General Computer Buying Tips & Tricks for 2010

Do not buy a computer because your friend has one. Buy the one that will accommodate the tasks that you want to perform day in and day out.

Don't think something is cheap until you also compare what quality parts it has inside the computer. People come to me and ask if the cheapest laptop in the store is good enough for them and most of the time I say no. Unfortunately these laptops are usually already outdated stock.

Make sure the computer you are buying is totally upgradeable. It must have spare memory slots and be able to handle more ram in the future. Also make sure there is space to add more parts inside the computer with extra plugs on the main motherboard.

Buy a computer with a 2 year plan. Hopefully you will get the right computer and keep up with your tasks for at least two years. If it doesn't you will be able to make a small upgrade to get through the two years. After that time is up you can then evaluate if the computer is worth upgrading again and continuing on with it.

Make sure your computer comes with at least 1 year warranty. 2 years is definitely better because you always find the problems start when your computer is 1 year and two days old, just when the warranty runs out.

Do not buy a computer without the original operating system cd and a COA (certificate of Authenticity) sticker on the side of the computer. Some companies do not give you a Windows Operating system CD and this will cause problems in the future. It makes it harder for you to restore your computer yourself and will have to take it back to them to fix.

Ask about after sales service before you buy. Make sure you are clear on what you are entitled to. What happens if a part dies in your computer. Will you have to take it to where you bought it, or will you have to post it to Thailand? Don't laugh, it has happened before.

Make sure you get all driver cd's for the computer. There is nothing worse than trying to find drivers on the internet to try and make your computer function correctly.

Get quotes from different shops and small system builders. Do not go into the first shop and buy what you see. Compare your prices with . It doesn't hurt to find out the facts.