Tip #1 -- Rebates:
A rebate is not always a bargain. Computers with rebates are often close to being discontinued. You may pick up a good deal or purchase technology that's about to become yesterday's news. What's more, stores will often package computers with a bunch of free items to make it look like you're getting more value. Chances are the extras are either poor quality or items you're unlikely to use. Also, they're counting on you to not redeem your rebate, a very common occurrence.
Tip #2 -- Extended Service Warrantees:
Buyer Beware! They're a gamble, but not always a bad idea. If you're purchasing a laptop and you plan to travel a lot, an extended warranty that covers replacement of the monitor/display can be a good gamble. Replacing a display can cost $400-$600, making the warranty worthwhile. On the other hand, if you plan on buying the warranty for routine maintenance; save your money. Oftentimes it can take weeks for the store to send your PC out for service.
Also, remember the store where you purchased your computer does not always do warranty work during the first year, instead you may have to ship it directly to the manufacturer. In general, extended warranties cover electronics [things you can't see]. They don't usually cover physical damage. Most extended warranties have large gray areas, leaving the warranty provider a lot of room to reject claims.
Tip #3 -- Monitors:
Don't throw away your monitor if it's still working properly. Instead, keep it and save a chunk of money by just replacing your old CPU [computer tower]. Monitors last much longer than CPUs and the technology is usually compatible between your old monitor and the new CPU. However, if you're dissatisfied, then monitors, keyboards and mouses are the three tools to spend extra money on, since you use them every day!
Tip #4 -- Networking:
How are you connecting to the Internet? If you're using a high speed Internet connection, such as cable broadband or DSL, you'll want to make sure you have a network card built into your system. If you have a wireless network at home or at the office, save money and installation time by buying the wireless card built right into the computer.
About the Author
Sharron Senter is co-founder of http://www.visitinggeeks.com - an on site computer repair, security and networking company serving north of Boston, Southern NH and Maine. Visiting Geeks' technicians are crackerjacks at squashing viruses, popups and securing and making computers perform faster. Learn more about Sharron at http://www.visitinggeeks.com
While most small businesses really do need to find a... Read More
After reading this good article you will know some important... Read More
ComputersBusinesses and individuals alike have all grown to rely on... Read More
Occupational Therapy Made EasierMedical downloads for the pda have improved... Read More
JPEG, GIFF/JIFF, BMP, and TIFF are the most commonly used... Read More
1. Let your PC boot up completely before opening any... Read More
Stop Getting LostOne of the greatest uses for a pocket... Read More
You???ve studied hard; you???ve practiced your configurations; you???ve used your... Read More
Feeling overwhelmed in selecting a new TV? With all the... Read More
Everywhere you look today people are listening to personal audio... Read More
As the Web grows more crowded and just plain "noisy"... Read More
Many computer users are worried about their computer's performance. After... Read More
The registry is where the computer stores information about the... Read More
The United States Of America citizen feels that games is... Read More
Enhanced Definition Television ? also known as EDTV ? is... Read More
Since the DOS days, batch files have been one of... Read More
File permissions are one of the strengths that the Unix... Read More
Those small USB drives have so many names, pocket drives,... Read More
Buying Your PCBuying a PC that's right for you and... Read More
When I first started studying for my CCNP, some of... Read More
I have a p3 500MHz PC with 128MB RAM, 10.2... Read More
I got my eyes set on a iPod mini, as... Read More
Most people think that all you have to do to... Read More
It seems like fast never quite rates fast enough.No matter... Read More
There are many sources of heat that can raise the... Read More
express cleaning service Arlington Heights ..We all enjoy our favorite screensavers but in the same... Read More
In this era of Internet, most people are frequent users... Read More
OK, so you caught a computer virus and your system... Read More
I do a holiday letter every year and send them... Read More
Time is money. And when you constantly have to divide... Read More
This is not your typical lost data story. I was... Read More
Projectors have come a long way in the past few... Read More
If you utilize a computer at home or work it... Read More
Millions have enjoyed recorded music since 1877 when Thomas Edison... Read More
Computer related terminology could sometimes be daunting to newcomers. These... Read More
File Transfer Protocol (FTP) is a protocol that is part... Read More
Feeling overwhelmed in selecting a new TV? With all the... Read More
Apache, MysQL and PHP for Windows could be a nice... Read More
Saving Lives With A Pocket PCFree medical downloads can be... Read More
When you turn on your computer, does it act like... Read More
Perhaps not yet, but the handwriting might be on the... Read More
You don't have to fork out $250 for a super-diggy-whizbang... Read More
Do you remember the old saw about how computers would... Read More
With a little tweaking and with proper tools, you can... Read More
While most small businesses really do need to find a... Read More
Microsoft Business Solutions is on the way to popularize it's... Read More
Feeling overwhelmed in selecting a new TV? With all the... Read More
I recently took a good look at what was keeping... Read More
Spyware is the software that collects information about your online... Read More
I have always been interested in computers, but in the... Read More
Personal Technology |