Everything You Need to Know Before Buying a Computer Common sense talk- money saving solutions Dr. Jan Pittman Vanderpool

PC (Windows) Versus Apple (MAC) PCMAC CostX Available Software (Business) X Available Software (Home)X Ease of UseX ReliabilityX Vulnerability (viruses, etc.)X

Desktop versus Laptop (Notebook) DesktopLaptop Cost (relative)X Performance (raw power)X CPUX PortabilityX Screen Size & ClarityX Permanent storageX MemoryX

Definitions-Desktop Desktop computer-May consist of five or more components; – Main frame which houses the CPU, memory, permanent storage, DVD or CD drive, video adapter, sound adapter, Ethernet connector, keyboard, mouse, speakers and display – Non-portable configuration whose components may weigh more than twenty pounds Review sites – – tml tml

Definitions-Laptop (Notebook) Personal computers designed for mobility in five broad categories as defined by size & weight; – Netbook/Subnotebook: <10.5" x <1.5" x <3.5 lbs – Ultraportable: 9-11" x 8-10" x lbs. – Thin and light: 11-15" x <11" x 5-7 lbs. – Desktop Replacement: >15" x >11" x >7 lbs. – Luggables: >18 x >13 x >12 lbs. Review sites – –

Definitions-CPU CPU(Central processing unit)- This is the brains of the computer and its power is generally measured in clock speed (cpu cycles). Todays CPUs clock speeds will exceed 2 GHz on desktops and 1.6 GHz on laptops. Caveat-Rated clock speeds are not linear measurements- a 3.0 GHz P4 is actually less powerful than a 2.0 GHz Core 2 Duo

Definitions- Memory Memory (RAM)- non permanent storage measured in megabytes (MB) or preferably, gigabytes (GB). Desktops should have at least 2 GB of RAM while laptops may have 1 GB but should have 2 GB of RAM Caveat- Windows XP can only recognize 3.28 GB of RAM. Anything more is wasted. Windows 7 (32 bit) can recognize 4 GB and Windows 7 (64 bit) can recognize 192 GB

Definitions-Storage Permanent Storage (Hard drive) – Unlike RAM, data stored in permanent storage remains after the power is turned off. Storage, like RAM, is measured in gigabytes (GB). Desktops should have at a minimum 500 GB of storage while laptops may suffice with 250 GB Caveat- If you plan to store pictures, videos or music, you should opt for as much storage as possible (terabyte plus)

Definitions-Display Desktop display (monitor) – New systems should have an LCD flat panel display of at least 19 diagonal with a minimum resolution of 1280 x Higher is better. Laptops display – Depending upon the size laptop the screen dimensions will vary from 7 to 19 (too heavy) Minimum resolution of 1280 x 1024 Caveat- The video card must have its own fast processor and enough memory to support active screens

Definitions-Display Screen size – The screen size is the measurement of the displayable area of the screen from the lower corner to the opposite upper corner of the display (7-20 notebook, desktop) Aspect ratio – The aspect ratio refers to the number of horizontal pixels to vertical pixels in a display. Traditional displays used a 4:3 aspect ratio. Most new widescreen monitors use either a 16:10 or 16:9 aspect ratio. Native resolution – All LCD screens can actually display only a single given resolution referred to as the native resolution. This is the physical number of horizontal and vertical pixels that make up the LCD matrix of the display.. Contrast ratio – Basically a higher contrast ratio will mean that the screen will tend to have deeper blacks and brighter whites. Connectors – Most LCD panels have an analog and a digital connector on them. The analog connector is the VGA or DSUB-15. The common digital interface is the DVI connector. Stands – Many people don't consider the stand when purchasing a monitor but it can make a huge difference. There are typically four different types of adjustment: height, tilt, swivel and pivot.

Operating System Windows is the predominant operating system found on PCs – Windows XP-released October 30, 2001 and is currently the most widely installed PC operating system (est. >400 million worldwide) – Windows Vista-released January 30, 2007 and has been plagued by problems ever since its release – Windows 7- released October 22, 2009 purportedly to fix all past mistakes (installed on all new, major brand computers) Mac OS X-current version code named Snow Leopard

Manufacturers PCs are manufactured (assembled) by either 1 st tier, 2 nd tier or whitebox companies (53% of all systems sold) – 1 st tier companies HP Dell Toshiba Lenovo – 2 nd tier companies Acer Sony Sharp – Whitebox companies Your local computer store Caveat- Buyer beware; smaller stores may not be there when you need them but conversely, may be able to provide you with personalized service when you want it

iPad vs. Kindle From $ $829.00From $ $489.00

Kindle-Fact Sheet Slim: Just over 1/3 of an inch, as thin as most magazines Lightweight: At 10.2 ounces, lighter than a typical paperback Books in Under 60 Seconds: Get books delivered wirelessly in less than 60 seconds; no PC required 3G Wireless: 3G wireless lets you download books right from your Kindle; no annual contracts, no monthly fees, no hunting for Wi-Fi hotspots Global Coverage: Enjoy 3G wireless coverage at home or abroad in over 100 countries. See details. Check wireless coverage map. Paper-Like Display: Reads like real paper without glare, even in bright sunlight Carry Your Library: Holds up to 1,500 books Longer Battery Life: Now read for up to 1 week on a single charge with wireless on, a significant improvement from the previous battery life of 4 days Built-In PDF Reader: Your Kindle can now display PDF documents natively. Native PDF support allows you to carry and read all of your personal and professional documents on the go. Read-to-Me: With the experimental Text-to-Speech feature, Kindle can read newspapers, magazines, blogs, and books out loud to you, unless the book's rights holder made the feature unavailableSee detailsCheck wireless coverage map

Kindle Fact Sheet cont. Large Selection: Over 480,000 books and the largest selection of the most popular books people want to read, including 105 of 112 New York Times® Best Sellers, plus U.S. and international newspapers, magazines, and blogs. For non-U.S. customers, content availability and pricing will vary. Check your country. Out-of-Copyright, Pre-1923 Books: Over 1.8 million free, out-of-copyright, pre-1923 books are available to read on Kindle, including titles such as The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, Pride and Prejudice, and Treasure Island. Learn more Low Book Prices: New York Times® Best Sellers and new releases from $9.99. When traveling abroad, you can download books wirelessly from the Kindle Store or your Archived Items. Free Book Samples: Download and read first chapters for free before you decide to buyCheck your country. Learn more

iPad Fact Sheet Watch the iPad video All of the built-in apps on iPad were designed from the ground up to take advantage of the large Multi- Touch screen and advanced capabilities of iPad. And they work in any orientation. So you can do things with these apps that you cant do on any other device. Safari iPad is the best way to experience the web. View whole pages in portrait or landscape on the large Multi- Touch screen. And let your fingers do the surfing. Learn moreLearn more Mail Theres nothing like the Mail app on iPad. With a split-screen view and expansive onscreen keyboard, it lets you see and touch your in ways you never could before. Learn moreLearn more Photos A vivid LED-backlit IPS display makes viewing photos on iPad extraordinary. Open albums with a tap. Flip through your pictures one by one. Or play a slideshow and share your photos. Learn moreLearn more Videos The 9.7-inch high-resolution screen makes iPad perfect for watching HD movies, TV shows, podcasts, music videos, and more. Learn moreLearn more

iPad Fact Sheet cont. Videos The 9.7-inch high-resolution screen makes iPad perfect for watching HD movies, TV shows, podcasts, music videos, and more. Learn moreLearn more YouTube With the YouTube app designed specifically for iPad, videos are even easier to find. And on the amazing iPad display, theyre more fun to watch. Especially in HD. Learn moreLearn more iPod Reach out and touch your songs. View your album art full-size. iPad makes music look as good as it sounds. Learn more Learn more iTunes Millions of songs, thousands of movies and TV shows, and so much more. Browsing and buying are just a tap away. Learn moreLearn more App Store Youll find more than 150,000 apps on the App Store, and iPad can run almost all of them. Including everything from games to productivity apps. Learn moreLearn more iBooks Reading is a joy on iPad. Text looks crisp and bright. Pages turn with a flick. And you can buy new books from the iBookstore. Just download the free iBooks app to get started. 1 Learn moreLearn more

iPad fact Sheet cont. Maps See more of the world with iPad. Find locations easier than ever with street view, satellite view, or new terrain view all using Google services. Learn moreLearn more Notes With its large display and onscreen keyboard, iPad makes it easy to jot down quick notes and keep important information on hand. You can even yourself reminders. Learn moreLearn more Calendar Work, home, and everything in between. Your schedules are easy to read and easy to manage on iPad even all at once. Learn moreLearn more Contacts With Contacts on iPad, you can see much more than just names and numbers. And you can do more with them, too. Learn moreLearn more Home Screen With just one press of the Home button, you have access to every app on your iPad. Learn moreLearn more

iPad Fact Sheet cont. Spotlight Search No matter what youre looking for, Spotlight Search can help you find it. Learn moreLearn more Accessibility Universal access is built into iPad. So right out of the box, Apple makes it easy for people with disabilities to enjoy all that iPad has to offer. Learn moreLearn more iWork The iWork productivity applications that you know and love on the Mac Keynote, Pages, and Numbers have been completely redesigned for iPad. 2 So you can create great-looking presentations, documents, and spreadsheets. All using just your fingers. And while theyre easy to use, theyre also the most powerful productivity apps ever built for a mobile device. Keynote Create a presentation with custom graphic styles, elegantly designed themes, stunning animations and effects, and powerful new features designed just for iPad. Learn moreLearn more Pages Pages has everything you need to put your words into beautiful documents. Including Apple- designed templates and easy-to-use formatting tools. Learn moreLearn more Numbers Numbers includes over 250 easy-to-use functions, an intelligent keyboard, flexible tables, and eye-catching charts. So you can create compelling spreadsheets in just a few taps. Learn moreLearn more

Network Appliance $ Internet access devicehttp://

Netbooks Typical configuration Intel Atom N450(1.66GHz) 10.1 WSVGA 1GB Memory 160GB HDD $199- $459

Notebooks Windows PC NotebooksApple Notebooks $299 & up $899 & up

Notebooks- Configuration PC 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo 2 GB DDR3 SDRAM 300 GB Hard Drive DVD+/-RW-CD-RW 15 in 1280 x 1024 Display Apple 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo 2GB DDR3 SDRAM 250GB Hard Drive / SuperDrive DVD±RW/CD-RW 13.3in 1280 x 800 Display / NVIDIA

Software Productivity-Paid – Microsoft Office-2010 (generally does not come included with the computer, just a 60 day trial) Word-Wordprocessing Excel-Spreadsheet Powerpoint-Presentation Outlook- Access-Database – Adobe Acrobat –PDF maker – Act or Goldmine-Contact manager

Software-Free Productivity – Open Office-Microsoft Office open source software from Sun Micro Systems – Adobe Reader 9.1-read PDF files html html – Avira-Anti virus – Antispyware- AdAware Aware-Free-Anti-Malware/ _ html?part=dl-ad-aware&subj=dl&tag=top5http://download.cnet.com/Ad- Aware-Free-Anti-Malware/ _ html?part=dl-ad-aware&subj=dl&tag=top5 – Registry repair-Spybot-Search and Destroy

Home Software-Pictures – Adobe Photoshop – Web Picture Creator – Flickr – Shutterfly bookshttp:// books – Snapfish

Home Software-Music Catalog Apple iTunes – Limewire – Rhapsody – Napster – Kazzaa –

Home Software-Movies Windows Movie Maker – e_maker/90641/2/ e_maker/90641/2/ Apple iMovie – /3/ /3/ Free video editing software – video-editing-software-review.html video-editing-software-review.html

Home Software-Music Audacity – Wavosaur – Free Digital Audio Editors – audio-editors/ audio-editors/

Educators Discount Sites Online academic sites – Academic Superstore – Viosoft – Royal Discount – Journey – Needsoft – Gradware

Wholesale sites Online sources where retailers shop – Nextag – Newegg – Froogle – Ebay – Geeks – The Nerds – Mac Connection Refurbished computers – Overstock