How to choose when buying a computer - is asking "what is the most popular computer" the right question?

How to choose when buying a computer - is asking "what is the most popular computer" the right question?

(Note: this article was written and sent out to subscribers to my free computer lessons email newsletter on December 12th, 2007)

Around this time of year, it's common for people to be looking into buying a new computer as a gift or to replace the aging one they're using.

I thought I'd write an article to give a few tips on how to chose when buying a computer.

First off, I've found that a lot of people start thinking about this by asking "what is the most popular computer?" and letting the answer to that decide the question for them. Well, this isn't necessarily the best idea.

Just because something is popular doesn't necessarily mean it's the best -- for example, fast food restaurants are popular places to go, but I think we all know they don't serve the best food in the world.

Here's the thing to remember when thinking about how to chose when buying a computer -- you should generally avoid the big brand names.

Yes, this might surprise you, but in my opinion, it's usually not a good idea to buy from one of the big brand name companies (there's one exception that I'll get to in a minute).

Here's why: dollar for dollar, you're generally going to get a worse deal than if you go with a reputable "generic" or "white box" store.

A lot of people have low price as the first thing on their list when they're trying to figure out how to chose when buying a computer. So they go with a cheap brand name and spend a few hundred dollars on it, and they think they're getting a good deal.

But what they don't realize is that it's common for a lot of the big brand companies to sell very out-of-date computers in their lower price ranges, and from what I've heard, they also often sell computers with parts they know are bad!

I'm not kidding about this -- most of the big computer companies out there, when they sell their least expensive computers, are trying to unload old inventory that's been collecting dust on their shelves for a long time.

They sell it to you as if it's new, and maybe it is in the sense of never purchased before, but it's hardly new in terms of the technology.

And the more disturbing part of this is that from what I've heard, those computers often have parts in them that are *known* to be bad parts!

You see, when a chip manufacturer like Intel makes a computer processor (the "brain" of the computer), they test it to make sure it works.

Makes sense, right?

But inevitably, many of them fail these tests. Now you'd think these bad parts would be thrown away, but no -- from what I've heard, what happens is they still sell them to the big computer companies at a discount, and those companies put them into their computers anyway.

What you can do with a bad processor a lot of the time is set it to run slower, and while it may not be running at full speed, it works well enough to pass the tests.

But the parts are still bad! Sure, they may work OK for a while (maybe just long enough to make it through the warranty period) but they have more little "glitches" and end up breaking down sooner.

So if you can find a reputable local company that sells computers they assemble themselves, you'll get a well built computer for a lot less because you're not paying for the brand name.

I can't help you find a local store like that everywhere, but those of you reading this who live on the Big Island of Hawaii can go to Falcon Computers in Kona or Falcon Computers in Waimea.

These are two branches of a store that offers computer repairs in Kona and Waimea, as well as a good place to buy a computer in Kona or Waimea on the Big Island

A family-owned store like that is the only place I'd buy a Windows PC, personally.

So earlier I mentioned there was an exception among the big brand names -- if you've been reading my newsletter for a while, or know me, you might have already guessed which one it is -- Apple.

Apple is the only big brand name computer I personally would buy (I'm writing this on a MacBook Pro). I do this partially because I've used a lot of different types of computers over the years, and really don't enjoy using Windows much.

But I also do this because Apple doesn't deliberately put bad processors in their computers, or try to sell out-of-date computers as new. Some people complain that Apple's Macs are overpriced, but that's actually not the case -- when compared apples to apples (excuse the pun) they tend to be in the same price range as a Dell or HP of the same general specs.

So bottom line is, here's how to chose when you're buying a computer: if you want to stick with Windows, then support a local business and go to a good store that puts your computer together for you from parts.

And make sure you ask them to put Windows XP on it, not Windows Vista (for reasons covered in this 3-part article about the problems with Windows Vista).

Or get away from Windows and switch to a Mac.

Either way, you're getting a better deal.

Hope that makes sense and helps with your decisions on how to chose when buying a computer.

Until next time, enjoy,

Worth Godwin

P.S. And if you're looking to learn to use your computer -- new or old -- you should take a look at my easy video computer lessons for Apple Mac or for Windows. They come both as instant online lessons and on CD, are quick and easy to use, and come with a full 1-year iron-clad money back guarantee.

More information is available by clicking one of the following links:

If you have an Apple Mac computer (iMac, iBook, MacBook, etc.) then click this link to get easy Mac computer lessons

or if you have a Windows PC, then click this link to get easy Windows computer lessons

Happy New Years from Worth Godwin

As I write this, it's around 1pm on New Year's Eve, which is around 6pm on the East coast of the US, and for our neighbors across the pond it's just past 12am New Year's Day.

New Years when we all find ourselves looking back at the year and years behind us, and look forward to what comes in the future.

As for myself, I'm putting a long long year of working many 12-15 hour days building up my easy video lesson CDs business up from scratch, armed with not a lot more than sweat and determination to make something of the business.

I've never been much of one for New Year's resolutions, but we all have goals for the coming year. My own goal is to really make a big success of my business -- some people might want this to live a lavish lifestyle, full of flashy cars and McMansions, but my motivation is a little different.

I was fortunate enough to have grown up living way out in the country in Upstate New York on a big 70-acre farm my parents bought for a song in the 1970s. It was full of fields, acres of woods, a pond and a stream, and big open skies.

I miss the times I spent walking through the woods for hours as a child, silent except for the sound of chipmunks and squirrels in the fallen leaves, or the occasional deer fleeing from my quiet footsteps.

Now I live in Hawaii, and while it is warm all year round, there are no deer, and I live on a little half acre of land.

This may sound funny coming from someone who spends so much time working with technology and computers, but I miss living where I can step out my door and go for a long walk in the woods and escape the modern world.

My real goal for starting this business, beyond helping people get past being stuck with computers and helping them feel more confident and comfortable, is to make enough money to buy a big property out here in the islands.

Unlike a lot of people with their eye on buying lots of vacant land, I don't want to develop it and put up yet another resort or subdivision to try to make a bundle at the cost of nature and the island I live on.

What I want to do in 2008, more than almost anything, is to buy a large property out in the country. A large property either already filled with old-growth native forest, or one where I can begin replanting trees to bring back the original forest and the native animals that depend on it.

Beyond that, I plan to put a conservation easement on it -- this would legally block development on the property, even if I sell it, so it remains protected and undeveloped nature for many many years to come.

Whatever your goals are for the coming year, I wish you well on them.

If one of your goals is to get better at computers, to become more confident and skilled with them, then maybe we can help each other reach our goals together.

To kick off the new year, I'm slashing prices on my easy computer lesson CDs for the first few days of 2008. I've put together a huge jumbo pack of 16 easy CDs at a steep discount off the regular price, and a *tiny fraction* of the cost of hiring a computer consultant like myself to teach it all.

You'll get CDs packed full of dozens and dozens of quick, easy lessons on topics ranging from safe & easy web browsing, email, working with photos, Windows and Mac computer basics, and a lot more. All guaranteed to make you feel more confident than before, or your money back.

To take advantage of the special New Year's savings, just hop over to my website to read more. Just remember, the savings end January 4th, so get there before it's too late!

If you have a Windows PC (Dell, HP, etc.) click the link:

Easy Windows computer basics

or if you have an Apple Mac (iMac, iBook, Powerbook, MacBook, etc.) click the link:

Easy Apple Mac computer basics

you'll be happy you did.

Have an amazing New Year!

Enjoy,

Worth Godwin

P.S. Remember, this only lasts for a few days, so click over there now before it's too late. The links again are:

If you have a Windows PC (Dell, HP, etc.) click the link:

Easy computer lessons for Windows

or if you have an Apple Mac (iMac, iBook, Powerbook, MacBook, etc.) click the link:

Easy computer lessons for Apple Mac