7 – (Internet and Computing

Fundamentals) Activity Sheet No. 4 First Edition”. (2021) Western
Visayas: Department of Education Regional Office 6

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