Question

What are the most important computer componenets/features for a small business owner? A retired gentleman on a fixed income? A young college student?

Answer 1

FOR A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER:

1. A Desktop or Laptop Computer

Whether you’re using custom desktop computers, easy to move laptops, to multi-user workstations, make sure you’re working with a reputable company for your computing needs. Weigh whether you want a desktop or laptop computer.

2. External Hard Drive

Some computers in your network may need an external hard drive to store certain types of information and help you stay organized. An external hard drive can be a wise investment for startup businesses that don’t want to store information in the Cloud or on their computers’ hard drives.

3. Network Server Solution

If your business will need any type of network to support your database, email applications, and other files, you’ll need to set up a network server. You can choose from several server solutions based on the amount of storage you need, security requirements, and backup options. Work with a specialist to ensure you are buying the right package based on current and future needs.

4. Wireless Router

Keep your office or workspace connected to the Internet wirelessly with a wireless router. A strong wireless connection can ensure high-speed connectivity to all linked computers and mobile devices. If you have a small space, keep in mind that working wirelessly will reduce the need for extra cables running in and around your office.

5. A Quality Printer

Whether you plan to print out all of your marketing materials or just need to handle basic jobs, invest in high-quality printers for fast printing times and energy savings. Minimize printing costs by encouraging your employees to work as a paperless office whenever possible.

FOR A RETIRED GENTLEMAN ON A FIXED INCOME:

1.RAM

Atleast 4GB RAM is recommended.

2.Screen size

Most probably 15.6 inches size is preferrable

3.Decent keyboard (responsive, not mushy, registers clicks flawlessly so typing will never be an issue for the elderly with hand impairments).

FOR A COLLEGE STUDENT:

1.Operating system

Windows 10 is one of the most popular operating system today. You may find it pre-installed in pretty much every laptop these days. It is easy to use. You can install any software, be it productivity to entertainment to games. Depending on what you’re studying, there might be specific system requirements such as Mac OS or Linux.

2.Storage

As a college student, you’re going to have a lot to store. There are documents, presentations, photos, movies, music, and much more. Most laptops today come with hard drives with capacities ranging from 500 GB to 2TB and above. A 1TB hard drive is sufficient for all the software you’ll need to install, but if you’re going to install game and store movies, you’ll need something higher. If you’re on a budget and settling for a 500GB drive, don’t fret. You can either buy an external hard drive at a later point with higher storage capacities

3.RAM

Most laptops today ship with 8GB of RAM, which is great if you want to perform daily tasks like using Microsoft Office, browsing the web and watching movies. If you are ready to spend just a little more, you might find options with 8GB of RAM. More RAM means multitasking between heavy software becomes simpler.

4.Processor

Laptops run on Intel and AMD processors. Choosing the right one is a bit difficult. If you are going to use your laptop mainly for college assignments, basic game titles and software, an Intel Core i3 or AMD A-series A6 or AMD A8 processor will suffice. For students who run heavy programming or graphic-intensive software, it may be worth spending more for laptops running Intel Core i5, Intel Core i7 or AMD A10 processors.

5.Graphics card

There are two types of graphics solutions found on laptops – integrated and discrete. The integrated ones are typically slower while the discrete ones are more geared towards performance. If you are going to use your laptop for playing basic games or just for browsing, watching movies, a laptop with an integrated graphics card is perfectly fine. Discrete graphic card solutions on laptops are typically powered by AMD or NVIDIA. AMD calls their cards Radeon, while NVIDIA calls their solutions GeForce.

6.Battery

The battery on a laptop is as important as the processor and RAM. As a college student, you might need to carry your laptop to college and back. You might not always get a chance to charge it at college. A good capacity battery can last hours on end. One easy way to find out the capacity of the laptop’s battery is by looking at the rating. It’s usually marked as a 3-cell, 6-cell, or 9-cell battery. You can usually find this information on the retailer or on the manufacturer’s web site.

7.Portability

After choosing the hardware specifications for your laptop, there are other elements that you can’t ignore, such as design, size, weight and the display size. If you are going to carry your laptop daily to college and back, look for a lightweight laptop. If you stay in a hostel, and it’s a full-time machine you’re using, a larger screen size might be recommended. It’s also useful for watching movies, playing games with your friends, reading notes and creating presentations. A larger screen size also means a wider keyboard, which is more ergonomic.

8.Higher-Resolution Screens

oday, you can find an affordable system with a 1920 x 1080 or higher resolution screen that will let you see more of your work at once while you're viewing movies the way they were meant to be seen. For example, the Acer Aspire E 15 is available with a full-HD screen for just $349. If you're willing to spend more, you can find laptops with 4K ultra-HD displays that output at a ridiculous 3840 x 2160