College of Education Education IT Tech Talk Series
Jan 13, 2016
College of EducationEducation IT
Tech Talk Series
Purchasing a New Computer
Major Questions
• When is it time to purchase a new computer?• Desktop or Laptop?• What do I need/should I get?• Monitors?• Warranty?• Internet--Dial-up/DSL/Cable• Where do I get one?• What about my old one?
It Is Time• Average Life Cycle
– 4-5 Years
• What Dies First– Moving Parts
• Hard Drive ($30-$150)• Optical Drive ($40-$150)
– Hot Parts• Memory ($60-$300)• Processor ($100-$700)• Motherboard ($50-$500)
Desktop VS Laptop
• Desktop– Advantages
• Faster/More Powerful• More Storage• Cheaper• Easier to Fix/Upgrade
– Disadvantages• Big• Loud• Not Portable
Desktop VS Laptop
• Laptop– Advantages
• Portable
• Quiet
• “Cool” Factor
• Small
– Disadvantages• Hard to Repair/Upgrade
• Easier to Break
• More Expensive with Fewer Options
• Slower/Less Powerful
What Do I Need?
• Major Components– Processor
• Speed• FSB (Front Side Bus)
– Memory• Speed• Amount
– Hard Drive• Speed• Size
• Min/Recommended– Processor
• 2 GHz/3 GHz
– Memory• 1 GB/2 GB
– Hard Drive• 80 GB/100-250 GB
What Do I Need?
• Major Components– Video Card
• Memory
– Removable Media• DVD/CD• R/RW• Floppy
– User Input• Keyboard• Mouse
• Min/Recommended-Video Card
• Built in/256 MB
– Media• CD/DVD-RW
• Floppy
– Input• USB/Multimedia
• Optical
What Do I Not Need?
• Watch Out For– Bluetooth– USB Storage– Wireless– Peripherals– Installation
Useful Items• Warranty
– 90 Warranty Standard– 3-Year Warranty Recommended
• Monitors– LCD– 17”-19”– DVI vs. VGA
• Internet– Dial-Up– DSL– Cable
Where Do I Shop?• ITaP (STEW G65)
– Dell– HP– Apple
• Online– Provantage– TigerDirect– Vendor Site
• Offline– Best Buy– Circuit City– Wal-Mart
What About Old One?
• Donate
• Keep For Parts
• Set Up For Kids
• Recycle– Staples– Dell
Questions?