When we want to work with a computer, we first need to purchase one :). So, how can we know what type of a computer to choose? there are so many types, so many different configurations?!

I am writing about PC’s / Servers computer and not laptops, but the basics are the same. The easier part of doing laptop purchase, is the models have an exact configuration, so you can see all of the parts that each laptop model is made from, and compare it to other price offers (exact configuration).
There are websites that conduct computer surveys, where anyone can submit his opinion, on different subjects. Those websites contain information from the people, where you can get some idea of what goes, and maybe get some recommendations.

Well, the basic answer is pretty simple and it breaks down to some basics:

1. What is the purpose of the computer: First, we need to know what do we need the computer for? what are we going to do with it, and for what purpose. Do we need it only for office use, meaning internet browsing, and office processing (those do not require a faster computer) or maybe we are gamers, or graphic designers which require us to purchase a stronger faster computer that can deal with the heavy graphic, demanding programs/games we use.
2. Computer made from hardware parts: All of the computers are made from parts (computer parts), the type of hardware parts we choose determine the price of the computer. When we want a simple computer just for internet browsing and some office use, we can take the simpler computer configuration, which will be enough for our purpose. When we need a stronger computer that will be able to run heavy and memory demanding applications, it will need faster more advanced hardware parts.
3. Operating system: Computers can come without an operating system, if you purchase software on your own (most organizations buy a large amount of software at one) so they need only the computer as it is or if you are using an open source Linux operating system that you will install by yourself. When you don’t have an operating system in your possession, you might want to purchase the computer with an operating system (mostly it will be a Windows OS) as a bundle.
4. Warranty: Computers should come with service warranty, most of the good known computers come with at least 3 years of warranty, and for any problem with the hardware you might encounter, they should fix on their expense (unless it was due to damage from misuse).

Now, after we figured out all of those basic things, we can start taking price offers, from different vendors. I would recommend you to take these steps, when taking computer price offers.

1. Find a dealer/vendor you trust, or that someone recommended you because he is working with him and knows he is a great guy to trust his opinions and recommendations. Then you can discuss with him about your needs, so he can offer you a proper computer configuration and a price offer that best fit your needs. Make sure the price offer specify in full all of the parts that builds the computer, like the motherboard, hard disks, memory types and capacity, graphic card, power supply etc…
2. After you get the first price offer by this dealer/vendor, send the exact configuration from that price offer you have received to some other dealers/vendors (without the prices of course), to get a price offer for the exact computer configuration, only then you will be able to compare between the price offers and negotiate/argue for a better price.

Now that you have some price offers, you can also compare them to what goes in the market, by finding a common comparison website, and see what type of prices are out there for a computer that resemble the computer you requested.

Example websites for comparing prices:

• http://www.consumersearch.com/laptops/reviews
• http://www.google.com/products
• http://reviews.cnet.com/laptop-reviews/?sa=all&tag=centerColumnArea1.0
• http://computershopper.com/
• http://hothardware.com/category.aspx?cid=10
• http://www.trustedreviews.com/laptops/

Microsoft !, what does this name say to you? Anyone who uses computers has to have heard about Microsoft, this is the company the entered the graphical operating systems, that shaped the way we work. The first famous graphical operating system was of APPLE, they have created the Macintosh as a computer for graphic designers. The Macintosh was attended to the graphic designers and it wasn’t cheap, only those who could effort it was enjoying a graphical operating system that enabled the graphic design to become reachable.

Microsoft was the one who developed a graphical operating system that will become a software for all. They have designed an operating system that was cost-effective and affordable by the common people, home users and enabled everyone to gain a graphical environment, that enabled the use of a mouse, dragging and doing operating at a move of a mouse. Before the graphical age, people where typing hundreds and thousands of lines of code to get a simple operation working. Behind the simple copy & paste, we are used to doing with the right click of the mouse, where lines of code to tell the computer where the source file is, how to make the copy, and to where to copy the file.

Since that first step into a revolution in technology, Microsoft has developed many tools, improved its operating systems making them more usable, more effective. They developed the computerized office, using their office packages, that shaped the way we do our business, writing our letters on Microsoft word, doing complicated calculations and statistical charts and diagrams using Microsoft excel, doing presentations on the Microsoft Power-Point, etc… Those software applications have shaped our computerized office tools and became the most common tools being used by computer users.