An Introduction To Computers: 2005

Recently I have been having conversations about buying a computer. I have not realized how many people out there are using machines that they barely understand. So I'd sit down and explain things to them as best I know how. Then it dawned upon me - why not just write am article or a series of articles that would help all you lost souls out there. I know that with today's choices of computers and notebooks coupled together with marketing teams of large multinational corporations, it is very enticing to go out and buy the first computer you can get your hands on. Lo’ and behold – when you get to the computer malls, it’s like a fish market. Every sales person is eyeballing you and just as soon as your feet lands inside one of the stores you are asked a million questions that you can’t answer. And so you either give them the cold shoulder, listen to them babble like idiots or you try to sound intelligent by asking all the wrong questions.

In today’s technologically driven society, the need to have a computer is evidently increasing. Snail mail is rapidly being replaced electronic mail or Email; handwritten résumés are no longer acceptable and you can now include sound and special effects in what used to be simple straight-to-the-point presentations. Yes, it is the information age and nothing transports and digests information as fast nor as efficient as computers. Almost every urban household sees a need to purchase a computer for whatever reason that may exist; be it to complete unfinished office work, to prepare thesis, to play games or simply to connect to friends the world over.

The computer is man’s new best friend.

Yet, going out to purchase a computer can be a daunting task and even more so if you are not very computer literate. All those technical mambo-jumbo can easily sway the weak to running for their lives. Whatever on Earth is RAM and Gigabyte or Megahertz and what is a CPU running at 1.86GHz with 2Mb cache and 400 FSB. All this jargon makes no sense to the average person.

Purchasing a computer is not as easy as shopping for groceries. At the supermarket you can just look at a product for what it is and just choose a brand that you are familiar with, pick it up and pay at the cashier. It’s done. When you get home, you simply open the packaging and consume. Even purchasing a television is not so hard. Just decide how big a television you can afford and simply choose a brand that suits you. Done.

A computer however is a whole different ballgame. There is technical jargon that bewilders the average person. How does one expect not to get ripped off at the first store they walk into? And what about the fast growing pace of the computer industry. Even computer literate people have trouble keeping up with the constantly changing technology. Every three months there is something new. Every six months to a year there is a technological revolution. How can you purchase a computer and not have the feeling of getting ripped off?

As you may have figured, there are factors that you have to consider before you actually decide what you are going to invest your money into. One thing that you do not want to is making a purchase based solely on the price tag. Computer vendors know when they are speaking to someone who is computer literate or illiterate. Within the first two minutes they would have figured out how much you know about the product you are planning to purchase. The next thing they will do is find out how much you are willing to part with and finally they will package you a shining object that is worth very little for the price you will pay.

These articles are going to help you make your selection nearly if not at least – perfect. I am going to try and give you as much information as you can digest in a simple yet comprehensible text that would make you sound like an expert when you do venture out into buying a computer.