Tips For Purchasing and Caring for Your Personal Computer (PC)

Do your Research

• Do some research on the different brands and types of computers and their capabilities, then make your decision based on your current and future needs.
• Shop around and find a company that suits you best in terms of price, quality items and customer service, etc.
• Get as much information about the company's reliability and service
• Find out what recourse there is if a problem should arise.
• Find out all requirements for proper care of the equipment

Take someone who knows about computer operations

• A person who understands computer jargons and knows about computers inside out is less likely to be swayed into buying something that is not suitable to your needs.

Know the basics

• Learn basic computer jargons. This way, you will have a better understanding of what you are looking for, what to expect and what the sales person is saying to you. Example:

Processor- this affects the overall speed of your personal computer (PC). The central processing unit or CPU is the "brain" of your computer and hosts other devices such as your hard drive, memory chips, floppy disk drive, etc.

Memory - This reflects the processing speed of your PC and is measured in Megabytes (MB). The more memory or RAM your computer has, the faster the processing and capacity to do more.

Hard Drive - This is a small permanent storage device in your PC where all programmes and data are stored.

Modem - This allows you to send and receive information over phone lines or networks. At present you will need a modem to be able to connect to an Internet Service Provider (ISP). A 56K modem is currently acceptable.

Get a warranty

• A warranty simply means that the store will accept liability if the computer 'goes bad' within a certain time period. The company 
  will replace, fix or refund your money during this warranty period. A reasonable warranty is three (3) months.
• Be clear on all terms of warranty. Some companies only promise warranty on labour and not parts.
• Ask about after sales service. Are there certified computer 
  service technicians?

Inspect your purchase

• Whether you take it home from the store or it is delivered, check to ensure you get all you paid for. Small items such as mouse 
  and mouse pads might be omitted from the package.
• As soon as you set up your PC in your home, turn it on and try 
  all the functions it is supposed to carry out to ensure that it is working
• If the PC was delivered, inspect for damage.

Remember!

• Turn off computers when not in use
• Cover computer i.e., monitors, speakers and keyboards to 
  prevent dust build up, which can lead to overheating of 
  computer parts.