by Gene Poschman

Created on: July 15, 2009

You are going to buy computer. You know why you want one. You have decided on the platform you want, MAC or PC. You know if you want it to be a notebook. You have picked out the applications you want to run. Monitor, hard drive, keyboard, mouse, memory, and peripherals; you have studied up and you have determined what you want and need. What's left? Support!

For all the rest of it you can find articles in magazines and on-line, but what kind of technical support do you need? That depends on how much a turnkey system you want and how much you really know about computer hardware and software.

Technical support is extremely important, especially for the new computer owner. Unlike any other electronic gadget you may have, the computer is the most complex piece of equipment you will own. The computer can perform as a video player and recorder from both local media and media over the Internet. You can use the computer as a telephone, a FAX machine, and with the right peripherals it can act as a copier and a printer. With the correct software you could own a full-blown recording studio or video editing studio and at a fraction of the cost of a professional one. You may not be able to produce every thing that can be generated by their "professional" counter parts. But you can come close enough to create a credible product.

When you add the myriad of software applications that are available, your computer can become a storehouse of information that you may not be able to live without. If something goes wrong with your computer then the importance of technical support cannot be stressed enough. What kind of technical support you need depends on you, and how much you know about computers, the software you are using, and how to maintain and back them up. The more of a novice you are the more support you need. The lazier you are, the more support you need. The busier you are the more support you need.

Technical support starts with where you are buying your computer. If you are a novice, then purchase your system from a local vendor with a great reputation for technical support. You want a 24 hour call service, a local repair location, and possibly in home repair options.

If there is no local retailer near you with the necessary support options then use one of the major computer suppliers on the Internet that can provide as many of the options I have mentioned.

Hardware today is extremely reliable, but failures do happen, make sure to protect yourself as

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