Before I get into the topic of today’s column, I want to give an endorsement to a relatively new TR Times advertiser — On Q Smokehouse Grill. I saw the ad for On Q in the January 8 issue of the TR Times and Eddie and I decided to give it a try. Located in a converted house on the corner of State Road 52 in St. Leos, its small parking lot fills up fast. After trying the barbecued ribs we can see why this new restaurant is so popular. The ribs, and everything that came with them, were delicious. The service was friendly and efficient and the prices are very reasonable. Treat yourself and give On Q a try!
Last week’s column covered what decisions you need to make about the outside of a computer when shopping for a new one. This week we will look at what is “under the hood.” With the improvements in desktop/laptop computers over the past several years, almost any computer you buy will most probably meet your needs. The notable exception is with the NETBOOKS that have become popular over the past year. Not to be confused with laptops, netbooks are smaller and weigh less than laptops. Their small size is what makes them desirable, especially for frequent air travelers, but to make the computers extremely compact, manufactures have sacrificed memory, processing power and storage space.
The heart of every computer is the CPU (central processing unit), which is controlled by a microprocessor. Microprocessors found in most computers today are made by two companies, Intel and AMD (Advanced Micro Devices), and both have received good reviews. Both companies feature several types of microprocessors with many different names, something that can be very confusing to the novice computer shopper. Basically, what you need to know is that there are three main types processors to consider: single, dual and quad core processing units (single computer chips with either one, two or four distinct processing units). While quad core is targeted at the high-end desktops market, dual-core processors are found in many laptop and desktop computers, and provide increased processing power (over single) that is needed in everyday computing tasks.
The speed of microprocessors varies from approximately 1.2 GHz (gigahertz) to over 3 GHz. To put the speed in perspective, unless you work with intense number crunching or high end image or video editing, even the lower processing speeds will be more than adequate.
The total amount of random access memory (RAM) is another consideration. While some computers still come with only one gigabyte of RAM, the minimum you should consider is two gigabytes, with four gigabytes being preferable. Why do you want so much memory? Because the more RAM, the better performance you will get from your computer. Windows 7 operating system requires a minimum of one gigabyte of RAM, but it works much more efficiently with two gigabytes. Purchasing a computer with four gigabytes of RAM sets your computer up to be ready for future operating system upgrades and software.
Finally, today’s computer processors are either 32-bit or 64-bit capable. The terms 32-bit and 64-bit refers to the way the processor handles information, and 64-bit systems can handle larger amounts of RAM — if you will be installing more than four gigabytes of memory you must have a 64-bit system. However, if you plan on running older versions of software and/or connecting older peripherals to your new computer, a 32-bit system is a better option.
You also want to give some thought to the storage capacity of the internal hard drive. On the low end are 120 gigabyte hard drives and on the high end are one terabyte (think 1,000 gigabytes) drives. Most computer will come with 320 GB or 500 GB drives and both have more than adequate amount of space for most users.
Other things you need to take into consideration are the number of USB ports (two minimum), a wireless internet card (802.11a/b/g/n), an ethernet port (to connect with a network), and a DVD-RW/CD-RW drive (plays and writes both DVD and CD discs). An additional feature you should consider is a webcam for video chats with friends and family back home. Finally, if you have a digital video camera, check to see if you need a IEEE 1394 port (also known as FireWire) to connect the camera to the computer.
Your final consideration should be the operating system installed on your computer. If you are buying a Windows based computer, be sure that Windows Home Premium is pre-installed. If you want to become more educated on any of the features mentioned in today’s column, spend a little time searching the internet. Good places to start are www.ehow.com and www.wikipedia.org. Knowledgeable sales people may also be able to help (when you can find them), but remember, their main goal is to make a sale.
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