HOW to BUY a PC HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT (50 Points) DUE NOVEMBER 27, 2012

HOW TO BUY A PC HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT (50 Points) DUE NOVEMBER 27, 2012

At some point, perhaps while you are taking this course, you may decide to buy a Personal Computer (A Desktop or a Laptop)! The decision is an important one, which will require an investment of both time and money. As with many buyers, you may have little computer experience and find yourself unsure of how to proceed. You can get started by talking to your friends,coworkers, family, and Professors about their computers.
Follow these Guidelines:
No.1 Give yourself a limited Budget (Min $500- Max $1200)
No.2 Do you want a Desktop or Mobile Computer? Why?
No.3 For what purpose will you use the computer? Qualify all the software needs for you to have on a Home PC (e.g. Word Processing, Web Browsing, Accounting, Playing Video Games, Watching DVD movies,Animation and Graphic Design, Spreadsheet and Management Graphics etc. etc.)
No.4 Should the computer be an Apple Mac or IBM (or compatible)PC?Why?
No.5 Determine and name the specific Operating System & Software you want to use on your computer
No.6 Determine and list all the Hardware components and their details inside the PC (e.g. Clock speed,RAM size,Cache size,Hard disk capacity,Monitor Spec, list all Cards, Ports,Drives, all other attachments etc.) You can do this by visiting a number of High Street/Mall Computer shops such as BestBuy etc. or Online (places such as Gateway.com, DELL.com , BUY.com or direct from manufacturer's).
No.7 Determine whether you want to use telephone lines or broadband(DSL or Cable) to access the Internet? Why?
No.8 Select an ISP or OSP in your region.List the Cost and reason
No.9 Once you have looked at a number of Personal Computers, short list THREE (3) machines you liked.Then use the Excel Worksheet in References below to compare your choices of your 3 candidates (Include as much hardware info. as you can), and come up with a FINAL candidate and recommend that system. Tell us why you chose that particular system, the cost and details, include extended Warranty or Service Plan(Be aware of hidden Costs - Consider more than just price)
No.10 Include a Printer with your system.

References:

1-Personal Computer Hardware Base Components Worksheet

2-You can also look at Intel's PC Buyer's Guide

3-NOTE: You may choose a self assembled machine as one of your choices.