Purchasing a Home & Office Computers can be one of the most nerve-wracking experiences if you do not do your homework first. Since most of us are non-technical, wading through all of the specifications and deciding what is right can be overwhelming.

While price is important, there are many other factors that should be considered when purchasing a computer. Doing research before entering your local office supply or computer store will help you from spending more than you wanted to and also get you the best deal on the quality that you need.

Spend some time thinking about how your Home & Office Computers will be used. Make a list of what needs that this office computer will need to fill.

What software is an absolute necessity? Will you need non-standard hardware like a scanner or fax in addition to your computer? Are you more interested in word processing or gaming or both?

Thinking about what function your computer serves for all the members of your family will help you narrow down your choices. After you’ve determined what function your computer serves in your life and the life of your family you will want to consider the speed of your new computer.

The Central Processing Unit or CPU is the brain of your computer. The CPU is the largest contributor to the overall speed of your computer. It controls all of the functions and capabilities that your computer will have. The newest computers come with CPUs that range from 1.6 GHz to 3.2 GHz. If you are involved in graphics or want to play high-resolution computer games, you need the highest GHz that you can afford.

Another consideration is the memory or virtual storage space of your new computer. While computers are available with 128 MB of memory, you’ll want to have at least 256 MB on your machine. Memory is essential to achieving maximum speed and performance from your computer. It is recommended that you purchase your new computer with as much memory as you can get for the best price.