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Buying a computer has become a bit like buying a used car. Virtually every retail outlet is trying to sell you, not the best computer for you, but the best computer for their bottom line. There really is no friend of the computer buyer in the retail world. With that in mind, I offer the following tips:

Begin your computer buying as far ahead of time as possible. If you make the computer an impulse buy, your chances of getting stuck increase greatly. I suggest about 2-3 months' lead time so you have time to study what is out there and get to know the market.

If you don't have that lead time, go directly to manufacturers' websites. Manufacturers such as Dell will often allow you to "configure" your PC without actually checking it out and purchasing it. This way you can compare different options. Grab a notepad and take notes, as you can tell by the "add on" prices what optical drive or hard drive is preferable to others. Use this information when you head to the store to look at computers on the shelf.

Decide what you are going to use your computer for, and buy around that. If you are using your computer for email, websurfing, and basic office applications, you do not need the latest and greatest technology, and can often find incredible deals in "last generation" computers that are still very functional rather than being roped into the newest technology. To put it simply, you don't need a quad core processor to play solitaire. I am a computer tech and I work on the latest and greatest, and while I have more advanced machines, my favorite (and the one on which I am typing this) is an old Pentium 4 computer that is about 6 years old. I've had it for two of those years and have invested about $200 in it. That makes it a better value than a $1000 computer that lasts five years.

Check for expansion slots. For this reason, your best value in computer purchasing at this time is a tower. Tower computers are larger, and bulkier than the more popular small computers, but they are more durable because they cool more efficiently, and they usually offer more options for expansion. A good rule of thumb (although certainly not universal) is, the smaller the computer, the shorter the lifespan. Noteboooks are wonderful but there are limited choices if you want to upgrade your system, and they have a short life expectancy.

If you can, look for reviews on the computers you are considering. Depending on your needs, software bundles may also be something to consider (although, if you are a student, check with the IT department of your school district or university. Being a student may entitle you to substantial discounts on software that are not advertised).

If you need to skimp on anything, don't skimp on RAM memory. It is inexpensive, and you will find that insufficient RAM is the first place your computer will bottleneck. Sales people are quick to sell higher end processors, but the truth is, the processor is not usually the culprit when a computer lags. Look for the quality of the processor rather than the speed.

Last but not least, bribe your favorite techie. Most techies, honestly enjoy computer shopping and would be happy to help. And they can guide you through the usual salesperson BS.

Learn more about this author, Timothy Justice.
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