by Don Hildenbrand

Created on: January 16, 2009

So you're going to buy a new computer. Congratulations! Your new computer will give you years of enjoyment and productivity, and, used correctly, will allow you to do things that you never dreamed you could do.

There are some questions, however, that you want to ask yourself before buying that new toy. These questions, and the answers that you provide, can guide you to buying the very best computer for you that will be your friend and companion for many moons to come.

First, and most important, what do you want to use your computer for? This question, more than anything else, will make a difference in what you purchase, and how well it will suit your needs.

The truth is, many computer retailers will want to sell you the latest and greatest computer on the market, with all the bells and whistles available to humanity today. "This computer" they will joyously proclaim, "will play every game imaginable, balance your checkbook with no input from you, and even make your coffee and wash your car on the weekends!"

But do you really need all those features?

A good definition of a good computer is a computer that does what you want it to do, when you want it to do it, and does it fast enough that you don't become frustrated with the computing experience.

When building a system for a client, the first question I ask is, "What do you want to do with your computer?" If the answer is that they simply want to write letters and surf the internet, I know that I can build them a much less expensive computer. Basic computer tasks, such as word processing, internet surfing, and light photo editing do not require the most powerful CPU or graphics card. They can usually get along just fine with a less powerful CPU, and the integrated graphics and sound capabilities already included on the motherboard. This alone will greatly reduce the cost of your new computer.

On the other hand, if you wish to play the latest and greatest games, your computer will require a faster processor, preferably a duo or quad core CPU that can process instructions much more quickly. You will want at least a 2 GHz processor, and at least 2 Gigabytes of RAM (memory). You will want a relatively powerful graphics card with at least 256 megabytes of video RAM, or more preferable, 512 megabytes. You will also want the largest hard drive you can afford, preferably no smaller than 250 Gigabytes. If your computer will be running Windows Vista, the best policy is; the more the merrier! All of these additional options will,

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