Setting Up a New Computer

Whenever you get a new computer, there are some things you should do to it before you really start using it.  Below is a list of the things I do on every new computer I set up.  I do all of these these things before I transfer back up and transfer data from an old computer to the new computer. 

First things first, get yourself  3 or 4 blank DVD-R’s or DVD+R’s and use the built in program to create the emergency recovery disks.  This takes about a half hour to do, but should be done before you do anything else on the computer.  These disks will put a copy of your operating system on it and should be saved in cases for emergency purposes (i.e, your computer crashes and won’t start).

Once that’s done, you’ll want to download the following free software and install it.

1. All Windows updates (there will be a link in your All programs menu)
2. Adobe Reader (be sure to uncheck any toolbars that it wants to install)
3. Java (uncheck toolbars)
4. Quicktime
5. Malwarebytes AntiMalware
6. Flash player (you’ll have to open Internet explorer and search google to do this, then follow prompts)
7. I would also download and install Firefox – and then install flash player in it by opening Firefox, searching google for flash player and following prompts)
8. If you want iTunes on it, you’ll have to make sure and download the 64-bit version of it
9. If the computer comes with McAfee, I would uninstall it in the control panel and install Norton or AVG

One more thing I would do (especially if you have a laptop), is create a document to save your important product keys and other info in.  And if your laptop has a Windows 7 sticker on the bottom of  it (as well as service tag or express code), you’ll want to be sure to include the Win7 product key, and any express or service codes in this docs.  These labels then to wear off, so I like to get them written down as soon as possible.

This may seem like a lot to do, but they will  help with the overall health of your new computer.

Tips for Buying a New Computer

Buying a new computer can be daunting - especially if you're not familiar with all the terms and specs that are listed.

This article will help you help you understand those terms and what's important in making a computer buying decision.

Whenever you buy a new computer, you first have to decide if you want a laptop or desktop computer. Below is a list of pro's and con's for each.

Laptop Pro's:

• Portability (which is great if you travel a lot)
• Wireless connections allow you access to your email away from home
• Less space is needed

Laptop Con's:

• Smaller keyboard, and monitor
• No mouse (but one could be attached)
• Only one internal hard drive and CD/DVD drive (some people need more)
• Printers, scanners and such are usually not connected all the time
• Harder to fix and upgrade

People who use the computer a lot, don't like the smaller monitor and keyboard. There's no number pad on a laptop keyboard - and for some people, that's a bit of an annoyance.

Also, some people prefer the mouse over the touch pad or pointer. You can always hook a mouse up to a laptop, to solve that problem, but it's an extra step.

One way to solve all those problems, is to get a docking station and connect a full size keyboard, monitor and mouse to it. That way when you're home and want to work on the laptop, you can attach it to the docking station and have it function more like a desktop computer.

However, using a docking station means that you need more room and extra peripherals (monitor, keyboard, mouse, etc.). It also means that you need to have a permanent place set up with this equipment.

Desktop Pro's

• Full size monitor, keyboard, and mouse
• Usually more processing power and speed than laptops
• Ability to have extra drives installed (hard drives, CD/DVD drives, etc.)
• Printers, scanners, etc. are always connected
• Better sound and speakers
• Easier to fix and upgrade (not necessarily true with laptops)

There are many more advantages to owning a desktop computer. But the biggest downside is that you don't have the portability. And if you travel a lot, this can be a problem.

Minimum Requirements

We all have different computer needs. Therefore, what I look for in a computer may not necessarily be what you need in a computer. But there are some general guidelines that you'll find helpful when shopping around.

Before buying a new computer, you need to know what you intend to use it for. For example, if you only see yourself doing some word processing (writing letters, etc), and email, then you don't need a lot of processing power.

But if you see yourself wanting to store a lot of digital pictures, music, or do a lot of graphic work (photo and video editing), then you do need a larger hard drive and more processing power than most people.

If you're a gamer (you'll also need a lot of processing power).
When buying a new computer computer, keep in mind that the following things will affect the speed of the computer:

• CPU speed (I'd recommend a minimum of 2GHz to everybody)
• Memory (the more RAM, the better, but at a minimum, you should have 1 GB)

 There's a couple of things that affect the speed of a computer, but nothing that most people need to be concerned with. The main thing to keep in mind, is that you always want to get the most memory and fastest CPU you can afford.
 
These are the two things that will affect the price of the computer the most.
I also usually recommend getting the largest hard drive you can and to make sure you have at least a CD-RW drive installed.
So regardless of your intended use, this is my list of minimum requirements for every computer user:

• 2 GHz CPU (I personally prefer Intel or Celeron over AMD)
• 1 GB RAM (but more is better if you can afford it)
• 500 GB Hard Drive (you'll want more if you do a lot of graphic work - especially video)
• DVD-RW drive (you'll want a DVD-RW if you work with video)
• Network card (sometimes listed as LAN or NIC)
• Wireless card installed (if buying a laptop)

If you're buying a desktop computer and like to add a lot of extra stuff (like more hard drives, CD-Drives, etc.) then you'll want to get an ATX desktop computer as opposed to a micro-ATX.

Also keep in mind that most new computers today, do not come with a floppy drive. Getting a thumb drive (or flash drive) will make things a lot easier if you want to swap files between computers.

While it's true that computers can become outdated fairly quickly, I usually tell my clients to plan to get 5 years out a any computer. So when buying, it's a good idea to have a 5 year vision in mind of your computer needs. This will help you get the most for your computer.