FAQ:
Q1: I don't even want a brief explanation, what computer should I buy?
A: If you have a steady, middle-class job or better, I can quite confidently say you should get a computer by its price. You should get a Sony, Gateway, Dell, or whatever, but if you're buying by price, you probably don't want to go no-name. The price range should be something above US$1,500, or below US$2,000$400, or below $800. The RAM industry has been caught fixing prices, AMD, and intel have been in a pricing war, hard drive manufacturing has always been one of the tightest competitions, and they've gotten to the place where a large group of their customers will never use half of the entry size hard drives. Motherboards, power supplies, cases, and monitors have been relatively stable though.
Q2: Ok, so now I know all I need to buy a new computer, now, I'd like to know more... why?
A: To answer that, I'd like to sing a song called my howto.
Q3: I've read through your article, but for some reason, I still think that all this advice will go down the toilet by the time the sun rises.
A: As I may have stated elsewhere, in all cases except RAM, I have based my suggestions on price. This will be an adequate guide for several months at least, and probably several years, or, through the foreseeble future. Why? The computer industry has been this way since about the advent of the Pentium some decade ago. It's been true for about a decade, you just see if it won't last the next one.
Q4: Knowing the price is all well and good, but still, one of the things about IBM compatible computers is that there's such a variety. What shapes do they come in?
A4: Here's a list of formfactors that computers come in:

• Desktop
• Tower
• All-In-One
• Micro PC
• Rackmount
• Other

Q5: So why do you say buy from a known brand when I could get the same computer, cheaper, from a company that doesn't warranty their products, or provide service contracts?
A5: Because, although you can get a better deal in the short term, computers are very dicey propositions. If you buy from a well known brand, they will have a large pool of customers who they cannot blow off when they call for tech-support. Along those lines, I've heard from people in charge of buying decisions for large groups that service contracts are very worthwhile. If I understand correctly, Dell for instance, will charge you something like $250 for a 3 year same day (weekday probably) service contract that allows you to call a Dell subcontracted service technician to your door to fix your computer if there's a hardware problem.

To start with, depending on your level of knowledge of computers, I'd probably go over all the components involved, it's a straight list, so people unfamiliar with computers, goto appendix 'A'. So you know what makes up a computer, but that hasn't answered the why of this how to. There are certain things that change at an almost constant speed, an acceleration of technology. The things most affected by this include the motherboard, processor, and video card, some things that change as well, but not as quickly include Random Access Memory, hard drives, portable media, and Operating systems. Things, that in general do not change, are things like speakers, power supplies, cases, monitors, sound cards, and input devices. The price of a decent processor, as well as the price of any of the acceleration technologies, is going to be fairly steady. A processor these days, could range from $20, to more than $500. It's important to note that those prices are the figures of most commercial processors, in a original purchase state (no e-bay or swap meet stuff).

To explain, the $20 processors and the thought that what you need is a relatively recent processor, I give you the example of Morotolla's MC68k line of processors. They were around with the first macs, and they're around today. the chips that once drove the first personal computers after a few years were introduced to the video game market, and these days, you find a $20 RISC chip in your DVD player, or your portable MP3 player. These chips, have spanned decades, and still are chips you can base a web-browsing word processor on. When I say that you should choose a computer in the 1.7K dollar range, I mean you will get a stable, well supported computer, that will, in all likelihood, come with an absurd operating system(see Windows ME (I'm sure other corporations have made similar mistakes, but they aren't as well documented, I'm not attacking Microsoft in this article, it's probably the OS you'll end up using), and be fast enough to do the calculations necessary to launch a number of objects into orbit equal to two to the power of the last two digits of the year, plus ten. E.G. 03+10=13, 2^13=8,000. A bit complex, but the Space Shuttle uses 286's from the '82. What you are getting will be able to calculate pi to a ridiculous number of digits.

Now, an itemized list of the expected prices of the components of a computer. As you see now in the marketplace today with monitors, the average price of a good CRT before the LCD's came, was about $200, and the prices of LCD's are gradually going down to that level as the CRT's are phased out.

• Case
  • Range-$40... This is six pieces(top, bottom, front back, and sides) of thin metal per FCC electromagnetic emission standards, in the future you could see cases that owe their structural stability to the plastics used, and inside somewhere is a Faraday cage that blocks EM input and output through the atmosphere) to contain the EMI, but I haven't seen even the inkling of that in the market, so expect to see much of the same. There is the speculative entrance of the chibi(comically misproportioned, usu. small) PCs, like the shuttle PCs, There is great resistance to them because of the enormous precedent of PCs to expandability, and versatility, but they are so useful, and compact that they may edge into the hearts of middle America.

• Power Supplies
  • Price range=$40 These are where a lot of manufacturers will cut costs. If you want absolute stability, and $50 can drop into a hole and disappear and you won't mind, it's usually a good idea to get a very well manufactured Power supply. As I mentioned, a mainstay of the x86 architecture is its' expandability, and versatility, so if you buy a cheap computer and throw in a top of the line graphics card, it'll be as if you're powering twice as many processors, and twice as much RAM. Adding additional hard drives, and portable media drives all factor into the total power draw, and you need to be sure that that's not going to be a problem.

• Input peripherals
  • Both keyboard and mouse should run about 10 bucks, it might go as far as 30 for the both of them. To combat carpal tunnel syndrome, Microsoft has put out their 'natural' keyboard, which runs about $60, then for your pointer, there are mechanical, optical, mice, and trackballs. It's all subjective. it's true, that mechanical pointers will degrade more quickly over time, but you're still good for at least a decade with a $10 dollar mouse. Mouse or Trackball is subjective as well, choose what you're used to, or not. You're probably good either way.

• Monitors
  • You can probably get a nice 17" CRT monitor for $150 that'll probably be better constructed and have a better actual screen output than a LCD of a comperable price. What you want is a small 'dot pitch' and a flat screen. If you like the much smaller, and generally more advanced LCD monitors, the measuring scheme for CRTs, and LCDs is different, so a 15" LCD is larger than a CRT, these days 15"s are sorta cheap, and 17"s are probably the best buy, but they cost easily twice as much as a competing CRT, and the gain isn't worth it in my view though space can be a killer for CRTs depending on the situation.

• Motherboard
  • The motherboard will mostly cost between $60, and $300, good commercial models will run around $120. You have to match up your RAM, Processor, and Power supply with the Motherboard you buy. Once you've decided on the Processor you want, that will have to plug into a motherboard somehow, so far, you have the abilities to choose processors that connect via a expansion bus similar to how you attach expansion cards like disk controllers. You will see this sort of thing in SUN systems for instance, where you can put 4 processors into your system. Slot architecture, where you have a large green epoxy slab on which the processor is situated. this is similar to SUN's method, but is more common. It has currently been pushed aside for cost considerations, to match slots, your processor will be described as connecting to a slot type. So far there have been slot 1, slot 2, and slot A types. Socket: This is very popular. It is an almost direct connection of the processor to the motherboard. These days you'll see a plastic board which holds the actual silicon which is the processor, generally a large number of gold plated pins enter into a plastic 'socket' which is fastened by a bar that has two positions. In general, the layout of the pins on the underside of the processor prevent it from being put in the wrong orientation, or socket, but you must have a processor and motherboard of the same 'socket' these are designated by number. Be careful.

• processor
  • The Processor is the heart of the system. Everything feeds into it, in the x86 architecture, they do this in the manner of the North bus, and South bus. One is traditionally faster and wider (bandwidth), and one is slower, and more narrow. The processor can only do one specific operation at a time, in general, though processors do many many operations, in general, everything funnels through the processor. This leads greatly to the amount of focus there is on the processor. This comes though, with a few caveats. Video performance, is almost independent of the processor. The difference between the performance measured in FPS of a modern first person shooter on machines with the same GFX card, will vary maybe 10 frames when going from a 2 gig processor to a 3 gig processor (I am estimating, but read on) the total number of frames usually goes above a hundred, sometimes they are more than 200, so if you want a good gaming computer, and a 2.5 gig processor is 200 dollars, and a 3 gig processor is 500 dollars, do the math. Several factors decide the relative success of a processor. Right now, in the public view, there are three. Two fake RISC processors, and one that's unabashedly RISC to my knowledge. The x86 standard harks back to the '70s when there was a barrier of file transfer performance that could be crushed by using a new type of processor, with the CISC instruction set, and every processor in the x86 line has been required to have some CISC operations. The Apple chips don't have this problem, they run under a newer architecture, and that problem had been solved before apple's current architecture was formulated. So whether it's RISC or CISC makes a small difference. This, is primarily why you see things like the IA-64 architecture. It's all RISC goodness with an Intel name. The other three mainly public features of processors, are the clock speed, or how many times a second the process runs through one sequence of calculations, the size of the L2 Cache, and the size of the front side bus. You can read the nodes on them.

• RAM
  • The prices of RAM have recently contracted, and expanded. Several years ago, INTEL introduced the RD type ram. They found that the public was unwilling to pay so much for such meager performance gains, and then, true to the Moore's law (ty LJ {or is it I}) processor performance growth was exponential, doubling in 18 months. Leaving the once speedy RAM in the dust, the same RAM that the public had so embraced now suffered scorn, and loneliness. To combat this, the then favored flavor of RAM, Double Data Rate ram started expanding its' capabilities. Now in a dead heat, you should probably choose whichever is priced better. Here alone, is it good to choose by size. Mostly a user will want 128MB, Serious users will want 256MB Error Correction Code, and users of Video Editors will want more than they have, and more than they are allowed... the bastards (whether this refers to the users or the people only allowing them so much, is up to you).

• HDD
  The size of your Hard Disk Drive can range from 40,000,000,000 bytes (1 byte = 8 bits) to two hundred and fifty Billion. An operating may take up as much as one gig, your sundry applications will probably add a second gig to that, and figure about 500 MB for each game, 5 meg for each MP3, and 50 images per 10 MB. It's important to note, that you don't want to fill more than 50% of your hard disk, and you will experience significant performance loss at about 60%. You should spend about $100 on this item.

• Portable Media Storage
  • Expect to spend $60-100 for optical storage, and $150-$1,000 for Tape Backup.

• Operating System
  • Expect to get one gratis with a system that you buy as a unit, but if you assemble your computer, when purchasing your motherboard or processor, ask the vendor about operating system package deals, and what OEM software you can buy. in some cases you can get a operating system whose list price is in the triple digits for about $40.

Appendix A
List of PC Components

• Case
• Power supply
• motherboard
• Processor
• RAM
• Hard Disk Drive
• Removable Storage
• Monitor
• Speaker
• Input Peripherals
• Printer

The good thing about buying a computer today is that no matter what you buy, you will wind up with something that will be able to perform the basic tasks that will enable you to function in the electronic world. The problem in buying one lies in the amazing number of choices available. It is easier than ever for you to custom tailor a computer to fit your needs. There have always been choices in what kind of computer you can buy, but the available choices and the things you can do with them have never been more plentiful. Being an educated shopper can pay off handsomely in user satisfaction down the road. You only need to know what you need (and want) to do, and select the computer features that will get it for you.

Know what you want
As Joe Jackson once sang, "You can't get what you want, 'till you know what you want." The number one problem when shopping for a computer (or anything else, for that matter) is getting misdirected. Maybe there's a sale on a computer that almost meets your needs. Sometimes the salesperson has a quota or an incentive program going, and tries to talk you into the model they want you to buy. Maybe your kids are getting whiny, or the store is crowded, or you're just plain tired and you just want to buy something so you can go home. It's better to leave and come back later than leave with something that doesn't meet your needs.

Before you even leave your house, sit down with a piece of paper and write down what you want to do with your computer. Email? Gaming? Online chat? Writing? Publishing? Web Design? Even if this article were only to focus on things you can do with a computer, there still wouldn't be room to list them all. But all you need to do is write down what you want to do with it.

Want something for just web surfing and email? Then a basic computer system will do. Are you into gaming? Then you're going to need something with a fast processor and a decent amount of video memory. Are you a budding digital movie producer? Then you are going to need to add to that a ton of RAM and as big a hard drive as you can cram into the machine's case.

Small, Fast, or Cheap - Pick Two
When it comes to the CPU, the computer's brain, there are several things to remember. The faster the processor, the bigger it is and the more it will cost. The size isn't only due to a bigger chip; it also has to do with the amount of cooling it needs when running.

A computer chip is basically a tiny collection of transistors processing multiple streams of electrons as fast as possible. This means that a lot of electrical current is running through the chip at all times, and all that energy coursing through the chip generates a lot of heat.

The heat is handled by a bunch of metal fins attached to the chip called a heat sink. They carry the heat away from the chip surface, and are usually paired with a fan that blows cooling air through them to increase their efficiency. That's one of the main reasons why the most powerful chips need big boxes, to provide space for the heat sink and fans needed. The other is to provide space for future expansion.

Most basic computers will have processors with clock speeds over 1 GHz, and you don't really need anything faster than 2 GHz unless you are into fast-paced applications like gaming. Even then, the heavy lifting is performed by a graphics card, which contains a dedicated video processor chip and video memory. Graphics cards are usually rated by their processor's computing power, measured in the amount of data it can handle, usually in MegaBytes (MB). The more memory, the better the card operates, taking the load off of the CPU. The biggest buzz is over the new 64-bit CPU chips. These processors have a data bus twice as large as the present generation of devices. They are significantly faster, but the primary benefit is in memory access. A 32-bit processor can address up to 4 GB of memory, but a 64-bit chip can address roughly 16 million terabytes of memory. This massive capability hasn't yet been addressed by the software world (and won't be except for huge servers), so it is more for bragging rights than anything else.

Memory - not just for storage
As mentioned above, memory falls under two general types, temporary and permanent. A computer needs to temporarily store the data it is using while the software is running, and it needs to store data over the long term.

Random-access memory (RAM) is the memory the computer's CPU uses while operating. There has to be enough to hold the operating system, the open software programs, and the computations performed to run them. Today's software and operating systems require at least 256 MB to run well, and the number goes up from there.

The hard disk is where the computer stores the data it will need again in the future, keeping them safe even when the computer is turned off. The least you should go with is 40 to 80 GB, and for anything involving lots of graphics, 120 GB or more is even better.

There are other ways to store permanent or semi-permanent data. Sadly, for anything but simple text files, the floppy disk is useless. Today, one needs a CD-ROM burner (a DVD burner is even better) that can create data CDs for backup storage or sending data like images, presentations, or web site material to others (an added advantage to a CD/DVD drive is that you can use it to watch movies.) One can also get a flash-memory card reader so they can put the memory cards from digital cameras, PDAs, and other devices directly into the computer. Having the capability to deal with memory cards directly allows you to transfer data without having to worry about having the right cable for the device in question.

Cables and connections
Speaking of cables, what types are you going to be dealing with? If all you are doing is connecting to the web for email and surfing, all you need is a phone jack. For a faster connection via a cable modem, you need what is called an Ethernet or Cat 5 cable connection. An extra USB connection or three is also important if you have any external devices that you want to connect, like a digital camera, MP-3 player, or CD burner. Your computer will usually have a couple, but they are usually occupied by basic devices like the keyboard and mouse.

The important thing to remember about a USB connection is that it can also provide power to the device connected to it. That means if your computer doesn't have enough, you can't just rely on plugging in a USB expander in the future to increase the number of connections, unless the expander has its own power supply. For example, if you are running a keyboard with a couple of USB jacks in it, and you plug a flash memory "thumbdrive" into one and a device like the HP 4x6-in. photo scanner into the other (it runs from USB power) you can overtax the power bus in the USB jack the keyboard is plugged into. That's why most USB expanders allow you to plug in an additional power supply, to provide additional power to all the add-on jacks.

If you have a digital camcorder or other device with a high data density, it probably has a FireWire, or IEEE 1394 cable connection. This cable can also be used to connect external peripherals like a CD or DVD burner and hard drive. If you really like your music, a sound card is another device you can't do without. It will let you plug a set of powered speakers into your computer, and/or hook it up to your stereo system, useful if you are also going to use its DVD drive to play movies as well as burn disks for data storage.

Notebook or Desktop?
Deciding between a notebook and a desktop computer isn't as much about making tradeoffs between performance and convenience any more. Now, with better processors and LCD monitors, unless you need the fastest and most powerful available, notebooks now provide performance comparable to a desktop's, even for demanding applications like gaming and video editing.

The primary advantage of a notebook is portability. However, buying the smallest notebooks still involve making tough decisions about performance and features. Many people choose what is referred to as a "desktop replacement", a notebook that contains all of the features of a desktop, but may be too heavy and large to travel with regularly. These are used mainly by people who don't want to dominate a desk with a computer, or those that use their computer on a lap desk in front of the TV, or those that move their computers infrequently.

Chips made especially for notebooks are less powerful than their high-speed desktop counterparts, and don't run as hot. Although they also don't run as fast as the most powerful desktop chips, the fastest notebook chips are fast enough for most applications, including gaming and graphics processing.

One can buy notebooks and laptops with monitor sizes under 10 inches, or as large as 17 inches. In addition, the new "tablet" computers can be used as a writing surface or a laptop, and many are available with cradles to hold the unit when used as a desktop computer. The primary area where laptops lag behind desktops is in expansion, as they lack the room to add multiple drives, additional cards, or peripheral devices. You can add to a notebook-based system, but only with external devices with their own packaging and power supply.

With a little planning and some research, you can find the right machine for you. Just remember to be careful and know what you want to do with it, before you buy.

A rough breakdown of general system requirements:
Mainstream/basic system - Pentium or Celeron processor running at a speed of up to 2 GHz, 256 to 512 MB of RAM, and a 40-GB HD, and a 32-MB graphics card.

Power User/Gaming - Centrino, Power PC, or Pentium 4 running at up to 3 GHz, 1,024 MB of RAM, an 80- or 120-GB HD, and a 128-MB graphics card.

Video Editing/Graphics - Power PC or Pentium 4 running at up to 4 GHz with Hyper-Threading Technology, 2 GB of RAM, a 200 GB HD, and a 128-MB graphics card.

Computer Ninja - 64-bit Power PC or Athlon processor, from 4 to 8 GB of RAM, and an ATI Radeon 9800 Pro or NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 Ultra graphics card.