Buying A New PC
Buying A New Computer? You are in the Right Place! Trust Your Computer Services To The Pros!
Really we need to ask some questions when going into this process.
Firstly, we need to know whether there is a portability requirement, as whilst notebook users can claim 25-35% more productivity, according to Intels stats and research on the subject, it has to be said that this will not suit a high-end gamer or video editing enthusiast, who will be looking for huge storage, massive graphics cards and endless grunt to render big files quickly.
I always try to explain the purchasing criteria as follows: -
When we buy a new computer or notebook we are actually buying three things.
1. The Hardware, yes high quality, reliable and tested
2. The Software, always on disks that support the system, in case we should ever have to reload it and
3. The Service of the person or Company who built or provided us with the system.
Yes, this last part is definitely part of the purchase and their ability to quickly answer our telephone call, locally and with a real person, is a genuine value-add in the deal! If this is missing, what will be the cost of not having the machine for 3-6 weeks or not being able to get local assistance?
Warranty should be at least three years on a notebook or PC, as warranty is often an indicator of quality and suggests the trouble-free lifetime of the system.
When should we replace our computer or notebook?
Generally a notebook will run for 3-5 years depending on usage and a desktop PC or server can run 5-7 years. If I find myself starting to get troubles with a notebook or PC over 5 years old, my first thought is that it is not going to be worth sinking a whole lot of resources in an old system. After all, the capacitors are starting to leak, the power cycling will have taken a toll on some components, even if we never had power failures, spikes or lightning in NSW and the Hdd has been spinning at 7200RPM for how many years?
Are there some general guidelines when looking to buy a new computer?
Yes, most certainly. Buying cheap is too expensive for me and maybe you too and overpaying for no good reason is also unwise. Here is my advice; take an absolute expert with you before and when you go to spend you money! Only buy from someone who has been in business for more than 5-10 years and not a sole trader or start-up. If they can not provide you with onsite delivery and set-up that to me sounds unusual, but do check that you get a 3-5 year warranty at no extra cost, that you really do own and have with the purchase ALL the original software DVDs/CDs or media, so that you can service the machine without having to waste time talking for hours or getting disks sent out at a later date and finally that you really can go to an address in Australia and talk with a real person and get prompt assistance locally should it be required. Call us!
