Buying A Computer For Dummies, 2006 Edition (2005)
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TEAM LinG
Buying a
Computer
FOR
DUMmIES‰
2006 EDITION
Buying a
Computer
FOR
DUMmIES‰
2006 EDITION
by Dan Gookin
Buying a Computer For Dummies®, 2006 Edition
Published by
Wiley Publishing, Inc.
111 River Street Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
www.wiley.com
Copyright © 2006 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana
Published by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana
Published simultaneously in Canada
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Library of Congress Control Number: 2005932586
ISBN-13: 978-0-7645-9818-0
ISBN-10: 0-7645-9818-X
Manufactured in the United States of America
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
1O/SU/RQ/QV/IN
About the Author
Dan Gookin has been writing about technology for 20 years. He has contributed articles to numerous high-tech magazines and written more than 100 books about personal computing technology, many of them accurate.
He combines his love of writing with his interest in technology to create books that are informative and entertaining, but not boring. Having sold more than 14 million titles translated into more than 30 languages, Dan can attest that his method of crafting computer tomes does seem to work.
Perhaps Dan’s most famous title is the original DOS For Dummies, published in 1991. It became the world’s fastest-selling computer book, at one time moving more copies per week than the New York Times number-one best seller (although, because it’s a reference book, it could not be listed on the NYT best seller list). That book spawned the entire line of For Dummies books, which remains a publishing phenomenon to this day.
Dan’s most recent titles include Laptops For Dummies; PCs For Dummies, 10th Edition; Troubleshooting Your PC For Dummies, 2nd Edition; Power Excel & Word; and eBay Photos That Sell. He also maintains the vast and helpful Web site www.wambooli.com.
Dan holds a degree in communications and visual arts from the University of California, San Diego. He lives in the Pacific Northwest, where he enjoys spending time with his four boys in the gentle woods and on the temperate blue lakes of Idaho.
Publisher’s Acknowledgments
We’re proud of this book; please send us your comments through our online registration form located at www.dummies.com/register/.
Some of the people who helped bring this book to market include the following:
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Publishing and Editorial for Technology Dummies
Richard Swadley, Vice President and Executive Group Publisher
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Publishing for Consumer Dummies
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Contents at a Glance |
|
Introduction ................................................................ |
1 |
Part I: Understanding the Whole Ordeal ........................ |
3 |
Chapter 0: Some Questions to Get Out of the Way ....................................................... |
5 |
Chapter 1: Buying a Computer (Step-by-Step) ............................................................. |
11 |
Chapter 2: Basic Computer Identification .................................................................... |
21 |
Chapter 3: Computers from A to Z ................................................................................ |
31 |
Chapter 4: Introduction to Hardware and Software .................................................... |
47 |
Part II: Hardware and Software Overview .................... |
53 |
Chapter 5: All about Mr. Microprocessor ..................................................................... |
55 |
Chapter 6: Memory Stuff (Temporary Storage) ........................................................... |
69 |
Chapter 7: Disks of Every Type (Permanent Storage) ................................................ |
81 |
Chapter 8: Monitor and Graphics Stuff ......................................................................... |
95 |
Chapter 9: Keyboard, Mouse, and Gamepad ............................................................. |
107 |
Chapter 10: Expansion Options ................................................................................... |
115 |
Chapter 11: Modems and Sound .................................................................................. |
123 |
Chapter 12: Networking Your Computer .................................................................... |
131 |
Chapter 13: Scanners and Digital Cameras ................................................................ |
139 |
Chapter 14: Special Issues for Notebook and Laptop Computers .......................... |
151 |
Chapter 15: Your Computer’s Operating System ....................................................... |
159 |
Chapter 16: Everything You Wanted to Know |
|
about Software (But Were Afraid to Ask) ................................................................. |
169 |
Part III: Finding Your Perfect Computer .................... |
183 |
Chapter 17: Shopping for Software ............................................................................. |
185 |
Chapter 18: Matching Hardware to Your Software .................................................... |
199 |
Chapter 19: Surveying the Shopping Landscape ....................................................... |
209 |
Chapter 20: Tips for Online Shopping ........................................................................ |
221 |
Chapter 21: Searching for Service and Support ........................................................ |
227 |
Chapter 22: Buying the Computer ............................................................................... |
233 |
Part IV: Living with Your Computer ........................... |
239 |
Chapter 23: Helpful Hints for Computer Setup .......................................................... |
241 |
Chapter 24: Time to Get a Printer ............................................................................... |
255 |
Chapter 25: From the Old Computer to the New One ............................................... |
267 |
Chapter 26: Selecting an ISP ......................................................................................... |
275 |
Chapter 27: When to Buy, When to Sell, When to Upgrade ..................................... |
281 |
Part V: The Part of Tens ........................................... |
287 |
Chapter 28: Ten Common Mistakes Made by First-Time Computer Buyers .......... |
289 |
Chapter 29: Ten Warning Signs .................................................................................... |
293 |
Chapter 30: Ten Other Things You Should Buy ......................................................... |
297 |
Chapter 31: Ten Tips and Suggestions ........................................................................ |
303 |
Index ...................................................................... |
307 |
Table of Contents |
|
Introduction ................................................................. |
1 |
About This Book .............................................................................................. |
1 |
And Just Who Are You? .................................................................................. |
2 |
Icons Used in This Book ................................................................................. |
2 |
Where to Go from Here ................................................................................... |
2 |
Part I: Understanding the Whole Ordeal ......................... |
3 |
Chapter 0: Some Questions to Get Out of the Way . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
.5 |
“Just Tell Me Which Type of Computer I Need!” ......................................... |
5 |
“Why Not Let Me Have One of Your Computers?” ...................................... |
6 |
“Where Can I Buy a Computer Really Cheap?” ............................................ |
6 |
“Which Brands Do You Recommend?” ......................................................... |
6 |
“Which Brands Do You Recommend Staying Away From?” ....................... |
6 |
“How Much Will My Computer Cost?” .......................................................... |
7 |
“Shouldn’t I Just Buy the Most Expensive Computer I Can Afford?” ........ |
7 |
“Then Shouldn’t I Buy the Fastest Computer I Can Afford?” ..................... |
7 |
“How about a Laptop?” ................................................................................... |
7 |
“Should I Get a Used Computer?” ................................................................. |
8 |
“What about ‘Refab’ Computers?” ................................................................ |
8 |
“Will the Computer Store Offer Me Deals? How Much |
|
Should I Expect to Pay Below the ‘Sticker Price’?” ................................. |
8 |
“Where Can I Get More Information Beyond |
|
What’s Covered in This Book?” ................................................................. |
8 |
“Does This Book Offer a Buyer’s Guide?” ..................................................... |
9 |
“Can You Recommend Any Buyer’s Guides?” .............................................. |
9 |
“Isn’t There an Easy Way to Do This? |
|
Can’t I Just Go Buy a Computer?” .............................................................. |
9 |
Chapter 1: Buying a Computer (Step-by-Step) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
11 |
Relax — You Have Nothing to Fear ............................................................. |
11 |
The Five Steps to Buying a Computer ........................................................ |
12 |
Step 1: Figure out what you want to do with your computer ........ |
13 |
Step 2: Look for software .................................................................... |
14 |
Step 3: Find hardware ......................................................................... |
16 |
Step 4: Shop for service and support ............................................... |
18 |
Step 5: Buy your computer ................................................................ |
18 |
Don’t Sit Around Waiting to Buy! ................................................................. |
19 |