Chapter 2

Box of Shineys

First off I would like to highlight that there are 3 different type of personal computers (PC's).

• Netbook: Small things. Look like laptops. Usually with a screen size of 8 to 12 inches. Pretty much useless for anything more than checking emails or browsing the web. Keys (for me, anyway) tend to be too small to do any sustained type of typing. I find that I tend to miss type often on them. And often end up with cramp.
• Notebook/laptop: OK for occasional use for a home user. Tucks away when not in use, just like a normal computer in use. The name is misleading though. Laptop suggests you can sit it on your knee and use it all day. Don't. You will hurt after a while. Having the laptop so low down is an unnatural way to type. Your neck will hurt from looking down at it, and the heat it gives off will make it very uncomfortable to use on your lap. If you insist on getting a laptop, use it on a tray, laptop stand or table, and I highly recommend getting a USB mouse to go with it. Track pads can be awkward to use after a while, especially if playing games or trying to edit photos. They can be quite powerful machines, but their life expectancy is very short. And apart from memory upgrades, they are often hard to upgrade and repair.
• Desktop: This is pretty much any computer that is designed to be on a desk. In this category, we have towers, shuttles and, er, desktops. These are always the best value for money, the most customisable, and the best for prolonged use. Always get a dedicated desk for it, and set it up so the keyboard is at elbow height and your eyes are level with the top of the monitor.
  Generally it is understood that a PC is out of date once it gets to 18 months old. I will let you into a little secret here. My computer, which I call Bertha, is 16 years old. How I hear you ask? She started life as a computer bought in 1996. Back then she was a 200mmx Intel CPU, 32 Meg of ram with a 4 gig hard drive in a white case, with a 12 inch VGA monitor, and a web cam for £1,999. Since then, she has never been replaced as a whole. She just kept getting upgraded. In that 16 years, her upgrades have come to a total of around £1,600. That is £100 per year since new to keep her up to date. This is easily the cheapest and best way to go with computers.

OK, so you decide which type of computer you want. Now how do you go about getting one?

Most people, for arguments sake we will call them lemmings, will go to the large high street outlets. This is fine. And to be honest, I expect someone without a computer to do this. Just remember this though. No matter the spec of the personal computer you have just bought, you can find it up to 50% cheaper on line. Note I say up to. The internet has companies that rely on name to up their profits. Cough dell cough.

Now I have said it before, and I will say it again. I have a personal dislike to Dell computers. I am not saying that they are crap, but I do not like them. So I better explain why.

1. ten years ago or more, if you wanted to upgrade a dell computer, you had to buy dell parts. They would manufacture the internals so you could not use generic parts.
2. Drivers. I once had to fix a dell computer. Getting dell drivers at the time was a pain in the arse. You had to have Win OEM number, serial number, and other such info that was long gone.
3. Out of the 186 computers I have fixed so far, I have injured myself 6 times. Each of these times was on a dell.
4. Peoples attitudes. The amount of times I have heard 'It shouldn't break because its a Dell.' Seriously, in my experience, if it's a dell its harder to fix. In fact one computer repair guy I once knew charged a £20 surcharge on the repair of dell computers, regardless of faults. Partly to put people off using him to repair them as he hated doing so.
5. A friend once ordered a dell computer. The cost was £1,300. I told her I could build a computer for a similar spec for at least 25% less. She told me if I could she would give me 50% of the difference. So I did. Including monitor, windows Vista and peripherals, my computer came in at £815. that earned me £240. (2007 prices)

So there you have it. My reasons for not liking dell. Please understand though that Dell have millions of happy customers. And I respect that. But I will never be one of those customers.

Anyway, high street retailers are OK for your first computer, but do not go for the expensive option. As I said in chapter 1, get a basic machine for your first computer. A standard desktop will be fine.

But what if you want to upgrade?

Lets assume you have a standard desktop. You find it gathering dust. You use it maybe 2 or three times a week. In this instance I would recommend you get a laptop. Used properly, it will be issue free.

But what if you find your desktop lacking? You want to play games, but the computer isn't man enough? Then upgrade it. For £80 you can get more RAM and a GFX card. Your £400 desktop has just become a games rig.

Find other people within the household fighting over the computer? Your next option is to buy a second computer. You only need one printer, router, scanner. The second one could even be a laptop.

You find out about watching films on-line for less than a SKY TV subscription. Then what? Easy. Connect the PC to the TV. Or get a dedicated computer for the TV. This is where shuttle PC's come in handy.

Your options are endless. I hope to cover them all in future subjects.