To hear Steve tell it, buying a computer was, by now, supposed to be as simple as grabbing something off the shelf at the grocery store. However, Angela notes, even if it's easier to buy a machine these days, knowing which one to buy still requires some decision-making. And so the Duo set out to streamline the process. They didn't look at every computer on the market--and neither should you. Instead, they've got a little list of questions you should ask yourself before you head for the store.
First question, says Angela, is the same one you probably ask yourself whenever you make a major purchase: What are you going to do with the thing? Obviously computers can do more than ever; Steve points to the explosion of digital photography as one example of stuff you probably didn't do years ago that you probably have at least considered trying now. (And even the cheapest computers on the shelf this year are more powerful than the high-end, high-dollar models of three or four years back.)
But the oldest rule of thumb stands: Simple tasks--word processing, e-mail, and light Web surfing--require only a simple, inexpensive machine. Speed's not an issue, and as a status symbol ... (what, you're watching the Duo for the fashion tips?). On the other hand, some popular uses for computers--serious gaming, or pro-level video, or graphics editing--still require top-shelf gear, not to mention some close attention to certain components that most of us never think too much about. The trick, say the Duo, is navigating the computer uses between those two extremes.
A few users may, however, have needs that immediately circumscribe their buying choices. For instance, some handwriting-friendly folks may be interested in Tablet PCs, which allow users to operate the computer simply by scribbling on the screen with a special stylus. Steve's handwriting is wretched, and Angela crashed the machine multiple times during her testing, but if this is your cup of tea, these things are out there. More popular lately is the use of the computer as an entertainment center for storing photos, music, and video. If that's a priority, says Steve, you might consider a Media Center PC, which lets you use your hard drive as a TiVo -like digital video recorder. (Though, he grumps, most of those types of machines turned out to be somewhat flaky during our testing as well.)
So ... commodity? Not so much. But thoughts of new machines should raise another skeptical point for Duo viewers: If you've got a decent machine already, why replace it, or why replace it now?
Steve advocates for holding on to gear as long as you can. As long as your machine's doing what you want it to, just make sure you've got everything backed up--and then wait for it to die. But sooner or later, notes Angela, you will find yourself wanting to do something you simply can't do with your current machine. The good news is that next time you buy, whenever that is, you'll get a lot more for your money than you did the last time around. And the corollary to that is a piece of even better news: When buying computers, there's almost never a penalty for waiting.
