Buying A Computer 

Looking to buy a new computer?  How do you know which one is right for you?  When buying a new computer, here are some things to consider.  I believe these recommendations are suitable for the every day user.  High tech gamers, graphic designers, video editors, etc. have special needs.  These are recommended values.  Depending on your particular needs, you may be able to get away with less or you might need more.  Feel free to contact me with any questions.

Processor
Pentium 4 or Core Duo.  Avoid the Celeron.  Although less expensive, the Celeron processor is slower and accesses memory at half the speed of the Pentium class.

AMD Athalon.  The sempron is the equivalent of the celeron and should be avoided.

Memory
I recommend a minimum of 1 gigabyte (gb).  If you have Windows Vista, 2 gb is probably a better start.  Memory allows your computer to run faster because the computer doesn't have to store items to physical disk.  Computer memory is a lot like your brain.  The more you can hold in your brain the faster you will be able to recall it.  If you have to write it down, then you have to first find where it's written and then read it.  That's what happens when a computer's memory fills up.  It needs to write things to disk and then later, find out where it is and read it.

Disk Space
Disk drives are cheap.  Get as much as you can afford but realize that 80 gb is probably sufficient.  If you are going to be storing high resolution photos and videos, then you should consider double (160 gb) or even triple (240 gb) that amount.

CD/DVD
I recommend one DVD+/- RW drive for burning CD's and DVDS and an additional DVD drive for copying CD's and DVD's.  You can get by with a single drive, but having the extra drive will save you a lot of time if you copy CD's/DVD's on a regular basis.

Floppy Drive
Most computers don't include these anymore.  If you still have a lot of data on floppys you will want this.  If not, there's no need to have it.

Card Readers
These are most useful for reading the various types of flash memory that come with digital cameras and other devices.  A card reader will allow you to remove the memory card from one device and insert that card into the computer to be read.  No need to install additional drivers for your particular device.  This is a great time save when you borrow someone else's digital camera but don't have the necessary software or drivers.  Just take out the memory card, insert, and download your pictures.

Video Card
Having a good video card will free up your computer's memory to do other things.  If you want to use the advanced video features in Windows Vista, I recommend a video card with 256 megabytes (mb) of memory.  This will allow you to view video at a higher resolution.  You can even get video cards that have TV tuners built into them.  Use these to turn your computer into a multi-media station that can watch, record, and pause live tv.

Keyboard/Mouse
For a few extra dollars (35 - 100), you can get a wireless keyboard and optical mouse.  I recommend this because it cleans up some of the wire clutter and gives you a little more freedom.  In any case, make sure you get an optical mouse.  Optical mice use light and motion to control the on screen pointer.  The days of having to clean that internal scroll ball are gone.  Thank goodness!

Monitors
Flat panels are the way to go.  If you plan on using your computer as a mutlimedia work horse, you should probably consider a larger, widescreen monitor.  A typical user will appreciate a 17 or 19 inch monitor.  To save space, I recommend monitors with the speakers built in.  Gamers and movie makers will probably want seperate speakers that include a sub-woofer.  Some monitors come with a USB hub built in which allows you to plug USB devices into the monitor rather than having to run a cable to the back or front of the computer.  Double check the amount of power the hub provides as some devices may not be able to be run from the hub and may have to be plugged directly into the computer's USB port.

Printers
I don't claim to be an expert in this area as there are just so many to choose from.  If you are going to use it to print photos, you probably want a photo quality printer.  If you are using it mainly for business, I recommend black and white laser printers.  They are very affordable and you will save money on the ink.  Laser printers are faster than inkjet printers and produce better quality.  Prices for color laser printers are dropping fast.  Inkjet printers are less expensive but over time, the cost of the ink may catch up with you.  These are good printers for people on a budget as you can usually get an all in one (printer, copier, fax) for the price of a black and white laser printer.