I remember my first computer. My father brought it home from work. It was from some company named IBM. I had never heard of them and for that matter, I had never heard of a home computer. I saw pictures of computers that were the size of small homes and I was excited at the thought of seeing one in my own house…a smaller one of course.

It was in 4 boxes, each one being a little heavier than the last. When we opened the box, what I saw was a whole lot of metal. It was thick, heavy, bulky, and the keyboard made a really loud clicking sound every time a button was pushed. I can still feel the crisp, clickety sensation of that old IBM model M keyboard.

Things have changed

Things are much different now. A computer less than a half inch thick can do many times the amount of work in a fraction of the time. Computer prices continue to fall and, according to analysts, it is only a matter of time before we see computers priced at less than $100.

Like all purchases, we are always looking to get the most for our money. If you’re in the market for a new computer, you know that there are a multitude of options, brands, and styles. How do you find what’s right for you?

Choosing the right computer

First, have no fear. It is a little known fact that many computer companies outsource the parts. Often the raw materials that are used to make it run are from the same company regardless of the brand that you buy. That’s good news because you can feel good about the fact that if you stay with a brand name computer, it is probably going to do just fine so don’t get too caught up in which of the brand names to choose.

Like all electronics, the fastest and biggest doesn’t always equal value. Unless you are doing specialized work, somewhere in the middle of the bells and whistles spectrum is going to work well for you.

Specialized needs are something different. If you are a graphic designer, architect, engineer, or have another profession that relies on large scale software, you should talk to somebody in your industry but you will most likely need a higher powered computer.

“It was so last year” is ok for the average user. Don’t pay for the latest and greatest technology. Often software is not written for the newest, most advanced computers so don’t waste your money. Let the price come down before buying. Also take a look at discontinued models for even more savings.

Don’t buy a bunch of accessories you’re not sure you need right away. You may find a printer on sale right now, but your child may end up using the computer lab exclusively for printing, and in these tight times, none of us need to be spending money on things that end up not being used.

Impulse buying is alive and well with computers. Designer laptop bags, and top of the line software can be purchased later, after you know for sure that you’re child will need it. In fact, there are free alternatives to most software in nearly every genre, you just have to know where to look.

Like anything else. Do your research. Look at consumer reports, size up the deals, and go try out the different models.

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