So You’re Looking for Cheap Computers… 

Before you run out to buy that cheap computer, you need to stop and do a little planning. It will save you time and money. It will help you make a much better decision on what computer to buy. Get a piece of paper. Write down the following about your computer and software.

First, exactly what do you want to do with your computer? Write down at least ten things you want to do with your computer. For example, do you want it to do your accounting for your home business? Maybe, you want to surf the Internet. There could literally a hundred things your computer could do. Be sure to write at least ten tasks.

Now that you’ve got your computer tasks listed, go through your list. Put the number 1 by what you think is the most important task. Then, put 2 by the next most important computer task. Continue this until you have a priority list from 1 to 10 of the things your cheap computer will do.

Next, look at your most important computer task. What software will you need to accomplish this task? Do a little homework. Ask questions. List the requirements of the software. For example, how much memory and disk space will you need? What operating system does the software use? Are there any other computer peripherals required by the program… for example a scanner. How much does the software cost? Are there any on-going costs for support or software updates?

Repeat this procedure for at least your top five computer tasks. Then, carefully summarize what you’ve learned. For example, do all the software programs run on a windows operating system? What is the minimum memory required? What is the maximum memory required? How much disk space is required for each computer program?

Once you’ve summarized the requirements of these software programs, you will begin to see a pattern. This will give you a pretty good idea on the minimum requirements you’ll need to consider when purchasing that cheap computer.

Now, don’t just buy the first cheap computer that meets your software’s minimum requirements. A new generation of computers comes out every 12 to 18 months. You don’t want to buy another computer a year from now… that’s not a cheap computer.

You should try to buy a computer as cheap as you can that will have some reserve left over after you load your software onto it. Computer memory and hard disk space are very inexpensive. Get as much as you can afford. You probably don’t need the fastest computer, but don’t purchase the slowest one either.

Finally, if you know someone that is selling a computer that exceeds your requirements, chances are you can save a lot of money on your computer. It is usually much cheaper to buy a computer from another person, than from a computer store. If you know the person, they will probably be honest with you. You’ll get some good ideas on what to expect from the computer… besides, they may even throw in some software for free. 

About The Author:

Larry Andrew is an educational consultant, author and publisher of www.ez-software-review.com. Learn how to purchase cheap, reliable and quality software for your home, school and business.