Computer buying guide

Work through four questions in order and the specification largely writes itself. Most bad purchases come from answering them in the wrong order.

One: does it need to move?

This decides more than any other answer, because portability is expensive and is paid for in capability, cooling and repairability. If the machine will live on a desk, a desktop gives more computer for the money and can be changed later. If it travels daily, that cost is the thing you are buying and is worth paying.

Two: what is the heaviest thing it will do?

Specify for the demanding end of your work, not the average. A machine that handles email comfortably and struggles once a week with the task that actually matters is a machine that will frustrate you weekly.

Be specific about that heaviest task. "Photo editing" spans a phone snapshot and a hundred-layer composite; the two need different machines.

Three: how long should it last?

A three-year horizon and a seven-year horizon produce different specifications, particularly for memory. Machines are most often retired because they ran short of memory or storage, not because the processor became slow — so a longer horizon means buying more of both at the start, especially where they are soldered and cannot be added later.

Four: what happens when it breaks?

Every computer eventually needs attention. Ask whether the memory and storage can be replaced, whether the parts are standard, and who you will take it to. A machine that is cheap to buy and impractical to repair can cost more across its life than one that is neither.

We repair what we sell, in the same building. New parts carry a one-year warranty, excluding acts of God, physical damage and neglect.

Common questions

How much should I spend on a computer?

Enough that the heaviest task you named is comfortable, and no more. Spending beyond that buys capability you will not notice; spending below it means meeting the limit regularly. Naming the heaviest task honestly is the part that decides the budget.

Should I buy now or wait for new models?

There is always something newer coming. If your current machine is holding you up now, waiting costs you real time for a modest future gain. If it is coping, waiting costs nothing. The state of your current machine decides this, not the release calendar.

Is a more expensive computer always faster?

No. Price reflects build quality, screen, portability and support as well as speed. A more expensive laptop may be lighter and better made while doing less work than a cheaper desktop. Compare against your own requirement rather than on price.

Turn this into a specification

Answer the four questions to us and we will propose something concrete.

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