It's all the more important that we make an informed and well researched choice rather than being influenced by what a salesperson feeds you with.
Let us start stepwise and try and reach a better conclusion with these tips.
- First and foremost, consider what your purpose of buying a PC and its use to you is.
The market these days are full of a wide variety of configurations and options to suit your requirement.
Let us consider this -a.
) If your basic use of a computer is to surf the Internet, email, type some documents and basic excel work, you would do well buying a lighter configuration rather than high-end systems with costly processors.
In such a case, a cheaper Dual Core Processor would be a better choice than a relatively costly Core 2 Duo system.
b.
) If you need mobility and you do not need to work for long hours and do not use heavy applications, a laptop could be a better option.
It consumes upto 90% lesser power and provides ease of use, but beware - its repair and service are very expensive! - Are there any budget constraints? If so, always try Not to compromise on quality and reliability.
What that means is, stick to a brand that is reliable, is offering a good warranty and after sales service and where you can get easy and quick support.
What you can review is - do you really need the configuration that you have shortlisted? Do you really need for example - a 350 GB Hard Disk? Do you really need a 2.
6 GHz Core 2 Duo processor? Review and reassess your configuration requirements or any accessories you are buying.
But try not to go in for a local or assembled product with non-genuine software/parts that you later have to deal with. - Decide on a good brand - Survey and review the brands available to you and take your decision based on the reputation of a brand, their models available in the market that fit your requirements and most importantly, are they providing support in your area.
In the long run, you would have peace of mind with a service center near your home rather than having to carry your PC to a far flung crowded place. - Select a good dealer - A dealer is whom you would have to deal with in future.
So sometimes, a good, friendly and considerate dealer can be more important than a brand.
If you have more than one dealer for the same brand near you, select the one more convenient, better established, and at a personal level more forthcoming. - Always buy a PC with original software bundled - It is always better to purchase a system that comes preloaded with original, licensed software.
With this, you are entitled to regular updates, security alerts and offers from their websites.
In case of any problem, you can report you license key and get support from them.
The system remain more secure and trustworthy than what you are with a pirated operating system. - Check on the warranty - Different models from the same brand carry different warranties.
Make sure you have read the one that your particular model comes with.
If a few hundred more is giving you 2 years extra warranty period, go in for it. - Take a good UPS- New PC, get a new and reliable UPS.
Very often your old UPS might not be giving proper voltage or backup after say 4 years of use.
Its always advisable to get a fresh one for a new system or have the old one properly checked and serviced. - Take delivery in front of you- All said and done, you don't want a "display piece"being sent to your home after all the effort and expenditure! I have experienced this personally.
Take delivery of the company sealed piece in front of you.
Don't leave it to the dealer to have it sent to your home later.
They can very easily pack a display piece from their showroom and send it to you. - Insist on having dust covers! Lastly, having spent so much, you are well entitled to a free set of dust covers! Yes, insist on having them.
Specially in a place like India, dust is the single most relevant cause of most PC problems at a hardware level.
Do have them, and do use them!