Mslexia

Mslexia, the magazine for women who write | www.mslexia.co.uk

Essentials

Q: How do I choose a computer?

A:

◊ Before you rush out and buy the first computer a salesperson pushes at you, take time to consider 1) how you’re going to use it and 2) what your budget is.

◊ If you want to be able to work in cafés or on train journeys, buy a laptop if you can afford one (they start at around £700). If you work in a small room, consider an all-in-one computer such as an Apple Imac or the newer Emac. Separates (monitor, hard drive, keyboard), come with a tangle of wires.

◊ It doesn’t really matter whether it’s an Apple Mac or PC if you’re using it mainly as a word processor. For this reason, the speed of the computer, or the size of its hard drive isn’t such a big concern. Size and speed come into play if you’re using the computer for other functions, such as photography or music, in which case you may wish to double the RAM.

◊ If you opt for a PC, make sure it has a CD-Writer for backing up. A basic PC with Windows operating system costs about £350 (ex. VAT). Best then to fork out on Microsoft Word; Works Suite at about £100 provides the latest version. Macs, favoured by some for their stylish looks and legendary ease of use are more expensive; an all-in-one with a 17-inch screen starts at around £650.

◊ When shopping for a monitor, consider size, sharpness of display and colour fidelity (only important to those who manipulate graphics). It’s down to what you can afford. The cheapest are like TVs and you can get them at the local supermarket for as little as £80; swanky flat-screen ones start at around £200.

◊ Where to buy? For PCs check prices on at Dell, then go to a John Lewis store (computers come with a two-year guarantee plus technical support). For Macs, go to the Apple store

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