Checklist for buyin a new PC
As you probably know by now, the home computer is undergoing a makeover. Desktop models are fast becoming digital entertainment centers-providing music, photos, games, video and high-speed access to the Internet, making surfing and downloading a breeze. Want your home computer to join the party? Your timing couldn�t be better.
Compu-Babble Made Easy
You�ll be in a much better bargaining position with that lingo-spewing sales dude if you�re able to talk his talk. To do so, you need to know a bit about what makes your computer tick and whether you want the new family "digital den," with a sticker under MRf 10,000, or a more top-of-the-line "techno toyland," for which you�ll pay around MRf 20,000.
Operating System (OS). The OS is the language your computer�s components use to communicate with each other. Windows XP and the new upcoming Vista are operating systems.� RAM. Random-access memory lets your computer, more specifically, the central processing unit (CPU), juggle lots of complex tasks at once. Think of RAM as the top of your desk. The more megabytes (MB) of RAM in your computer, the larger the desk surface and the more stuff it will hold without collapsing. In the world of computers, RAM rules.
� Hard Drive. This is your computer�s storage or disk space. Think of it as a file cabinet. Files and programs are stored here. If you want to store lots of space-taking digital photos, music and video, go for a 80 gigabyte (GB) drive, though 40 GB should be fine for the average family�s computer. A CD burner, also known as CD-Writer, allows you to record music and store large files externally on CDs. Now there are 750 GBs available.
� Processor. In our analogy, this is your secretary or office manager. The processor listens to your clicks and then relays them to the other parts in your computer. The faster the "clock speed" of the processor (measured in giga- or megahertz), the faster it can perform analytic functions and calculations, as well as open and close programs and save files. Your computer probably needs only a 1-gigahertz (GHz) processor. But if you are into high-speed, high-resolution stuff, then go for 1.5 to 3.6 GHz.
� Ports and Slots. USB ports and PCI slots are where you plug in peripherals-external devices such as printers, PDAs (like a Palm), digital cameras, or internal components like sound cards and modems. An Ethernet port allows you to link, or network, multiple home computers and lets you connect to the Internet using a high-speed DSL or cable modem, which all users can share. If you want to store, copy or move files like photos, videos and music super quickly, you�ll want a FireWire card, which has extremely fast data-transfer rates. Make sure you leave available a few ports or slots for future expansion.
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