ll new computers come with various packages for office productivity, Internet applications, music, graphics, media and other functions. It is important to remember though, these software packages are usually very basic and may not fill all your needs. Top of the line photo editing and graphics software can cost as much or more than your computer itself. Sometimes you can get special deals on professional software packages at the time you purchase your computer. It is usually a smart choice to buy these packages if Computers are so affordable today that the average family may have 4 to 6, or more computers in their home. And with the way new features are added on an almost weekly basis, it isn’t long before someone in the family has a seriously outdated system.

So now it’s more important than ever to know what to look for when purchasing a new desktop computer or laptop for you or a member of your family.

Of course, one of the first considerations is what kind of computer are you going to buy, a Mac or a PC. Apple or Mac computers were traditionally used in the graphics industry, so many graphics professionals swear by them. However, many prefer the wide availability and ease of use of the PC that uses the Windows operating system. Both are good tools to help you perform various computing tasks and only you can determine your specific needs.

A second consideration is what you are going to use the computer for. If you just want a computer to surf the internet and listen to music, a basic model will do. But if you want to use your machine to edit large photos, use 3d software, high end graphics software or play high end games, a computer with lots of memory, a fast processor, upgraded video card and a large hard drive is a must.

Your monitor is also an important factor in putting together a computer that will suit your needs. Flat panel monitors are the norm today and you would be hard pressed to find a system that offers only the old style CRT monitor. The cost of a flat panel monitor has come down from several thousand dollars less than 3 years ago to only a few hundred dollars today. Getting the largest monitor you are comfortable with and setting your monitor to its highest resolution is something I highly recommend. After working in the graphics industry for several years, I feel it is important to have as much "screen real estate" as possible. When you are working with several software applications at the same time having a small monitor just doesn’t cut it.

Don’t forget software when counting the cost of a new computer. All new computers come with various packages for office productivity, Internet applications, music, graphics, media and other functions. It is important to remember though, these software packages are usually very basic and may not fill all your needs. Top of the line photo editing and graphics software can cost as much or more than your computer itself. Sometimes you can get special deals on professional software packages at the time you purchase your computer. It is usually a smart choice to buy these packages if t

or Mac computers were traditionally used in the graphics industry, so many graphics professionals swear by them. However, many prefer the wide availability and ease of use of the PC that uses the Windows operating system. Both are good tools to help you perform various computing tasks and only you can determine your specific needs.

A second consideration is what you are going to use the computer for. If you just want a computer to surf the internet and listen to music, a basic model will do. But if you want to use your machine to edit large photos, use 3d software, high end graphics software or play high end games, a computer with lots of memory, a fast processor, upgraded video card and a large hard drive is a must.

Your monitor is also an important factor in putting together a computer that will suit your needs. Flat panel monitors are the norm today and you would be hard pressed to find a system that offers only the old style CRT monitor. The cost of a flat panel monitor has come down from several thousand dollars less than 3 years ago to only a few hundred dollars today. Getting the largest monitor you are comfortable with and setting your monitor to its highest resolution is something I highly recommend. After working in the graphics industry for several years, I feel it is important to have as much "screen real estate" as possible. When you are working with several software applications at the same time having a small monitor just doesn’t cut it.

Don’t forget software when counting the cost of a new computer. All new computers come with various packages for office productivity, Internet applications, music, graphics, media and other functions. It is important to remember though, these software packages are usually very basic and may not fill all your needs. Top of the line photo editing and graphics software can cost as much or more than your computer itself. Sometimes you can get special deals on professional software packages at the time you purchase your computer. It is usually a smart choice to buy these packages if

to use your machine to edit large photos, use 3d software, high end graphics software or play high end games, a computer with lots of memory, a fast processor, upgraded video card and a large hard drive is a must.

Your monitor is also an important factor in putting together a computer that will suit your needs. Flat panel monitors are the norm today and you would be hard pressed to find a system that offers only the old style CRT monitor. The cost of a flat panel monitor has come down from several thousand dollars less than 3 years ago to only a few hundred dollars today. Getting the largest monitor you are comfortable with and setting your monitor to its highest resolution is something I highly recommend. After working in the graphics industry for several years, I feel it is important to have as much "screen real estate" as possible. When you are working with several software applications at the same time having a small monitor just doesn’t cut it.

Don’t forget software when counting the cost of a new computer. All new computers come with various packages for office productivity, Internet applications, music, graphics, media and other functions. It is important to remember though, these software packages are usually very basic and may not fill all your needs. Top of the line photo editing and graphics software can cost as much or more than your computer itself. Sometimes you can get special deals on professional software packages at the time you purchase your computer. It is usually a smart choice to buy these packages if

lars less than 3 years ago to only a few hundred dollars today. Getting the largest monitor you are comfortable with and setting your monitor to its highest resolution is something I highly recommend. After working in the graphics industry for several years, I feel it is important to have as much "screen real estate" as possible. When you are working with several software applications at the same time having a small monitor just doesn’t cut it.

Don’t forget software when counting the cost of a new computer. All new computers come with various packages for office productivity, Internet applications, music, graphics, media and other functions. It is important to remember though, these software packages are usually very basic and may not fill all your needs. Top of the line photo editing and graphics software can cost as much or more than your computer itself. Sometimes you can get special deals on professional software packages at the time you purchase your computer. It is usually a smart choice to buy these packages if

ll new computers come with various packages for office productivity, Internet applications, music, graphics, media and other functions. It is important to remember though, these software packages are usually very basic and may not fill all your needs. Top of the line photo editing and graphics software can cost as much or more than your computer itself. Sometimes you can get special deals on professional software packages at the time you purchase your computer. It is usually a smart choice to buy these packages if they suit your needs because they will be priced at a discount when bundled with your system. Waiting to buy software after you’ve made your computer purchase could end up costing you several hundred dollars.

Lastly, it is important to decide whether you want a brand name computer or want a custom made or whitebox system. Brand name computers such as Dell, HP and Toshiba have the advantages of being well known and reliable, giving you the extra security of knowing that more than likely, you won’t have any problems with your machine. And if you do, you will usually be able to get it fixed without having to worry about one of these companies going out of business. On the other hand, if you are more comfortable with working on your own system, then a whitebox custom system may be for you. You can save lots of money and if anything goes wrong, you can just rip your computer apart and fix it yourself.

There are several more details to learn when buying a computer and you can spend many hours just learning about specific components or software packages for your machine. Hopefully though these tips will help you get started finding the new computer you need for yourself or a family member.