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Buying a new PC?
Thursday, January 18 2001
by Emmet Cole


Whether you're buying a PC for the first time or just upgrading your existing
computer, here are some tips that will help you to get the most out of your
purchases. 

Before you buy, decide what you want to use your new computer or upgrade for. Let
function determine the purchase you make. For example, if all you want is e-mail,
you don't need the same kind of machine you do if you want to run a small
business or edit video. If all you want is to type and print standard business
letters, you don't need the latest 3Dfx graphics card or expensive speakers.
Don't buy a computer or upgrade if you have no idea of what you're going to use
it for.



It is best if you can think carefully about what you may want to do with your
computer in the future, and include that in your calculations. If you can do
that, you'll spare yourself the pain of having to upgrade or exchange your PC
every twelve months.  For example, some experts predict that the majority of
software titles released 16 months from now will be released in the relatively
new format of DVD. At the moment there is not a lot of DVD software around and it
is still quite expensive, but a DVD drive could be a smart investment for the
future, depending on your needs. 

 

Don't forget that there is no such thing as a stupid question when dealing with a
salesperson. You're buying a computer to best suit your needs, so don't be afraid
to ask whether the one you're being offered can do what you want it to do
efficiently and at the best cost. One rule of thumb for dealing with PC store
sales assistants: some of them may seem disinterested or intolerant of customers'
questions, but deep down, they know it's their job to take care of you. So keep
asking!  



You will probably get a great pile of software with your computer purchase.
Typical inclusions in 'bundled' software are Windows 98, Microsoft Works Suite
and various games and educational software titles. The most important piece of
software on your PC is your operating system. Make sure that the operating system
you are getting is the one that best suits your software requirements. For
example, there's no point in buying a machine running an Apple operating system
if you want to play games only available in PC format. 



There is more than one way to pay for your PC. For both business and home users
there is a comprehensive range of payment options, including operating lease,
finance lease and hire purchase. Hire purchase -- the most common lending option
for family PCs -- allows you to buy IT equipment over a fixed period of time, at
a fixed monthly cost. 



Dell has an arrangement where it purchases your existing IT equipment and leases
it back to you over a term that reflects the useful life of the equipment. Dell
even has its own financial services section for customers, which you can contact
for advice. 



Gateway offers a finance agreement through The Irish Permanent, which allows you
-- subject to a credit check--to pay for your computer over one, two or three
years at an APR of 13.9 percent.



Don't forget that you also pay on your ESB bill for any of the limited range of
PCs stocked by the ESB. If you bought the ESB entry-level PC (cash Price IEP799)
and paid for it in 12 instalments of IEP79.30 paid bimonthly over 24 months, you
will end up paying IEP951.60 for your machine. The ESB offers an APR of 18
percent on all computers, printers, scanners and digital cameras. 



Leasing works for businesses because they can trade in their products and lease
new ones in bulk, but leasing isn't appropriate for most home users. Before you
borrow or lease, calculate your total cost, including any buyout or so-called
balloon charges at the end of a purchase agreement. 



Before you commit to buying in any way, be sure to check what level of support
you will get from the company or store you're dealing with. A good one-year plan
that covers parts and labour on all components and includes onsite service (at
your discretion rather than at the supplier's)is better than three years of
haggling and headaches. 



Be sure to ask for a thorough, preferably written, explanation of the company's
warranty, including which contractor or subcontractor it uses to provide onsite
service in your area. Find out who decides when phone support has failed and
onsite service is necessary, who installs replacement parts, who pays for
transport costs for major repairs and whether you can borrow a stand-in computer
while your own is being fixed. 



For telephone support services, don't forget to check beforehand whether you will
be charged a premium rate for the telephone call. Sorting out a moody computer
over the phone line can take a half-hour or more, and you'll need to know whether
the pennies are ticking away as the support technician talks you through your
problems.





Emmet Cole is at