Guide to Buying a New Personal Computer

Mac or Windows?

Ah, the eternal question! there is a lot of debate over the merits of these two computing experiences as well as some rather silly commercials. They are very different from each other, yet they accomplish more or less the same thing. Students that plan to do a lot of video and photo editing find Apple computers provide a more seam less experience. Otherwise, unless you are a gamer or an advanced user (in which case this section is not written for you), the differences are really quite superficial and it all comes down to what you find easier to use. So go ahead and try both, make your choice, and move on. We have found that if students are used to one or the other, they should stick with it to avoid the unnecessary stress of learning a completely new system while going to classes. Unlike what the popular commercials tell people, both systems have their problems and both have their merits, but the fact remains that either one will be able to do what you need it to.

Vista: Home, Home Premium, Business, or Ultimate? What a headache!

Microsoft released multiple versions of the same operating system offering different features for different audiences. Many retailers will offer Home, Home Premium, and Business to customers, opening the door to many questions. We recommend that our students purchase Home Premium to utilize the new Aero Glass (code-named for pretty interface) feature. This new operating system is more secure, easier to navigate, and more user friendly. If you are planning on playing any 3D games, we recommend making the upgrade to Ultimate for the advanced features it offers. The upgrade is available from WISC, a retailer that is discussed later in this packet.

Notebook or Desktop?

Another common question. Laptop technology has progressed to the point where they are sufficient desktop replacements for all but the most demanding applications. Wireless Internet technology has also made laptop systems an increasingly more popular choice. The downside is that laptops are much more expensive and difficult to repair or upgrade than their desktop counterparts. If you do purchase a laptop, be sure to invest in a good carrying case for it as well as some sort of protection plan, especially if you plan on carrying it around to a lot of different areas. If you choose to buy a laptop, we recommend investing in a laptop security cable and lock which can be found at any major electronics retailer.

Warranties

Many retailers will ask you to sign up for extended warranties, theft protection, and other types of warranties for your new computer. Technicians at UWRF DoTS can replace hardware for no cost of labor; you will only need to buy any replacement parts. This means that all you need to worry about is the cost of whatever will need to be replaced in case of damage to your computer.

If you are purchasing a desktop computer these warranties are usually not worth the money; most desktop components will cost less to replace than the warranty. It is also much harder for someone to steal a desktop computer because of its size, so theft warranties are usually not that important either. If you are choosing to purchase a laptop however, there are a few things to keep in mind when deciding on extra protection plans. The first thing to check into is whether or not your homeowner's or renter's insurance can cover the laptop if stolen or damaged; if it can, you may save money insuring it than purchasing an extended warranty or theft protection from the retailer or manufacturer. Laptop replacement parts are generally more expensive than their desktop counterparts, so extended warranties can be very useful if the price is affordable. When deciding if an extended warranty is within your budget, keep in mind that most laptop hardware will cost between $100.00 and $450.00 to replace if damaged. An important note about most extended warranties is that they do not cover theft or accidental damage; be sure you know exactly what is and is not covered before you agree to pay for the warranty. One last point to remember when choosing an extended warranty is to consider how long you plan on owning the computer.

The Processor (CPU, Central Processing Unit)

The CPU is basically the "brain"of the computer. It directs all the information in the computer to where it needs to go and therefore coordinates the actions of all the other components in the machine. This is where you're likely to find the most variety in names and specifications. You'll see processors made by AMD, Intel and others; not to mention a whole slew of subcategories. To go into detail about the pros and cons of each variety would take a lot of time (and be exceedingly boring). However, for our purposes here are few basic considerations that should influence your decision.

Another emerging technology that is starting to be readily available in consumer machines is the dual-core processor. Without getting too technical, dual-core processors split the load across two CPUs (or "cores") on one chip. These can lead to a great boost in productivity and is something that is being featured on a lot of new machines, including Apple's full line of computers.

The numbers next to a processor (for example, 2.0 Ghz), really have very little to do with the actual performance of the chip, unless you are comparing within the same line of products. Basically higher numbers mean the chip can handle more information faster. However since different chips handle the information differently, the real-life performance you see can vary. The one thing to keep in mind is that all the chips you look at will be sufficient for the purposes mentioned in our introduction. The best advice is to simply find something in your price range and don't get overly-concerned with having the "best" chip on the market (the prices would be astronomical if you did).

Each major CPU manufacturer has many different lines of consumer-level processors. Economy Celeron Celeron D Sempron Economy to Mid-range Pentium 4 Pentium D Athlon 64 Athlon 64 FX Turion 64 Mid to High-end Core Duo Core 2 Duo Athlon 64 X2 Turion 64 X2 High-end Core 2 Extreme Athlon 64 X2

Intel Processors

Core Duo, Core 2 Duo, and Core 2 extreme: These processors are actually two processors in one, called "dual core" processors (like two brains working together in one head). These have become increasingly common and provide a considerable boost to your computer's ability to multitask. Most medium to high end Intel based computers will come with one of these processors. Dual-core processors are a good investment if you would like a computer that will be adequate to use for a few years after your student has graduated.

Centrino Duo: This processor is found in laptops and is an efficiency-minded "two-brain" processor. You will see longer battery life in your laptop at the cost of slightly reduced performance from the normal Core 2, Core 2 Duo, and Core 2 Extreme processors listed above

Pentium 4 and Pentium D: These processors have only one "brain" but will still provide the power needed for the daily routine of nearly any student. These are common in the lower to medium-end Intel based computers. These processors will be perfectly adequate to get your student through school, but you may end up upgrading after a few years to stay ahead of software requirements.

Celeron and Celeron D: These represent the absolute economy version of Intel’s processors. These processors are aimed at families that cannot afford to invest large amounts of money in a computer. There is nothing wrong with these processors and they will work for most students, but you will need to consider an upgrade much sooner than the other processor choices.

AMD Processors

Athlon 64 X2: These are the AMD dual core (two brains in one head) processors and will be the most common processor in AMD based systems. These processors provide a considerable boost to your computer's speed while multitasking and will serve your student far past graduation.

Athlon 64 and Athlon 64 FX: These are the low to medium-end versions of AMD processors. These are single core (single brain) processors, but still pack the power to get your student through their education. These processors will perform adequately to get your student through their education, but you will most likely want to upgrade in a few years to stay ahead of software requirements.

Turion 64 X2: Much like the Intel Centrino processors, these are the mobile version of the dual-core Athlon 64 X2. The Turion line of processors will conserve battery life at the cost slightly reduced performance.

Turion 64: This is a single-brain version of the mobile Turion 64 X2. Speed is sacrificed for battery life in the same way as well. These processors will get your student through their education, but because laptops are not easily upgraded, we suggest spending the extra money to get a dual-core processor.

Sempron: These represent the absolute economy version of AMD's processors. These processors are aimed at families that cannot afford to invest large amounts of money in a computer. There is nothing wrong with these processors and they will work for most students, but you will need to consider an upgrade much sooner than the other processor choices.

If you are only using your machine for email, word processing and web-browsing, the low-end and economy lines are a perfectly reasonable choice. However, if you plan on doing a lot of multi-tasking such as playing movies, listening to music or burning discs while doing other things, you may want to consider moving up to a dual core processor such as the AMD Athlon 64 X2 or Intel Core 2 Duo.

Giga-whats?! The numbers you will see next to a processor (for example, 2.0 GHz) really have very little to do with the actual performance of the chip unless you are comparing two processors within the same line of products. Basically higher numbers mean the processor can handle more information faster, however since different processors handle the information differently, the real-life performance you see can vary widely. For example a Core 2 duo rated at 1.86 GHz will out-perform a Pentium 4 rated at 2.8 GHz because of the way each handles information. The one thing to keep in mind is that all of the processors you look at will be sufficient for the purposes mentioned in our introduction. The best advice is to simply find something in your price range and don't get overly-concerned with having the best chip on the market (the prices would be astronomical if you did).

Memory (RAM, Random-Access Memory)

RAM is what your computer uses to store the information that you are currently working with. This is basically equivalent to your own short-term memory and ability to remember many things at once. It does this because RAM is much faster than the hard disk and lets you easily switch between programs. The more RAM you have, the more effectively you will be able to multi-task.

Just like CPU's, there a number of different choices for RAM. However, since we are looking at a consumer, store-bought computer, we don't need to get into detail on those. Most manufactures offer the same generic RAM in their machines, so don't worry too much about the letters and numbers you may see.

As programs become more demanding and with the new Windows Vista operating system just released, we recommend going with 2 GB (2048 MB) of RAM in order to allow headroom for new technologies. One nice thing about RAM is that it is pretty easily upgradeable, so you aren't necessarily locked into your decision here. Be sure to check with the manufacturer about the maximum supported RAM; some systems may not accommodate future upgrades (no more space for memory).

The Hard Disk (Hard Drive, HD)

If you are purchasing a desktop computer these warranties are usually not worth the money; most desktop components will cost less to replace than the warranty. It is also much harder for someone to steal a desktop computer because of its size, so theft warranties are usually not that important either. If you are choosing to purchase a laptop however, there are a few things to keep in mind when deciding on extra protection plans. The first thing to check into is whether or not your homeowner's or renter's insurance can cover the laptop if stolen or damaged; if it can, you may save money insuring it than purchasing an extended warranty or theft protection from the retailer or manufacturer. Laptop replacement parts are generally more expensive than their desktop counterparts, so extended warranties can be very useful if the price is affordable. When deciding if an extended warranty is within your budget, keep in mind that most laptop hardware will cost between $100.00 and $450.00 to replace if damaged. An important note about most extended warranties is that they do not cover theft or accidental damage; be sure you know exactly what is and is not covered before you agree to pay for the warranty. One last point to remember when choosing an extended warranty is to consider how long you plan on owning the computer.

You may also see a few different types of hard drives when you are looking for a computer. There are two main types you should be aware of

SATA or Serial ATA These drives use a newer technology and are quite a bit faster when it comes to reading and writing information to the drive. Although faster, most people will not notice the difference between this and a normal ATA or Ultra ATA hard drive when used for everyday purposes. ATA or Ultra ATA These are the traditional drives that most computers have been packaged with. There is nothing wrong with these drives and for most purposes you will not be able to notice the difference.

The differences in the speed of these drives will not be noticeable for the average user. If you are worried about future performance without having to upgrade, we would suggest looking for a SATA or Serial ATA hard drive. One the same note, the RPM (revolutions per minute) of a hard drive can influence the speed with which data is retrieved on your machine; however this should not be a major concern for most people. We suggest that you focus your decision on the storage size you want first, then decide if you want to spend the extra money for a faster drive. The difference won't be huge, but it's there for those who want it.

Video Cards

The new Vista Operating System (all versions except Home Basic) requires the person to have a video card with 128 MB memory to run the new Aero Glass interface. Most computers are not equipped with an advanced video card by default. If you do not wish to use the Aero Glass interface, there is no need for the extra video card. Video cards can be confusing and most are designed for gaming needs. If you are unsure what to go with, do not hesitate to call or e-mail us with questions.

DVD Burner

Make sure you get a DVD burner in a new system. The drives themselves are only slightly more expensive than CD burners (and yes, DVD burners can burn CD's as well). The discs themselves are actually cheaper when you consider the amount of storage for the money (Single-layer DVDs hold about 4-5 GB while CDs only hold around 700 MB (about a 0.7 GB). DVDs are a perfect way to backup all your important data, like photos, documents, and movies. The different letters and symbols you will run into when deciding what to get can be quite confusing, so we will break down the most common DVD burner types and terms for you

Important Terms to remember

R = Recordable These discs can only be written once and are permanent once written. RW = Rewritable These discs can be erased and reused over and over again. DL = Dual Layer By stacking two recording layers into one disk, these discs hold approximately twice as much as a normal DVD (around 8.5 GB). You MUST have a drive capable of writing to Dual Layer discs mentioned below to use these discs!

Types of DVD Burners

DVD-R or DVD+R These are two different formats of DVD's that are incompatible. This compatibility issue has since been remedied through the introduction of dual-format DVD drives that can use either type of disc. DVD Dual format DVD writer capable of writing to both DVD+R and DVD-R discs (Notice that this only has an R not an RW so this format is not capable of using rewritable discs). DVD Dual format DVD writer capable of writing to DVD+R, DVD-R, and DVD (rewritable discs). DVD DL The same as the DVD above, but also capable of writing to ‘dual layer disks that hold 8.5 GB per disk (twice the capacity).

If you do not see at least one of these, you are not buying a DVD-burner and are most likely only receiving a normal CD burner. Be careful of anything that says only DVD, as that drive will only play DVDs, not burn them.

Those willing to spend a little extra may want to consider getting second ordinary CD/DVD-ROM drive. This can be nice for copying direct from one CD/DVD to another, or for browsing a data disc while burning another, etc. A second drive is usually a pretty inexpensive upgrade, and also common on a lot of desktop systems. Many of the machines you look at may already have a second drive.

Monitor (for desktop systems)

The type of monitor you get is really a personal preference. Flat-panel monitors are a good choice because they are light and take up much less space than the bigger TV-style CRT monitors. Flat panel monitors have become increasingly popular and most computers come with them now. CRTs do tend to be less expensive and are still regarded to have the best picture for the price, though this difference is unlikely to be noticeable for most people. It is worth mentioning that although CRTs are less expensive to start, they draw large amounts of power, cost money to dispose of when you upgrade, and are difficult to fit on the residence hall desks.

The actual viewable screen size is completely up to you. A larger screen is nice when you have several windows open or want to view high-resolution pictures on your computer. Still, most people will be perfectly content with a 15 screen. It is worth mentioning that the measurements of a CRT monitor are a bit deceiving as they measure the size of the picture tube, not the viewable screen; a 19 inch CRT's viewable area is closer to 17 inches. LCD monitors are measured based on their actual viewable size, so a 17 inch LCD has about the same viewable size as a 19 inch CRT. Once again, you will have to decide what's right for you; however, remember to think of how much the monitor weighs before you decide you would like to carry it to your residence hall.

Surge Protection

A decent surge protector is an absolute must. At any one time in the residence halls, there can be many microwaves, TVs, and computers running; this can mean disaster for your computer's delicate electronics. Many students make the mistake of plugging refrigerators into the same power strip as their computer, which is a big problem. Refrigerators cause normal surges when the condenser is flipped on; this can heavily damage your computer over time and should be avoided at all costs. We replace many destroyed parts in both laptops and desktops each year because of power surges; many of which are quite expensive when compared to the cost of a surge protector. Many people confuse simple power-strips with surge protectors, but a power-strip will not protect your computer from surges that could damage it. Below is a quick explanation of how to tell if you have a power-strip or a surge protector

Battery backups and UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supplies)

Battery backups are much like a surge protector except that they incorporate a battery. This provides a few minutes to allow you to save what you may be working on in the case of a power outage. This can also help save your computer from power dips as well as surges, both of which can cause damage to a computer's components. This is not relevant if you purchase a laptop computer as they are equipped with batteries of their own. Desktop computers however do not have batteries and will immediately turn off in the event of power loss. The price of a small battery backup (5 minutes of supplied power) will be comparable to that of a quality surge protector. Although it is not necessary, battery backups can save you the headache of retyping a paper if something throws the electrical breaker on the wing of your residence hall. A breaker being thrown is not an uncommon occurrence in the residence halls because of the power drain of microwaves, refrigerators, and televisions; so it pays to be prepared. Much like surge protectors, battery backups can be purchased from many major electronics retailers.

All of the Extras

Many computer retailers will try to barrage you with extras such as printers, bags, batteries, and even T-shirts that you do not necessarily need. We recommend that if the computer you choose comes with a free printer or one within your budget that you do bring one to campus. Printers are available for all students to use in the residence hall labs but are not always available due to their high demand, so it is good to have a backup plan for those late-night cram sessions. Most of the other extras are up to the individual, but be sure to shop around for the best price before committing to buy them from the retailer.

A brief caveat about Software

Many computer retailers will offer software bundles with the computer, such as Microsoft Office. Be aware that as a UW student you will be eligible to receive discounts on select software through the WISC catalog . WISC prices are often much cheaper than the bundle software you can purchase with a new system. This is a great way to save money on your initial computer purchase.

Antivirus software

Another program you are likely to be offered is antivirus software. While it is important to have some form of virus protection, this is something that you can get for free through the University. So rather than purchasing an antivirus package, you can download it from this site.