1. Lesson 6: Buying a Computer
• Hardware considerations
• Software considerations
• Price considerations
• Support or service considerations
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2. Deciding What to Purchase
• Determining the Purpose
− How will this computer be used and by whom?
− Size and type of hard drive
− Desktop or notebook or netbook?
− Microprocessor speed, amount of RAM, quality of video card, size
of monitor, and size of hard drive
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3. Deciding What to Purchase
• Identifying Other Requirements
− If computer for organization, consider company standards
− If school, may purchase computers from designated vendor who
can accommodate one set of standards for classroom computers
and another set of standards for faculty
− Adequate bandwidth to search databases for specific industries
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4. Deciding What to Purchase
• Selecting the Operating Platform
− Which is best for this environment and what is currently in use?
− What application programs run and any compatibility issues
− Versions for multiple platforms, or customized or specialized
programs
− Work with network administrator for decision-making process
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5. Deciding What to Purchase
• Looking at Support Options
− Warranty
− Support agreements
− Extended warranties
− Useful life of new computer
• Best guideline is how much knowledge you possess to
handle basic problems and who you can go to for help
• Research what you want and how you will use it, compare
specifications and price at different locations
• Try to work with IT specialist who can provide advice and
information
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6. Deciding What to Purchase
• Disposing of Computer Equipment
− Dealing with obsolete or unnecessary
computer equipment
− Can incur costs to dispose equipment
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7. Lesson Summary
• Hardware considerations
• Software considerations
• Price considerations
• Support or service considerations
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8. Review Questions
1. What factors should you consider when purchasing a
computer for someone who works with video files?
a. Large Hard Drive
b. Digital Camera
c. Microprocessor Speed
d. Amount of RAM
e. Any of the above
f. a, c, or d
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9. Review Questions
2. An organization that may not need computers with large
hard drives would be:
a. Library
b. Internet Café
c. School
d. Travel Agency
e. Any of the above
f. a or b
3. The useful life of a computer is exactly two years.
a. True b. False
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10. Review Questions
4. What factors should you consider when choosing an
application program?
a. The ability to share files between operating platforms
b. The ability to use the same features in similar
application programs on the different operating
platforms
c. How to use the same application program on different
computer devices
d. Any of the above
e. a or b
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11. Review Questions
5. A support agreement is:
a. A replacement for a warranty
b. An agreement that can extend for the life of the
computer
c. An extra cost that you do not need
d. Any of the above
e. a or b
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