May 24

Written by: Steve Gray
5/24/2011 9:27 AM 

Here's a primer for the jargon, and an opinion about what's important. This was written in May 2011… so it should be valid for… 2 more weeks <smiles>

1. Operating System: They're all going to be Windows 7, but 64bit is much faster. The 'information highway' inside the PC is twice as wide as 32bit. It's like having a hose twice as big, or a road twice as wide. More stuff can flow.

2. CPU. This stuff confuses me. CPUs play a big part in the price, there are lots of differences. Cheaper PCs have slower CPUs. Pick a price point ($399, 499) and try to get the best for the money.

3. Screen size: Personally, I have 4 monitors. Really. It's easier to work on a bigger screen. Same as above. Pick a price point and get a better one.

4. Memory (ram). Windows 7 requires 2gb, and that should be fine. More memory allows you to have more programs open at once; 4gb would be great.

5 Hard drive space (not the same as RAM). RAM goes away when you turn the computer off (think: husband’s memory), the hard drive is magnetic media like a VCR tape, it never erases (think: wife’s memory). More hard drive space means you can store more stuff on your computer. More programs; these days it means more photos and more music. I have 9000 photos to date (8 gb of storage) , and about 80 CDs (5 gb). So,  even a smaller 320 gb drive should do.

6. CD (optical drive). You need this. A DVD is almost always included anyway. (think: watching movies in the airport)

7. Web Cam: I bought my wife’s laptop without one because I didn’t think we’d need one. She’s always taking mine now to Skype with the grandkids. If your kid is going away to college, be sure to get a web cam

8. Last is weight. People don’t usually lug these things around much, unless you’re a travelling salesman. So this might not be so important. But it’s something to think about. Lighter usually means a smaller screen, less battery life, and more expensive. Everything’s a trade off.