We often hear of people that purchase a computer or other computer equipment that does not meet their needs. Unfortunately, this can happen for several reasons. Maybe that person was ill-advised. They could have asked for advice from someone who was in no place to give advice. Perhaps they conducted their own online research and read misleading information. Though not intentional, this poor advice will cost the consumer. Maybe they were not advised at all. Or maybe they were advised, but cut corners to attempt to save money. Whatever the reason may be, as a result, time, money, and other resources are wasted. Here are questions to ask before making a computer related purchase.

Was I told what I needed, and tried to find something that is similar, for cheaper? 

• Your IT advisor has your best interest at heart and they should be considered a trusted business partner. If they steer you in the wrong direction, you will not utilize their services in the future. It is their best interest to help you, so they will offer you honest advice.  Sometimes the suggested computer equipment seems expensive. However, if you opt for the cheaper alternatives and suffer downtime, you’ll wish you’d opted for the original suggested equipment.

What Programs will I be running on my computer?

• Programs such as AutoCAD and Adobe Creative Suite demand a lot of computing power. A cheaper, or consumer grade, PC simply will not be able to perform to the level it should, or may not even run the needed program at all.

Will my needs quickly outgrow this?

• We’ve seen this situation a lot: A company wants to conduct their own backups and they purchase the cheapest hard drive they can find. For a nominal amount more, they could have instead purchased a larger and overall better hard drive; lasting them a much longer time. This investment would save them the headache of constantly cleaning the cheap hard drive when its gets too full.
• Computers ideally last you anywhere from 4 to 6 years. When you purchase a computer, make sure it will last you a minimum of four years. Otherwise, money you save up front will be spent in a couple of years to upgrade to a newer computer.

Will other computer hardware be compatible?

o   Sometimes, when you save money, you can expect less features and methods of compatibility. Very basic computers and hardware can be limiting with compatibility. Purchasing the needed add-ons down the road get costly.

How will I use this computer?

• If your computer will be used for work, you will need to opt for a computer with a professional-grade operating system. With a professional operating system, your computer will be able to access your company’s network. If you purchase a residential-grade computer, you will either have to upgrade or opt not to access to network.

If you have questions about a purchasing decision, contact us, and we’ll happily give you advice.