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TOC o “1-3” h z u Introduction PAGEREF _Toc88835560 h 2Factors Considered when Purchasing PAGEREF _Toc88835561 h 2Case PAGEREF _Toc88835562 h 2Type of Computer PAGEREF _Toc88835563 h 3Processor PAGEREF _Toc88835564 h 3RAM PAGEREF _Toc88835565 h 3Hard Drive PAGEREF _Toc88835566 h 3Keyboard PAGEREF _Toc88835567 h 4Graphics PAGEREF _Toc88835568 h 4Mouse PAGEREF _Toc88835569 h 4Touchpad PAGEREF _Toc88835570 h 4Ports/Connectivity PAGEREF _Toc88835571 h 5Protection of Investment PAGEREF _Toc88835572 h 5Purchase Decision PAGEREF _Toc88835573 h 5
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Computer Purchase Experience
IntroductionComputers have become very useful in almost every aspect of life, especially in academics. A computer is needed for studying, doing research as well as assignments. For a computer to complete the intended tasks efficiently, some factors and components need to be considered before one makes the purchase. This paper will present my computer purchase experience. Specifically, a detailed description of my computer components and an explanation of why I chose this computer will be presented. The paper is divided into two sections with the first part presenting the components and factors that I considered when purchasing the computer. The other section will discuss the features of the purchased computer.
Factors Considered when PurchasingCaseThere are three types of computers in this category, and they include tower, desktop, and laptop. Since the computer was intended to be used in academics, I settled for a laptop due to several reasons. Using a laptop has several advantages over the other categories since even though they can serve the same purpose, laptops are smaller as compared to the other computer categories, which are larger and have separate monitors. The small size of the laptop makes it portable, which makes it easier for me to carry it. Therefore, I am able to study and do my assignments even when I am not at home.
Type of ComputerIn this category, one has to select between Macintosh and PC. In this category, my choice was a PC due to the compatibility factor. This is because most of the software programs shared by the college are compatible with PC type of computer (“Mac Vs PC, n.d).
ProcessorThis was the essential factor when selecting a computer. Sometimes, the academic tasks can be a lot leading to a huge workload. I realized that I needed to choose a computer that has a powerful CPU and strong graphics processor, which would make my work experience better.
RAMThis is one of the essential components of a computer since it determines the performance of the system. It offers different applications a place to store and access data quickly (Manikandeshwar, 202). College assignments require a lot of research which means more tabs and more applications need to be open. Therefore, the ideal computer for me had to have more RAM for efficiency. Therefore, I required a computer with a minimum of 8GB RAM for maximum efficiency to be attained.
Hard DriveThis is basically what stores data in a computer. Currently, computers come with hard drives with spaces starting from 250GB. The plan was to use my computer while in college and to store personal files. Therefore, 500 GB storage was going to be enough for me. Even though my files may exceed this limit, I can use the cloud storage approach, which has become very important recently.
KeyboardThis is a very important feature since it allows the user to enter letters, symbols, and numbers. This is a crucial consideration for me when purchasing a computer, considering that college assignments need a lot of typing. In fact, this is the part of the computer that I use the most, which means I wanted it to be as comfortable as possible. Therefore, I was looking for a keyboard that is easy to use and which offers a satisfying feel.
GraphicsThis is the component whose main objective is to generate images on a computer (McConnell, 368). Most laptops have integrated graphics chipset; therefore, a separate graphics card is not needed. In academics, it is necessary to differentiate different features such as color or images, which requires the need for a computer to have a graphics chipset. Therefore, I needed a laptop with integrated graphic technologies, for instance, Intel HD graphics, AMD, and Nvidia.
MouseI was planning to use a mouse before purchasing the computer. I needed to select a mouse that suited my need which was a travel mouse. I needed a compact wireless mouse that I could carry with my laptop. A compact mouse was the ideal choice due to its capability to fit in a laptop bag.
TouchpadEven though I prefer using a mouse, I understood that sometimes I would have to depend on the touchpad to get things done. Therefore, an easy-to-use and the comfortable touchpad was essential. Therefore, I had to consider the size of the touchpad and its placement before making the purchase. My preference was a large pad with separate right and left clicks for comfortability.
Ports/ConnectivityPorts were an important factor to me since I needed to connect the laptop with different devices such as my phone and camera. Therefore, my ideal laptop needed to have USB ports even though most of the devices could connect wirelessly to the computer.
Protection of InvestmentAny computer that connects to the internet becomes susceptible to threats such as viruses, ransomware, and malware. Therefore, I had to protect the computer against such threats. To achieve that, I purchased an anti-virus program. Antivirus programs have the capability to identify, prevent and remove these threats from the computer. The ideal antivirus for me was Kaspersky antivirus.
Most of the web-connected programs need login credentials from the user. Therefore, to secure my credentials, Therefore, I was going to use different passwords for different sites such as the college website, bank, and others. This meant I needed a password manager application to save these passwords.
Purchase DecisionBased on the above-listed factors, I purchased a Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 8 (14”). This computer fits most of the above-listed factors, and up to now, this computer has performed the intended tasks efficiently. One of the fascinating features of this computer is its processor, which is 8th Generation Intel Core i7 8565U. This feature makes the device great at multitasking. Therefore, I am able to open as many tabs as possible when doing my assignments. The computer has also proven to be very fast in terms of performance due to its 16 GB RAM and processor speed of 1.80 GHz.
Another attribute that makes this computer ideal is the keyboard. The keyboard is high level and has keys that provide an enjoyable typing feel. The touchpad design of the computer is wider as desired, and the pad has a smooth surface with an integrated click mechanism. Additionally, the computer has USB ports and HDMI which are the features I was looking for before the purchase. I am now able to connect my computer to other external devices via these ports.
The battery performance of the laptop is also quite good, but it also varies with the settings. It has an average battery life of eight hours and 45 minutes which is fair. Another great advantage of purchasing this computer is its warranty. The laptop has 36 months warranty which will safeguard my investment.
Furthermore, I bought the Logitech M535 mouse, which was released in 2015. This mouse is ideal due to its portability, performance, and fair price. Additionally, it is a Bluetooth-only mouse which means I do not have to worry about connecting it via the USB port.
Works Cited
Mac Vs PC – Difference And Comparison | Diffen”. Diffen.Com, https://www.diffen.com/difference/Mac_vs_PC.Manikandeshwar, M. “Computer Hardware – An Overview”. International Journal Of Science And Research, 2013, pp. 200-203., https://www.ijsr.net/archive/v4i10/SUB158622.pdf.
McConnell, Jeffrey J. Computer graphics: theory into practice. Jones & Bartlett Learning, 2005.
