Tips for Buying Electronics

How to Purchase a Personal Computer

1. Do you want a desktop computer, mobile computer, or personal mobile devise?
2. For what purpose will you use the computer?
3. Should the computer be compatible with the computers at school or work?
4. Should the computers be a MAC or a PC?

How to Purchase a Desktop Computer

1. Determine the specific software you want to use on your computer
2. Look for bundled software
3. Avoid buying the least powerful computer available
4. Consider upgrades to the mouse, keyboard, monitor, printer, microphone, and speakers
5. Determine whether you want to use telephone lines or broadband (cable or DSL) access to the internet
6. If you are using a dial-up or wireless connection to connect to the internet, then select ISP or OSP
7. Use a worksheet to compare computers, services, and other considerations
8. If you are buying a new computer, you have several purchasing options: buying from your school bookstore, a local computer dealer, a large retail store, or ordering by mail via telephone or the web
9. If you are buying a new computer, stay with name brands such as Dell, Gateway, Hewlett-Packard, and Apple
10. If you have a computer and are considering upgrading to a new one, then consider trading or selling the old one
11. Be aware of hidden costs
12. Consider more than just price
13. Avoid restocking fees
14. Use a credit card to purchase your computer
15. Consider purchasing an extended warranty or service plan

How to Purchase a Notebook Computer

1. Purchase a notebook computer with a sufficiently large active-matrix screen
2. Experiment with different keyboards and pointing devices
3. Make sure the notebook computer you purchase has a CD and/or DVD drive
4. If necessary, upgrade the processor, memory, and disk storage at the time of purchase
5. The availability of built in ports on a notebook computer is important
6. If you plan to use your notebook computer for note-taking at school or in meetings, consider a notebook computer that converts to a tablet PC
7. Consider purchasing a notebook computer with a built-in wireless card to connect to your home network
8. If you are going to use your notebook computer for long periods without access to an electrical outlet, purchase a second battery
9. Purchase a well- padded and well-designed carrying case
10. If you travel overseas, obtain a set of electrical and telephone adapters
11. If you plan to connect your notebook computer to a video projector, make sure the notebook computer is compatible with the video projector
12. For improved security, consider a fingerprint scanner

How to Purchase a Tablet PC

1. Make sure the Tablet PC fits your mobile computing needs
2. Decide whether you want a convertible or true Tablet PC
3. Be sure the weight and dimensions are conducive to portability
4. Port availability, battery life, and durability are even more important with a Tablet PC than they are with a notebook computer
5. Experiment with different models of the Tablet PC to find the digital pen that works best for you
6. Check out the comfort level of handwriting in different positions
7. Make sure the LCD display device has a resolution high enough to take advantage of Microsoft's ClearType technologies
8. Test the built-in Tablet PC microphone and speakers
9. Consider a Tablet PC with a built-in PC video camera
10. Review the docking capabilities of the tablet PC
11. Wireless access to the internet and your e-mail is essential with a Tablet PC
12. Review available accessories to purchase with your Tablet PC

How to Purchase a Personal Mobile Device

1. Determine the programs you plan to run on your device
2. Consider how much you want to pay
3. Determine whether you need wireless access to the internet and e-mail or mobile telephone capabilities with your device
4. For wireless devices, determine where you will use the service
5. Make sure your device has enough memory