Affordable Computers Lexington - All computers are not created equal

Written by James Newcomb
Tuesday May 5, 2009
Page 1 of 5

All Computers are not created equal - Introduction

Time and time again it frustrates me to see and hear ads for computers that go something like this:

"For $xxx you can get a computer with a 3 gigahertz processor, 4 gigs of ram and a 750 gigabyte harddrive!"

To those that don't know much about computers, the computer in this ad may sound great, but this is ad really isn't telling us anything about what's inside the box!. The information given is just the tip of the iceburg, because this little catch phrase doesn't tell the whole story about the performance of that computer.

With computer technology, one thing that has to be known by anyone in the market to buy a new computer or a computer upgrade is this: There are specs WITHIN the specs that they aren't telling you about.

Let me explain what I mean by this - many computer parts are made with different performance levels for different price points (slow parts are cheap, fast, high performing parts cost the most). Most boxed computers you'll find at retail and outlet stores are shipped with the bottom rung of performance for the parts they have selected. This drives the price down and gives the computer an attractive price tag, but this also affects the ability to do certain things with the computer, and it's ability to be a fast computer for years to come.

There's an old saying in the technology industry - You have three options: speed, value, stability. Pick two. What this means is that it is virtually impossible in the computer industry for you to have an extremely fast, extremely reliable, and extremely inexpensive computer. Fast and reliable? yes, but at a premium price. Reliable and cheap? yes, but it won't be a high performer! ...you get the idea

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