Western Digital WD Elements 2 TB USB 2.0 Desktop External Hard Drive

Western Digital WD Elements 2 TB USB 2.0 Desktop External Hard Drive





Thursday, March 17, 2011

Home Computer Buying Guide

Review

"Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe." - Abraham Lincoln

Prior to Buying

Western Hard Drive

Every tool is designed for a exact function. Hammers were made to drive nails and shovels were made to dig holes. Computers are tools designed to send or store information and then do something with that information. The something is what needs to be thought about when purchasing or designing a new home computer. When buying a new computer the intended use should be thought about well before visiting a store or browsing an online merchant. The singular most foremost ask to reconsider when buying a computer is not how much you have to spend, or who manufactures it, but what you intend to do with it. Once this ask is answered you can then conclude what hardware and software will be requisite to accomplish your goals.

Home Computer Buying Guide

Some citizen struggle when trying to talk this question. To help conclude the primary intended purpose ask yourself what you spend the most time doing while on the computer and what you would like to do but cannot because of your current limitations. If 90% of your time is spent reading emails, using collective network sites, or browsing online merchants and 10% is spent Watching movies then you will want to spend in a singular kind of computer (probably a laptop, netbook, or tablet). If you would like to replace your media town (Tv, Dvd, etc) and use your computer to Watch movies or Tv then a distinct principles will need to be purchased.

Individual hardware Components

Buying a new computer can be a daunting task especially if you are unfamiliar with the personel components which consist of a computer. The following is a list of tasteless components and their function within the computer. These hardware components also sway the price of the computers hardware more than any other components in a pre-built system.

Cpu (Central Processing Unit)

Purpose:

Processes instructions from software and does something based upon those instructions. The faster the Cpu the more instructions can be processed during a fixed time period. Cpu quantity is measured by the number of Cpus ready (both corporeal chips and "cores"). The speed a Cpu can process instructions is measured in Gigahertz (Ghz)

Example of a tasteless specification:

Intel 3.2Ghz dual Core Cpu

Translates in to:

Processor made by Intel, which has two "cores" which run at 3.2Ghz each. Effectively giving you two 3.2Ghz processors.

Ram (Random entrance Memory)

Used to store instructions used by the Cpu. Ram is the area which the Cpu can store instructions and accomplish calculations. Think of a black board which can be used to accomplish math problems. The more area for the Cpu to do calculations the faster a computer can perform. This is what citizen refer to when they mention "computer memory". Ram quantity is specified in Gigabytes, the speed in which information can Move in and out of Ram is measured in Megahertz.

Example of a tasteless specification:

Corsair Xms 8Gb (2 x 4Gb) 240-Pin Ddr3 Sdram Ddr3 1600 (Pc3 12800)

Translates in to:

Two 4 Gigabyte Ram components made by Corsair which uses the Ddr3 chipset and form running at 1600Mhz.

Hard Disk

The hard disk is the component which really shop all of your data. Photos, emails, documents and music are examples of files which might be on your hard drive. The hard drive is also where your operating principles resides. Hard drive capacity is measured in Gigabytes and the speed of the drive is measured in Rpm (Rotations per minute)

Example of a tasteless specification:

Wd Caviar Blue 1 Tb 7200 Sata

Translates in to:

Drive made by Western Digital which has 1 Terabyte capacity, runs at 7200 Rpms and uses Sata as the interface.

Many citizen are confused as to exactly how much "stuff" a hard drive can hold. As an example, a 1Tb drive can store approx. 200,000 photos or 76 hours of video or 250,000 songs. Hard drives are routinely oversold by computer manufactures for this very reason. Many citizen end up using less than half of the storehouse space on a drive. It is one area that can be bought small and increased relatively cheaply later on.

There are many other components which together make up a computer, however, the Cpu, Ram and hard disks will conclude the cost of your computer's hardware more than any other singular item.

Types of Software

A computer is only a useful tool if we can do something useful with it. Software is created to allow us to do something with the hardware. The something is why citizen use and buy computers at all. Hardware as spellbinding as it might look is not useful to us if it cannot run the software we need. Software can be grouped into two broad categories, Operating systems and Applications.

Operating Systems

Operating systems manage and operate the computers resources and make them ready to applications. Every computer has an operating system. The most tasteless operating principles on home computers is a version of Windows by Microsoft. Microsoft's current version is Windows 7, former versions which are still in use consist of Windows Vista and WindowsXp. Other operating principles consist of Apple's Os X and Linux.

Applications

Applications are the programs which we use to make the computer do something. All applications have "minimum principles requirements" these requirements are the bare essentials which the computer must possess in order to naturally run the software. Running software at the minimum requirement will ordinarily cause disappointment with the application and the computer as a whole. Minimum principles requirements can consist of hardware and software qualifications such as hard disk space, Cpu speed, Ram quantity and operating principles type. Always, always, always, check minimum principles requirements prior to purchasing software as most retailers will not accept opened software for return (unless there is some type of corporeal fault with the software)

Common types of applications include

Office Suites

Microsoft Office

OpenOffice

iWork

Home Finance

Quicken

iCash

Ms Money (legacy)

Home Media

iTunes

Roxio

Small business Management

Quickbooks

Computer Security

McAfee

Symantec

Eset

Communication Tools

Skype

iChat

There is an application for roughly every conceivable use of a computer, chances are if you are seeing for an application to solve a type of problem someone has created it.

Putting it all together

Now that you have an insight of the components which make up a computer you can match those to your primary use of the computer. Pick the applications you wish to use, conclude the principles requirements for those applications and buy a principles which meets at least the minimum requirements.

The cost of a home computer will be thought about by the software which comes with it and hardware which is used to preserve the software. In funds systems retailers will commonly contribute the operating system, a basic office suite and basic safety software. The hardware will be whether older technology (6 to 12 months old) or newer technology artificial by an "off brand" construct and offer a low number of upgradeability. These systems are commonly chosen by citizen who are seeing for primary uses such as email, online shopping and straightforward home finance. citizen with primary uses such as home business management, online communications (Skype, iChat) and some form of media usage (listening to music, Watching movies, etc)will Pick systems with a faster Cpu, more Ram, greater hard disk space and more upgradeability than what funds systems provide. Home computers which are built for arduous gaming, heavy media usage, in depth small business management or an eye towards the greatest return on speculation will use the latest and fastest hardware thereby addition their cost.

A final point to reconsider when purchasing a new home computer is that of durability. Most hardware warranties are for a singular year yet many citizen use a home computer between 3 and 5 years before purchasing a new system. Extended warranties can sometimes be a good speculation depending upon what the warranty covers, the cost of the warranty, the availability of quality computer preserve in your area and your budget.

Home Computer Buying Guide

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