Getting a new computer
During the past few months we have discussed the various components of a computer: how they are made, how they work, and how they contribute towards overall system performance. Even though hardware items needed for networking and sound processing such as modems and soundcards are yet to be introduced, I thought this might be a good time to recap what we have discussed so far, together with a few tips for those who are planning to buy new computers during this festive season. This has been prompted by many requests by our readers for such “advice”.

Your computer could still be among the third most expensive class of commodities they would purchase during their lifetime after housing and transportation, so it is only logical that you pay sufficient attention to the details before making a commitment. This may sound impossible to you if you think that computers are ‘unfathomable’ machines, but this is not true. They are only as complex as you perceive them to be.

First, analyze your requirements. I emphasize “your requirements” because most people end up buying a computer that suits the particular sales person’s needs rather than their own. So the first step is to build up a clear idea about what you need from your computer and how you will use it. Technology changes so rapidly, that it does not make sense to buy a computer today for what you plan to do in another year or even six months. So when you consider your requirements, consider your present requirements, be careful not to plan too far into the future. Once you know what you need, it will help if you can prioritize them.

Then you can proceed to find out how you can meet the requirements that you have specified. Here you may even seek advice from knowledgeable friends. You can get an idea of the prices of different components, and weigh your budget with your requirements and also how far you can meet those requirements. This is the most difficult phase of the whole process, especially for those with budgetary constrains. You may have to make your choices according to your priorities. Then it will be easy to design your system according to your needs.

Once the system is designed, you have to be careful in choosing a good and reliable vendor. It is worth researching all possible options before selecting a vendor.
While offering a good price, the vendor should also be able to provide a reliable and efficient after-sales service. If and when your computer starts giving you trouble, the after-sales service (if such a thing is available) will be your only saviour.

Before making the purchase, it is advisable to inspect the system components for visible defects. After you make the purchase, make sure you receive all the necessary software (hardware drives, other system software and applications) and a complete user manual. The Guarantee Certificate is one of the most important documents and make sure that the terms are consistent and unambiguous. Now who said buying a computer was so difficult? Write in with your comments and views to technopage_lk@yahoo.com

Pitfalls that you should avoid
Hurrying the purchase: Most people do not spend nearly as much time on major purchases as they should. There is no way to do a good job of buying something important if you are in a hurry. Ironically, in many cases someone will decide on a new system in an hour, even though they will have to wait days until they receive it and can set it up anyway! Imagine how much time it would cost you later on if you buy the wrong system or one of poor quality?

Buying whatever is convenient: Many people will only consider purchasing a PC from whatever stores are close to them. Putting the cart before the horse: Most PC buyers never bother to take the critical first step of assessing what their requirements are. Jumping to “the solution” before you understand “the problem” is a trait that leads to poor results.

Magic numbers and buzzwords: The PC industry is strewn with magic numbers and buzzwords that supposedly represent performance, and PC buyers unwittingly use these to guide their purchase decisions. In reality, the impact of differences in these numbers and acronyms ranges from moderate to absolutely nothing, while less high-profile characteristics that affect system usability are ignored.

Over-purchasing: The days when you had to spend several hundred thousand rupees to get a PC are gone. While a decade ago purchasing too little PC was a problem, today buying too much is more prevalent. Many purchasers are convinced by unscrupulous vendors that they need a certain amount of hardware “for the Internet”, or that they should “buy for the future”, when the rapidly changing PC market means that this is almost always a waste of money.

Buying imbalanced Systems: As a result of not understanding requirements analysis and system design, systems are often purchased that are crippled by being under-powered in one key component, and over-powered on another. Mismanaging vendors: Most buyers hardly research before they select a vendor, even though vendor selection is one of the most important aspects of purchasing a PC.

The buyer, particularly on mail order systems, often mishandles the purchase itself. Problems with vendors are often not resolved to the satisfaction of the customer, and many people let vendors get away with behaviour that ranges from inappropriate to illegal.

Buying PCs the same way as toasters: Even if sold as integrated units, PCs are called “systems” for a reason, as they are comprised of components that must be individually considered. Despite the efforts of many manufacturers to get customers to nonchalantly view PCs as household appliances, they aren’t.

Being intimidated: Computers are fairly complex, but buying a good PC is not brain surgery. Far too many people write off the task as “unknowable” and turn for advice to salespeople who often know less about PCs than someone who takes even a couple of hours to read up on the subject. In the process, they place themselves at the mercy of a person who often has very different motives and interests than their own.

Improve your computer literacy
Stealth virus
A computer virus that actively hides itself from anti-virus software by either masking the size of the file that it hides in or temporarily removing itself from the infected file and placing a copy of itself in another location on the drive, replacing the infected file with an uninfected one that it has stored on the hard drive.

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