Buy an Overstock Computer
Saturday, January 16, 2010
, Posted by Admin at 5:08 AM
Increasingly, colleges and universities are expecting students to come to school armed with computers or to purchase one soon after arrival. Even at colleges where owning a computer is not a requirement its far more convenient for students to have their own than to wait in line at the library or computer center.
Unfortunately, as computer companies continue to introduce newer and more High-End sophisticated systems the price for a personal computer is actually rising, not dropping as commonly perceived. While newer machines can do more than their predecessors, the cost to perform simple computing tasks such as word processing or balancing a check book is becoming prohibitively expensive. By purchasing overstock models, first time computer owners can meet their needs without spending thousands of dollars for a more expensive retail priced computer.
When price becomes an issue, check the basics. Spending money for a computer which is faster and more expensive may not increase your productivity in the same proportion. Typing speed determines how fast you produce a letter more than the speed of the microprocessor. For most day-to-day uses such as writing papers or e-mail, the basics are more than adequate. The same is true for spreadsheet and database management applications on small files a low-powered computer will work just fine.
Processor Size and Speed
When comparing computers, two items to consider are the processor size and the speed. What does this mean? To use an analogy, suppose you have a tub full of water that needs to be emptied. You have a one gallon bucket to do the job and you can empty 2 buckets of water a second. Think of the water as information, the process of emptying the tub as information processing, the size of the bucket as the size of the processor, and the number of buckets you move per second as the speed. If you were to get a bigger bucket, maybe a two gallon bucket, and still move 2 buckets per second you would be emptying the tub (or processing data) twice as fast. If you keep the bucket the same but increase the speed you are moving to 16 buckets per second, you would again be processing twice as fast.
RAM vs. Hard Drive
Random Access Memory (RAM) is the temporary memory that is active only when the computer is on. This is the electronic space where the computer runs the operating system, the programs and the actual document you may be working on. Hard drive space does not lose its memory when the computer is shut off. As a rule, the computer will run more efficiently with more RAM as it can load more of a given program into memory without having to access the program electronically. If it has to access the program in the hard drive, it is slowed to the mechanical speed and access time of the hard drive.
Hard Facts on Hard Drives
If your car sits in the driveway because your garage is so full of stuff, spring for the larger hard drive.
Final Considerations
If you're purchasing an overstock computer it's better to go with a reputable seller rather than an individual, that way you have some recourse in the event there is a problem. Most resellers will give you, warranty usually 30 days. Additionally, some will give you a money back guarantee minus a restocking fee. However, before you buy from any organization get some references and check with the Better Business Bureau to make sure they have a good track record.
Unfortunately, as computer companies continue to introduce newer and more High-End sophisticated systems the price for a personal computer is actually rising, not dropping as commonly perceived. While newer machines can do more than their predecessors, the cost to perform simple computing tasks such as word processing or balancing a check book is becoming prohibitively expensive. By purchasing overstock models, first time computer owners can meet their needs without spending thousands of dollars for a more expensive retail priced computer.
When price becomes an issue, check the basics. Spending money for a computer which is faster and more expensive may not increase your productivity in the same proportion. Typing speed determines how fast you produce a letter more than the speed of the microprocessor. For most day-to-day uses such as writing papers or e-mail, the basics are more than adequate. The same is true for spreadsheet and database management applications on small files a low-powered computer will work just fine.
Processor Size and Speed
When comparing computers, two items to consider are the processor size and the speed. What does this mean? To use an analogy, suppose you have a tub full of water that needs to be emptied. You have a one gallon bucket to do the job and you can empty 2 buckets of water a second. Think of the water as information, the process of emptying the tub as information processing, the size of the bucket as the size of the processor, and the number of buckets you move per second as the speed. If you were to get a bigger bucket, maybe a two gallon bucket, and still move 2 buckets per second you would be emptying the tub (or processing data) twice as fast. If you keep the bucket the same but increase the speed you are moving to 16 buckets per second, you would again be processing twice as fast.
RAM vs. Hard Drive
Random Access Memory (RAM) is the temporary memory that is active only when the computer is on. This is the electronic space where the computer runs the operating system, the programs and the actual document you may be working on. Hard drive space does not lose its memory when the computer is shut off. As a rule, the computer will run more efficiently with more RAM as it can load more of a given program into memory without having to access the program electronically. If it has to access the program in the hard drive, it is slowed to the mechanical speed and access time of the hard drive.
Hard Facts on Hard Drives
If your car sits in the driveway because your garage is so full of stuff, spring for the larger hard drive.
Final Considerations
If you're purchasing an overstock computer it's better to go with a reputable seller rather than an individual, that way you have some recourse in the event there is a problem. Most resellers will give you, warranty usually 30 days. Additionally, some will give you a money back guarantee minus a restocking fee. However, before you buy from any organization get some references and check with the Better Business Bureau to make sure they have a good track record.
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