Warwickshire's Silver Surfers Website - Information about buying a computer

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Buying a Computer

Information about buying a computer

Thinking about buying a computer?

There are many ways of buying a computer. You can purchase one from a large store, a local computer shop or on-line.

Visiting a large computer store has the advantage of you being able to discuss your requirements with a member of staff and, depending on the deals at the time, you may even get something free with your purchase!

There is also the option of buying from a smaller local computer shop. They can build one to your specifications so you may need to have an idea about what you want, but they can also be helpful if you are not sure what you need.

If confident in using the Internet, buying on-line can sometimes save you a lot of money. You do have the disadvantage of not being able to have a 'face-to-face' discussion about your requirements but you may feel that the financial advantage is more of a priority.

Desktop or Laptop?

The major advantage of a laptop is its size and portability. If you feel that you do not have space in your home for a full size computer, this will probably be the better option. The disadvantage of being portable is that Laptops may have a shorter lifetime than desktops, as they may have more knocks which can cause parts such as hard drives or screens to fail.

The following links are some suppliers of computers:

Currys
Dell
PC World
To find a smaller, local supplier in your area click Yell.com

Some tips when buying:

Make sure you ask for advice and that you tell the shop assistant what you plan to use the computer for, so you buy one that is suitable for what you want.
Ask whether having the computer delivered to your home and setting it up is part of the price.
Ask how long the standard warranty lasts and whether there is a helpline you can ring if you have problems and if it is free to call.