If you're planning on buying a computer as a gift, the first thing to consider is the person. Are they computer savvy or computer illiterate? There are different criteria for each situation. If you're purchasing for someone who knows computers, you'll want to look at something with enough power and functions to satisfy their needs. If you're going to buy a computer for someone that is a novice in front of the keyboard, you'll want to keep it simple and common.

Before I continue, I would strongly suggest that you don't purchase a used computer. Yes, there are plenty of pre-owned systems that will provide exactly what you need, but there are also a lot of used computers out there with hidden problems waiting to be discovered. Stick with a new system and give the gift of a new system with a good warranty and customer support. I would also recommend staying away from buying a Mac unless the recipient is already familiar with it. Not that there's anything wrong with a Mac, but a PC is better from a market saturation point of view. There are a lot more resources for PCs than Macs.

Lets start with the easiest things first. Are you looking for a laptop, desktop or tower system? If you're buying this computer for someone on the go, like a college student then I would suggest a laptop. If the recipient will be using it for their home or office, then I would go with a desktop or tower. If they have a lot of desk space, go with a desktop computer. If things are a little cramped, opt for a tower. Before you buy anything, you could even take some measurements to ensure you buy something that will fit the space available.

It has looks, but does it have brains? After deciding on form, you'll need to wade in and decide on function. The brain of any computer is called the central processing unit (CPU). Just like the brains in our heads, the more powerful the CPU the more things it can do and the faster it can do them. There are a number of different types of CPUs, really too many to get into so we'll concentrate on the kind of power you want. In the world of computers, power equates to speed. If you want to run average programs at an average speed, don't choose any CPU less than 1 GHz (Gigahertz). The fastest retail CPU right now is around 4 GHz but isn't worth the tremendous amount of money it costs unless you're running NASA from your loft. If you're looking for something fast but economical, stick to the 1.5-2.5 range.

Next up is memory. Like the CPU, there are

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