Shopping for a Computer; Inside a Computer

Tom Kelliher, CS 102

Sept. 12, 1997

Announcements

Account problems: See Dan Luskey in Van Meter 162. Or anyone else who's there. Let me know if problems.

Assignment

Reading:

1. A helpful, yet cool, PC Guide.

2. Dave's Guide to Buying a Home Computer.

3. Introduction to PC Hardware.

Shopping for a Computer

Things to consider:

1. What do I want to do with the computer? Telecommuting?

2. What software do I need?

3. PC or Mac?

4. Where do I buy it?

5. Can I return it if I don't like it or if it's a ``lemon?''

6. What about the warranty?

7. Service and support?

The Computer Itself

A Motherboard.

An inside look at a system unit.

Yahoo.

How much software comes with it?

Software

What do you have to know when considering a piece of software?

Let's take a look:

1. Intuit.

2. Broderbund.

3. Microsoft.

Where to buy?

1. ``Boutiques,'' superstores, direct marketing.

2. Computerland.

3. CompUSA.

4. Dell.