Picking out a home PC to suit your needs

Choosing the right PC requires careful consideration at the best of times, but even more so at a time when so many of us are struggling to keep on top of our finances. Household incomes are on the receiving end of a prolonged squeeze at the moment, so we need to ensure that we get maximum value for our money, whether we're buying barebone PCs from Dabs or top-of-the-range laptops. It might be tempting to just rush out and buy the first PC you come across, but you should really think carefully about whether you're really purchasing the one that's best for you. Make sure you give careful forethought before you buy - because it could really make a big difference.

An article from eHow.com makes a number of suggestions for those planning to go out and buy a home PC. It suggests conducting a spot of research before you go out and buy. It's worth asking your friends, family and colleagues if they have any recommendations. This should help you narrow down your search, thereby saving you time and effort. If you know anybody who's bought a computer recently, then it may be a good idea to go to them first. Make sure you ask them whether or not they've had any problems.

You also need to give careful thought to what you're likely to use your computer for. If you're only planning to use your PC to perform basic tasks, then you should be able to find something that's right for you without having to spend too much money on it. If, however, you're a keen gamer, then it's probably worth going for something that offers genuine power and can easily be upgraded in the future. It's a good idea to set yourself a clear budget before you go out and buy your PC - this should help you avoid the temptation of overspending and should also help you narrow down your search a little.

As an article from Techradar.com observes, there are a number of different types of computer to choose from, all of which have their own strengths. Netbooks - compact, internet-ready notebook PCs - are fine for the most basic tasks, and offer respectable battery life. They're also usually considerably cheaper than laptops or desktop PCs, for instance. However, they really are only designed for the most basic tasks - so don't expect generous hard drive space and RAM space. Netbooks also generally tend to be lacking in DVD drives, which again renders them limited in comparison to other computers.

Laptops have been usurped to a large extent by tablet PCs over the last few years, but it's worth remembering that laptop computers still tend to be considerably more powerful and their tablet counterparts. Furthermore, the falling prices of laptop PCs also means that you should be able to pick a reasonably powerful device up for a reasonable amount of money. Laptops are considerably bulkier than netbooks and tablets, but they're a lot of more powerful and so can handle more advanced applications.

Desktops aren't portable at all, of course - hence the name - but they are generally speaking the most powerful of all the computers available on the market. They also tend to be a lot easier to upgrade, so when you invest in a desktop you should be able to have some confidence that it'll be largely future proof. Whichever type of computer you choose for your home, it's well worth shopping around in plenty of places in order to find the best deal. Make sure you consult expert and customer reviews before you buy, as this should help you make a more informed purchasing decision.