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The Dell Guide to buying a pc

It's not as daunting a task as you may think. And once you've evaluated your needs, made your decision and purchased your new system, you can rest assured in the knowledge that you're getting the most from that PC and from your PC investment.

Intel® is one of the leading processor manufacturer, offering the popular Intel® Pentium® III (and now 4) as well as the CeleronTM processor. Consider at least an 800 MHz processor for a desktop.

Celeron: This is a proven platform for the value-conscious buyer. Celeron is designed to enhance performance of business applications and provides for speedy searching of the Internet.

Pentium: Pentium processors offer more power-enhancing features, allow for real-time video editing and streaming video and provide a realistic 3D and animation experience. Pentium processors are generally faster and more powerful than Celeron processors.

Memory: Random Access Memory (RAM) is measured in megabytes (MB) and is the place where the PC temporarily stores information that is on its way to or from the processor. When the PC is turned off, data stored in RAM disappears.

After processor speed, memory is one of the most important determinants of system performance. In fact, increasing the amount of memory in your PC is one of the most economical ways to increase its performance. As with processors, the higher the number, the faster the computer, generally speaking.

RAM also helps determine how many programs can effectively be open and running simultaneously (for example, writing a report, receiving email and listening to a CD at the same time). Average systems have 128 MB of RAM, but more of them are now coming equipped with 256 MB. If you are planning on using your PC for digital video editing or downloading music, you should consider 256 MB as a minimum amount of RAM.

Storage capacity is measured in gigabytes (GB), with a GB* being equal to a thousand MB. Again, bigger is better, and many PCs now come with "monster" hard drives of 40 or 60 GB. As we mentioned, the size of your hard drive will depend on the kind of things to be stored. Music, graphics and video, for example, can take up a great deal of space.

Floppy Disk: This is the unsung hero, the "old reliable" storage system that is often overlooked by users of today's super-fast, large-capacity PCs. This is a 3.5" square disk that holds about 1.44 MB of data, and is easy to use. Consider it standard equipment on your new PC.

Other types of storage:

CD-ROM: Many PCs also come with a CD-ROM (compact disk, read-only-memory) as standard equipment. CD-ROM speed is measured by its "X" number, so a 48X max drive is faster than a 32X max drive. When you see the designation "32X/48X," you're looking at the range of speeds available on that particular drive. Most software programs and a great deal of material are now offered on CD-ROM, since it offers so much more storage capacity than a floppy disk. For example, while the data capacity of a floppy is 1.44MB, a CD-ROM will hold 650MB of data.

CD-RW:The "RW" stands for "Read/Write." In addition to playing or reading CDs, this drive can "write" or create them as well, using special writeable CD blanks. This is an ideal upgrade from a standard CD-ROM since it can come in very handy for storing large amounts of data without using up valuable hard drive space. One of the primary uses of this is to burn music files. It's also an ideal way to backup valuable data and to transport and/or share large amounts of "static" data (files that will not need to be updated multiple times) between computers.

DVD:Reads CD-ROMs with the added benefit of being able to play DVD data, such as movies, on the PC. NOTE: if you plan to use a DVD to view movies, you will need an MPEG decoder card.

ZIP® :While a floppy disk holds 1 MB of data, a ZIP can hold 100 MB, 250 MB and soon, 500 MB on special cartridges; think of it as a small, removable hard drive. It's a good idea to consider investing in a Zip drive for storage and transport of important data files.

You may want to consider a CD-ROM with a ZIP drive or a CD-RW as the extra/portable storage functions for your new PC.

1For hard drives, GB means 1 billion bytes; accessible capacity varies with operating environment.

You will see the monitor size followed by the Visible Image Size, which is the actual image size that you see on the monitor. Monitors will be listed like this; 19" (18.0" viewable).

Desktop PCs offer a wide range of monitors, ranging from 15" (13.8" viewable) up to 21" (19.8" viewable). Most monitors are roughly as deep as they are wide, so a 21" monitor will be about 21" deep. This can be a real consideration in a cramped room or home office! You may want to consider one of the new flat panel LCD monitors. While generally more expensive than conventional monitors, they take up very little desk space, which can make them well worth the expense.

NOTE: A standard monitor is 15". Things to look for as the price of the monitor goes up are a sharper picture and more precise adjustment controls.

Video Card: This is the interface between the computer and the display monitor. Most of today's video cards are high-end, with all the capabilities and features you needed. But if you will be running programs that will require sophisticated video or graphics capabilities you should consider a top-of-the-line card. Video cards are measured in MB's and generally the higher the MB, the better the video quality.

At minimum, this consists of a CD-ROM drive, a sound card (or built-in sound support) and speakers.
It can also include a DVD drive and MPEG decoder card for viewing movies, as well as other add-on devices for recording music.

Sound Card: PCs are available with either an integrated sound card or a separate sound card typically referred to as a PCI Card. A quality sound card can help you turn your computer into an exciting multimedia entertainment system, so you can listen to CDs, watch DVDs & streaming videos, hold online voice chats with your friends or hear the chillingly realistic sound effects from the latest computer games.

When choosing which sound card is right for your computer consider that the higher the impact of sound is to your computer experience, the more consideration you should place on getting the top of the line sound card. "PCI" refers to Peripheral Component Interconnect , a set of high-speed conductors developed by Intel. PCI supports Plug and Play and allows for the connection of multiple peripheral devices to your system. If the PC is going to use used as a stereo system, upgrading the sound card will enhance the clarity of the sound.

Sound cards also offer something called "Wavetable support," which allows them to play various instrumental sounds more realistically for better effects in games and other applications.

Speakers: Just as with a stereo system, speakers are essential to hear what the sound card produces. If you are looking for your new PC to replace your existing stereo system, you should look a purchasing a high quality speaker system that includes satellite speakers and a sub-woofer to increase the overall sound experience.
If the PC will be used to access the Internet from a dial-up connection from home or other locations, or if the PC will be used for faxing, a modem is a must. If you decide to add a modem, be sure to order your system with the modem factory-installed.

If you will be using your PC to access a network (or intranet), your PC must have an NIC. Be sure to check with the network before you purchase to be certain that their network is Ethernet-based and uses standard Ethernet NICs.

There are two kinds of NICs available - 10BaseT and 100BaseT. The numbers refer to network speed, so you'll be better off with a 10/100BaseT NIC for maximum flexibility.

Microsoft Productivity Software Bundles to choose from:

Microsoft Works Suite 2001 - A great value for home computing needs. This is a great package of software for the first time computer buyer. This package offers you the ability to write letters and reports with Word 2000, research topics with Encarta Encyclopedia, design a personalised greeting card with Works 6.0, explore the Internet with Internet Explorer and more.

Microsoft Office XP Small Business - Ideal for everyday small business tasks. Microsoft's latest release of its Office productivity products has been designed to improve your personal, collaborative and extended computing experience. Some highlights include Smart Tags allowing you to get information when and where you need it; new Task Panes which will simplify the way you work; enhanced formatting, editing, and search features; expanded recovery options; speech recognition; and advanced file sharing including integrated messaging and SharePoint Team Services.

Microsoft Office XP Professional Edition - The Ultimate Microsoft Software Suite, Offering all the key applications for today's business. This includes all the great products and features described for Office XP Small Business plus two more two popular business applications: PowerPoint 2002 and Access 2002. This powerful database and professional presentation software rounds-out the key software applications needed by today's serious computer user.

Printer speed is a key component to look at when comparing printers. Printer Speed is measured in Pages-Per-Minute.

12 - 14 pages-per-minute is fairly standard for black and white printing, while standard colour printing speeds range between 7 - 8 pagers-per-minute. There are many excellent printers available from recognised, reputable manufacturers.

Scanners:: Scanners are surprisingly affordable! In fact, you can find a scanner that scans photos and other items with acceptable accuracy and colour representation for around the same price as a printer. Scanners enable the transformation of items from print to electronic version and are especially helpful when incorporating graphics into presentations, web page design and much more.

Keyboard: For a little bit more than a standard keyboard, you can upgrade to a keyboard specially designed for comfort or to aid in browsing the Internet.

Optical Mouse: An optical mouse operates without a track ball. This can be very helpful in a computing environment where food and drink are often major elements.

"Staying in touch" peripherals: Your PC can provide a channel of communication between your system and other PC's that far exceeds mere telephone calls. Web cams, digital cameras and other can allow computer users to augment their email to visit "up close and personal" via computer.

To get the most our of your technology investment, Dell recommends that you purchase your PC from a company that allows you to customize it to your exact requirements.

A standard configuration might offer 64MB of RAM, which you can easily increase to 128; "standard issue" might include a 10 GB hard drive, but you can specify 20, 40 or more. By the same token, if the system starts out with a 40 GB hard drive, you can just as easily save some money by specifying a smaller one. It's absolutely the best way to get exactly what you want and need.

Technical support considerations: This is a key factor. If you need help connecting a printer, adding memory or installing drivers for other peripherals, will you have access to professional assistance? Will there be a telephone number connecting you to a knowledgeable, education-specific technician to answer questions and assist with other issues? Will you have access to extensive online support? Be sure your PC's manufacturer will be available to help with the kind of technical support that can let you rest easy. The leading computer manufacturers include lifetime telephone technical support with your system purchase.

Service and Limited Warranty: Your new PC may be one of the most important purchases you make for your household. So be certain that it comes with a rock-solid standard limited warranty. Some computer manufacturers, such as Dell, also offer customers the option of purchasing additional warranties and on-site service