Advice on purchasing a new computer

There are many factors that need to be taken into account when purchasing a new personal computer. The two main things that need to be given thought are Hardware (the internal workings of the machine itself) and Software. In this essay I will discuss each of these individually.

Hardware
The size and amount of memory on a computer is an important factor to consider when buying new as the size contributes to the speed and amount of work that can be stored on the computer. Computer memory comes in the form of a small disk in the tower or the base of the computer. If a computer with a small amount of memory on it is purchased, it is likely to be slow. If a computer becomes slow from save too many files, additional memory can be purchased and fitted to the computer.
One must also consider something as practical as the choice between a tower or base system case, although tower cases are the widely chosen system case these days.
The energy consumption of the hardware itself is an important factor to consider in today’s energy wasting society.
Software
There are two main software platforms for Personal Computers: “Windows” designed by Microsoft and “OSX” designed by Apple. They are two very different operating platforms with advantages and disadvantages to each. It is important to know what you want to be able to use the computer for to know which platform to choose. For example: I prefer to use Windows for my studies as I think it has a better word processing facility. I also find Windows to be more user friendly than OSX.
OSX does have its advantages. It has very efficient and user-friendly programmes for photo editing, graphic design and movie editing.
Users personal needs should be considered when choosing software. For example, if someone is interested in gaming they should choose software with a higher graphics acceleration.
These are the points which should be considered when buying a new Personal Computer.