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Computer Sales
Piraino Enterprises is the only name you need to know for all
of your Computer needs.
Why search from store to store or web site to web site. One Company. One Call. Piraino Enterprises.
For over 5 years our
customers have had the convenience and economical solution of dealing with
only
One Company. One Call. for all of their computer purchases.
Shouldn't You?
Contact us for an initial consultation
at no charge.
To get your "Free"
consultation click on the link below and fill out the
Consultation Form.
Click HERE for Consultation Form
Helpful Guidelines To Buying A Computer.
In the computer world FASTER is better. The speed of a computer, how
fast it will run your programs, is determined by the clock speed of
the microprocessor. The standard unit of measurement of speed is
megahertz (MHz). All you need to remember is that the higher the
number, the faster the machine.
Buy a computer with the fastest microprocessor you can afford because
at the end of four years it will be the slowest still available on the
market. No matter how much you upgrade newer and better models will
continually appear.
Most of us object to paying for something, only to find it worth much
less a short distance down the road. Unfortunately, you might as well
get used to it. You also might as well jump in when you need a system
and look at the price as an investment instead of an expense.
Buy your computer based on what you're going to do with it. If you've
never used a computer before, you may not know what you'll use it for,
so you'll have to use your perceived needs and your budget as your
rule of thumb. In that case, a good rule of thumb is to buy as much
computer as you can afford and earmark ten to fifteen percent extra
because you always end up spending more than you plan.
Another rule of thumb is to get the fastest PC you can afford.
Computer speeds are measured in Megahertz (MHz) and the higher the
number the faster the microprocessor runs - at least in theory.
There's a lot more to a computer's speed than just the microprocessor
clock speed (like amount of RAM, cache, etc.) but it's a good
starting point.
Spend as much as you can comfortably afford. The more you invest, the
longer your system will remain viable.
Technology continues to evolve at a rapid rate. Newer technology is
always right around the corner, but this should not deter you from
buying the system you need now.
Unless you have specific needs, you don't need to acquire the
absolutely highest level of current technology. On the other hand,
saving a few dollars by buying low on the technology curve is a false
economy.
When you buy a desktop, one of your main goals is that you want it to
be upgradeable. That means the following can easily be removed and
replaced:
| Hard Drive |
CD/DVD Drives |
| Memory (RAM) |
CPU |
| Video Card |
Sound Card |
If any of the above cannot be upgraded, you are buying into a
closed system – like a laptop. All laptops are closed systems because
their video, sound, and CPU generally cannot be upgraded.
Lower Priced Desktops.
Many lower priced (less than $800) Celeron/Duron desktops made by
almost all computer manufacturers should be carefully investigated
before purchase.
Most of these low priced desktops have no AGP video expansion slot, no
onboard dedicated video RAM, no CD-RW drive, and very few empty PCI
expansion slots.
These computers will be very difficult to upgrade, and they have
poorer performance than other desktops that do not have integrated
audio and video chips soldered onto the motherboard. Upgradeable
computers have removable video cards, and sometimes removable sound
cards.
Integrated Audio.
A few years ago, integrated audio chips did a very poor job of
providing good stereo sound. However, these chips have really
improved and they are probably more than adequate for the average
computer user. However, if you are an audiophile, you'll probably want
a sound card, so make sure the computer you want to buy has a free PCI
slot for a sound card (or buy the computer with the sound card
installed).
Technical specifications are not the whole story. Piraino Enterprises
uses only the highest quality components and construction and we are
able to service your system On-Site should the need arise.
You will need to weigh some trade-offs in deciding to how much to
spend on specific components of a new system. The following section
summarizes some of these considerations.
System Targets
Technology continues to evolve at a very rapid pace, but a system that
meets or exceeds the targets outlined below should serve general needs
for at least three years. Systems at the bottom of the current product
line are often available at considerable savings, but will have a
shorter useful lifespan.
Some minimum targets for a decent system that can run contemporary
software are outlined below. You should be able to buy systems that
meet these targets for less than $2000. With the fast pace of
innovation, particularly in processor speed, any recommendation for a
specific level of system will soon be out of date. These guidelines
are current as of early 2004.
Pentium-class processor
256 MB of memory (RAM)
20-GB (gigabyte) hard disk
a monitor that can display at least 1024 x 768 resolution in 16-bit
color
CD-ROM, CD-RW, DVD, or DVD-R drive
Ethernet interface or modem for connecting to the Internet or network.
Further details about these recommendations...
Processor (CPU) -- Speeds of 2.0 GHz and up are now common. You will
pay a significant premium for the absolute latest and greatest
processor technology; for most people, buying a step below the top of
the curve should suffice. Upgrading the processor is generally not
cost-effective; you should anticipate staying with your initial level
of processor until you are ready to purchase a new machine.
Memory (RAM) -- The amount of memory installed in your computer is one
of the biggest factors in its performance. The more memory you have,
the faster your software will run, the more applications you can run
at once, and the easier it will be to switch between applications.
Adding more memory is relatively inexpensive.
Don't skimp on memory! Prices are quite low, and additional memory
will give you the most noticeable improvement in speed. 512 MB is a
decent minimum for a new system. Some systems are still shipping with
128 MB of RAM installed, and this may well suffice for your immediate
needs, but moving up to 256 MB (or more) is strongly recommended.
It is particularly important to have a generous amount of memory
installed in laptop or notebook computers. When a system is low on
memory, disk activity will increase, draining your batteries more
rapidly.
Piraino Enterprises systems will allow you to add more memory later,
without having to discard any of the original ones. particularly if
you are buying in at just the minimum target level.
Hard disk space -- New systems commonly come with drives that hold 20
GB or more. Most systems will allow you to add more disk space later,
either as a second internal drive or as an external unit.
Monitor -- You should not buy a new system with a monitor any smaller
than 15". 17" and 19" screens are increasingly affordable. While you
may be able to save a bit of money with a 15" display, buying into the
larger screen size is recommended. Flat panel (LCD, plasma) monitors
are becoming increasingly affordable.
Regardless of screen size, your system should be capable of display at
a resolution of 1024 x 768 pixels (picture elements) with at least
16-bit color (32 thousand different colors). A new system should come
with at least 8 MB of VRAM (video memory).
The level of detail a screen can display is expressed as dot-pitch or
aperture grill. The smaller the dot-pitch, the better; .25mm to .28mm
is a reasonable range.
Compromising on the quality of your monitor is a bad way to save
money. Note that the only way to upgrade a monitor is to buy a new
one.
CD-ROM or DVD drive -- These days a CD drive is essential, as new
software is no longer distributed on diskettes. Note that the DVD
drives can also read standard CD-ROMs. Some systems can also write to
CD or DVD.
Networking -- To connect to Internet services, you need either a modem
(for dial-up access) or an Ethernet interface. You should not buy any
system that isn't compatible with Ethernet-based networking.
Other components -- At the time of purchase, you might also want to
consider acquiring:
Speakers and a Sound Card/Board. On most new systems these are
included. On budget systems these may be integrated with the system
board, which is less desirable.
Printer. Having your own printer can be a great convenience,
Scanner.
Why buy from a computer superstore,
office supply, electronics, department, mass-merchandise, warehouse
store, computer show, value-added reseller or a mail-order catalog
company, Skip all of that.
Our
customers have had the convenience and economical solution of dealing with
only One Vendor for all of their computer purchases.
Shouldn't You?
One Company. One Call. Piraino Enterprises. When high-tech help is needed One Company. One Call.
The
highly trained employees of Piraino Enterprises can handle all
your computer needs. |
