Buying a Computer For Dummies<sup>®</sup>, 2004 Edition,9780764544880

Buying a Computer For Dummies^®, 2004 Edition

by Dan Gookin (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, author )

ISBN13: 9780764544880

ISBN10: 0764544888

Format: eBook

Pub. Date: 2003-01-01

Publisher(s): For Dummies

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Summary

Realizing that purchasing a computer is a significant investment, beloved author Dan Gookin assists readers in finding a tailor-made computer that suits specific needs while also offering longevity Delivers all the know-how in an understandable, enjoyable, friendly style so readers don't feel overwhelmed by all the choices they'll face when buying a computer Walks readers step by step through all the new developments: CD burner/DVD combo drives, processor upgrades, flat panel displays, new modem and networking options, new peripherals, and more An essential reference for first-time computer buyers looking to make a wise purchase, and for anyone looking to get an additional computer

Author Biography

Dan Gookin is the original For Dummies author

Introduction	p. 1
About This Book	p. 1
And Just Who Are You?	p. 2
Icons Used in This Book	p. 2
Where to Go from Here	p. 2
Understanding the Whole Ordeal	p. 3
Buying a Computer (Step-by-Step)	p. 5
The Five Steps to Buying a Computer	p. 6
Figure out what you want to do with your computer	p. 7
Look for software	p. 8
Find hardware	p. 10
Shop for service and support	p. 11
Buy your computer	p. 13
Don't Sit Around Waiting to Buy!	p. 13
Basic Training	p. 15
Basic Parts	p. 16
Console	p. 16
Monitor	p. 17
Keyboard	p. 18
Beyond the Basic Parts	p. 18
Mouse	p. 18
Speakers	p. 19
Modem	p. 20
Printer	p. 20
Scanner	p. 21
Network options	p. 22
Peripherals and other expansion options	p. 22
Computers from A to Z	p. 23
What Is a Computer?	p. 23
The traditional desktop computer	p. 24
The Macintosh option	p. 25
Laptops for every kind of lap	p. 28
Palmtop computers	p. 30
Gaming consoles	p. 30
Workstations and servers	p. 31
Mainframes	p. 33
"How Much Will This Cost?"	p. 33
Introduction to Hardware and Software	p. 35
Hardware: The Hard Stuff	p. 35
The microprocessor (the main piece of hardware)	p. 36
Basic hardware	p. 37
Software, the Other Hard Stuff	p. 38
The operating system	p. 38
Applications and other programs	p. 39
Putting It All Together	p. 40
Hardware and Software Overview	p. 41
All about Mr. Microprocessor	p. 43
The Microprocessor Rules	p. 43
The name game	p. 43
Families, names, and flavors	p. 44
The measure of power	p. 46
Zooooom! (Microprocessor speed)	p. 46
Some Microprocessor Q&A	p. 47
"What does '[blank] or greater' mean when talking about a microprocessor?"	p. 47
"Are all Pentium processors the same?"	p. 48
"Should I buy an upgradable microprocessor option?"	p. 48
"What's the cache?"	p. 49
"Is the Celeron a good Pentium compatible?"	p. 49
"Should I buy a non-Intel CPU if it saves me money?"	p. 49
"What is Socket 7?"	p. 50
"What's the 'heat sink'?"	p. 50
"What is 'hyperthreading'?"	p. 50
"Do computers with dual processors run faster than computers with single processors?"	p. 50
Memory Stuff (Temporary Storage)	p. 53
Say Hello to Mr. Byte	p. 53
Memory Madness	p. 55
Behold the chip!	p. 55
The size of the thing (capacity)	p. 56
Fast memory and faster memory	p. 56
Goodbye, Mr. Chips!	p. 57
Some technical memory terms	p. 58
Main Memory versus Video Memory	p. 60
Banks o'Memory (RAM)	p. 61
How Much Memory Do You Need?	p. 62
Disks of Every Type (Permanent Storage)	p. 63
Why Disk Storage?	p. 63
What is a disk, and what is a drive?	p. 64
Types of drives	p. 65
Capacity	p. 66
Hard drive speed	p. 67
CD-ROM drive speed	p. 68
Cache or buffer memory	p. 69
Fixed or removable?	p. 69
The mystical drive controller	p. 70
Disk Driving Your Computer System	p. 71
Picking a hard drive	p. 72
Your shiny, removable storage	p. 73
Gotta have a floppy drive too	p. 74
The Zip disk alternative	p. 75
Monitor and Graphics Stuff	p. 77
The Graphical System	p. 77
The Monitor Part	p. 78
CRT or LCD?	p. 79
Judge me by my size, will you?	p. 81
I'll take two, please	p. 82
The Graphics Adapter Part	p. 83
Video RAM	p. 84
The 3-D thing	p. 84
How it plugs in	p. 85
Read them labels!	p. 86
Keyboard, Mouse, and Joystick	p. 87
Keyboards	p. 88
Mice and Other Nonfurry Pointing Devices	p. 89
Joysticks and Game Controllers	p. 91
Expansion Options	p. 93
Connecting Stuff by Using Ports	p. 93
The USB port	p. 94
The Firewire port	p. 95
The printer port	p. 95
The serial port	p. 96
Mouse and keyboard ports	p. 97
The joystick/MIDI port	p. 97
A Full House of Cards	p. 98
Why you may need expansion slots	p. 98
Types of expansion slots	p. 99
Modems, Networking, and Sound	p. 101
Say Hello to Mr. Modem	p. 101
Modems are measured by their speed	p. 102
Your typical, everyday dial-up modem	p. 103
Faster modems: Cable, DSL, satellite	p. 104
Networking Computers	p. 105
Networking hardware to get with the computer	p. 105
Networking hardware to buy after the purchase	p. 106
Sound Off!	p. 107
The bleeping circuitry	p. 107
Tweeting and woofing	p. 108
Adding a microphone	p. 109
Special Issues for Notebook and Laptop Computers	p. 111
Laptop Considerations	p. 112
Special (expensive) microprocessors	p. 113
Disk drives	p. 113
A battery of issues	p. 114
The skinny on laptop weight	p. 115
The anti-mouse	p. 115
Laptop communications	p. 116
Security issues	p. 116
Laptop Expansion Options	p. 116
"I've seen these ports before!"	p. 117
The PCMCIA port	p. 117
Your Computer's Operating System	p. 119
Understanding Operating Systems	p. 120
Working with you	p. 120
Controlling the software	p. 121
Controlling the hardware	p. 122
Operating System Survey	p. 123
Windows XP, Home, and Professional	p. 123
Mac OS	p. 124
Linux	p. 125
Palm OS	p. 127
The antique, the immortal, and the dead	p. 127
Everything You Wanted to Know about Software (But Were Afraid to Ask)	p. 129
Doing the Internet	p. 130
Browsing the Web	p. 130
Getting your e-mail	p. 130
Productivity Software	p. 131
Word processing	p. 131
Databases	p. 132
Home-budgeting software	p. 132
Spreadsheets	p. 133
Graphics	p. 135
Recreation and Education	p. 136
Games	p. 136
Education	p. 136
Utility Programs	p. 137
Programming	p. 138
Software for Nothing and Almost Free	p. 138
Public domain software	p. 139
Freeware or open source	p. 139
Shareware	p. 139
Demo software	p. 140
Beware of illegal or pirated software	p. 140
Finding Your Perfect Computer	p. 141
Shopping for Software	p. 143
How to Buy Software	p. 143
Taking a test drive	p. 144
Other sources for test-driving	p. 145
How Helpful Is the Software?	p. 146
Types of help you find in software	p. 146
Don't forget support!	p. 147
After You Find What You Want	p. 148
Stuff you find on the software box	p. 149
Filling in the form: Example 1	p. 150
Filling in the form: Example 2	p. 151
At last: The software worksheet	p. 154
Matching Hardware to Your Software	p. 157
The Hardware Worksheet	p. 157
Filling in the worksheet (step-by-step)	p. 159
Choose an operating system	p. 159
Pick a microprocessor	p. 159
Calculate your memory needs	p. 160
Calculate your hard drive storage	p. 161
More storage decisions	p. 162
Other hardware stuff	p. 163
A Sample for You to Review	p. 164
Surveying the Shopping Landscape	p. 167
Reading a Computer Ad	p. 167
Finding computer advertisements	p. 168
Dissecting an ad	p. 168
Recognizing common tricks used to make an advertised price look really cheap	p. 170
The myth of the free (or almost free) computer	p. 171
Some Q&A Before You Rush Out to Buy	p. 171
"Should I get a quote?"	p. 171
"Can I haggle?"	p. 172
"Should I get a discount off the manufacturer's suggested retail price?"	p. 172
"Isn't there any way to get a deal on a computer?"	p. 172
"Is it better to buy from a noncommissioned salesperson?"	p. 173
"What about buying a used computer?"	p. 173
"What about refurbished stuff?"	p. 173
"You didn't say anything about the swap meet"	p. 174
Where to Buy	p. 174
Your locally owned and operated computer store	p. 175
National chains	p. 175
The megastore	p. 176
Mail-order brand names	p. 177
Mail-order pieces' parts	p. 177
Tips for Online Shopping	p. 179
Buying on the World Wide Web	p. 179
Finding a place to buy	p. 180
Placing your order	p. 181
Comparison shopping	p. 183
Sleazy tricks used by online retailers	p. 183
Tracking Your Order	p. 184
Searching for Service and Support	p. 185
How to Find Service and Support	p. 185
Service Questions	p. 186
"How long is your warranty?"	p. 186
"Do you fix the computers at your shop?"	p. 186
"Can you fix my computer at my home or office?"	p. 187
Support Questions	p. 187
"Can I phone someone to ask questions?"	p. 188
"Do you offer classes?"	p. 188
Support Issues for Buying on the Internet	p. 189
Buying the Computer	p. 191
A Review of the Five Steps	p. 191
What to Spend "Extra" Money On	p. 192
When Do I Get My Computer?	p. 193
Don't Ever Put a Deposit on a Computer!	p. 194
Hey, Bud! You're Ready to Buy	p. 194
A few last-minute buying tips	p. 195
The final step is to ...	p. 195
Helpful Hints for Computer Setup	p. 197
Check the Shipment	p. 198
Setting Up the Computer	p. 198
Open the boxes	p. 198
"What can I toss out?"	p. 200
"Should I keep the boxes?"	p. 200
Putting It Together	p. 201
Where will Mr. Computer live?	p. 201
Preparing to plug things in	p. 202
Setting up the console	p. 202
Attaching the mouse and keyboard	p. 203
Attaching other devices	p. 203
Setting up the monitor	p. 203
Plugging in other stuff	p. 204
Finishing up	p. 205
Turning the Thing On	p. 205
What to turn on first?	p. 205
Turning it off	p. 206
Breaking It In: The Burn-In Test	p. 206
What's Next?	p. 206
Dealing with software	p. 207
Dealing with other hardware	p. 207
Understanding Your System	p. 208
Living with Your Computer	p. 209
Time to Get a Printer	p. 211
Different Printers for Different Printing	p. 211
Printer speed	p. 212
The print quality	p. 212
How much?	p. 213
Laser Printers Go "Fwoom Pkt Shhh!"	p. 214
Ink Printers Go "Thwip, Sft-Sft-Sft, Clunk!"	p. 214
Buying the Printer	p. 215
What does your software say?	p. 216
Printer shopping	p. 216
Printers do not come with cables!	p. 216
Printers don't come with paper, either!	p. 217
Buy some extra ink	p. 217
Setting Up the Printer	p. 218
Printer pieces' parts	p. 218
Connecting the printer cables	p. 219
Telling your computer about the printer	p. 219
Moving to Your New Computer	p. 221
Moving Over Hardware	p. 221
Antiques: Don't bother	p. 222
Monitors	p. 222
Disk drives	p. 222
Memory	p. 223
Expansion cards	p. 223
Printers	p. 224
Modems	p. 224
Other peripherals	p. 224
Transferring Your Software	p. 225
Reinstalling applications	p. 225
Moving over data	p. 226
Eliminating the preinstalled bonus crap	p. 227
The Part of Tens	p. 229
When to Buy, When to Sell, When to Upgrade	p. 231
Unlike Wine and Cheese, Computers Don't Age Well	p. 231
Should You Upgrade?	p. 232
Which hardware to upgrade first	p. 232
My $.02 on upgrading your microprocessor	p. 233
Upgrading software	p. 234
Upgrading your operating system	p. 234
Should You Sell Your Beloved Computer?	p. 235
Buying a Used Computer	p. 236
Ten Common Mistakes Made By First-Time Computer Buyers	p. 237
Buying Hardware before Software	p. 237
Dropping Brand Names	p. 238
Shopping for the Cheapest Computer System	p. 238
Being Unprepared for the Sale	p. 238
Forgetting Some Extra Items	p. 238
Not Paying by Credit Card	p. 239
Not Reading the Setup Manuals	p. 239
Forgetting That Software Is Expensive	p. 239
Buying Too Much	p. 239
Not Counting Learning Time	p. 240
Ten Warning Signs	p. 241
Industry "Standards" versus the Ads	p. 241
Out-of-Date Stock	p. 242
Money Down Required	p. 242
Missing Pieces	p. 243
No Address in the Mail-Order Ad	p. 243
Salespeople Too Busy to Help	p. 243
Salespeople in the Store Ignore You	p. 243
No Classroom	p. 244
No Software Documentation	p. 244
Ten Other Things You Should Buy	p. 245
Mousepad and Wristpad	p. 245
Power Strip	p. 246
Surge Protector	p. 247
UPS	p. 247
Printer Cable	p. 248
Printer Paper	p. 248
More Inky Stuff	p. 248
Removable Disks	p. 249
CD Caddy	p. 249
A Roll of Paper Towels	p. 250
Ten Tips and Suggestions	p. 251
Your Computer Has a Clock	p. 251
Get a Second Phone Line	p. 252
After a While, Reread the Manuals	p. 252
Put a Timer on That Internet	p. 253
Get Antivirus Software	p. 253
Subscribe to a Computer Magazine	p. 253
Join a Computer Users' Group	p. 253
Buy a Great Book	p. 254
Remember That You Are in Charge	p. 254
Don't Let the Computer Run Your Life	p. 254
Index	p. 255
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.

Buying a Computer For Dummies®, 2004 Edition