Updated 13 October 2008
To help
you navigate around the jargon of buying a computer, we have the standard
specifications for most home and small business users.
You should read
these specs in conjunction with our buying a laptop and buying
a desktop guides. If the jargon is becoming too much, check out
our jargon buster page.
Standard Desktop
This is a standard,
general purpose home system desktop. This will meet the needs for most
home and home office users. If you have specific needs such as sound mixing,
CAD programs or game crazy kids then you will need something more advanced.
CPU: Intel
Core2 Duo Processor 2.5 GHz or an Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core 4000+
Memory: 4GB 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM
Hard drive: 500Gb SATA drive.
Video: 256Mb PCI express video card with DVI. We steer people
toward ATI brand as the rival nVidia is in our Vista Hall of Shame.
Monitor: 22" monitor with DVI and VGA inputs
Optical drive: 16X Max DVD+/-RW Combination Drive with double
layer write capability
Other features: Built in ethernet, sound and as many USB ports
as possible with at least two on the front panel for easy access.
Operating system: Windows XP Home. Make sure the XP disk is supplied
with the system. If XP is not an option, choose Vista Home Premium or
Business.
Warranty: Three year onsite parts and labour.
Budget:
$1,850 for a name brand PC.
Note that for an
Apple Mac, the specs are somewhat different. We'd recommend the 20"
iMac with 4Gb RAM, 500 Gb hard drive and the Apple Care protection plan
for a list price of $2,637.00
Standard Portable
For portable computers,
it's a balancing act between portability, features and price. The specifications
we have here are what we believe are the right combination for the typical
user. Visit our choosing a laptop page where we discuss how to determine
what meets your needs.
CPU: Intel®
Core™2 Duo Processor 2.4GHz
Memory: 4 GB 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM
Hard drive: 250Gb SATA drive.
Other features Minimum 3 USB ports, built in Ethernet and wireless
Video: Built in graphics accelerator
Monitor: 15" monitor. For Apple users, the equivalent MacBook
only comes with a 13" monitor.
Optical drive: 8X Max DVD+/-RW Combination Drive with double
layer write capability
Other features: Built in ethernet, sound and wireless. We like
to see three USB ports on a system, but smaller systems may not have
these.
Operating system: Windows XP Professional. Make sure the XP disk
is supplied with the system. If Vista is the only option then choose
Home Premium or Business versions.
Warranty: Three year back to base parts and labour.
Budget: $1,900
for a PC, $2,818 for a MacBook.
General tips
Reducing the price
It is possible
to cut the price by ditching the three year warranty, getting an onboard
video card, choosing a smaller hard drive or less RAM, but those systems
will struggle to keep up with the changes we can expect over the next
few years.
Avoid gimmicks
and rebates
When shopping for
a computer, be careful of gimmicks. Deals that are too good to be true
often are. We also suggest steering clear of rebate offers as we find
they are cumbersome and ineffective.
Buying a Mac?
We like Macs and
if you are considering one, these specifications are still valid. Most
Apple models will meet these requirements. Visit our Mac
versus PC page for the pros and cons of both and why the more expensive
purchase price is offset by other factors.
Bear in mind these
are the minimum specifications. If the budget will stretch to a better
system, then by all means go for it. More memory, a bigger hard drive,
better video card or faster CPU will make your computer more of a pleasure
to use and extend its life.
If you'd like
to be kept up to date with the ever-changing world of computers subscribe
to our newsletter.
