| A brand new computer needs to be personalized | | | | are for a child, a cheap printer might suffice |
| with whatever hardware and software you are | | | | (check how much the ink costs for the printer |
| going to need, whether for business, | | | | model you are looking at) and maybe some |
| entertainment or both. Most computers come | | | | educational software. If you require equipment to |
| with a CPU unit, keyboard, screen, mouse and | | | | produce work-related documents or graphics, you |
| speakers, which is a very basic configuration. | | | | will need something of a higher quality. If you only |
| Compare customizing your computer to baking a | | | | want to type shopping lists, the program Notepad |
| loaf of bread. You might just use a plain bread | | | | that comes with your Windows operating system |
| recipe and the results will be a plain loaf of bread. | | | | will do. If you want to produce better quality |
| Alternatively, you could add fruit and nuts for a | | | | documents, Microsoft Office is well worth buying. |
| more interesting bread, or cheese and mustard | | | | There is little point in buying every single |
| for something very different! My point is that it is | | | | accessory you can lay your hands on, if you are |
| totally up to you. Accessorizing does not have to | | | | not going to use it. If you can find a printer, |
| be expensive. You might decide, for example, | | | | scanner and copier in one that costs only slightly |
| that you want a printer and scanner in one and a | | | | more than a basic printer, you might wish to buy |
| webcam. You might want a digital camera so you | | | | that instead, just in case you need to scan |
| can upload photos on to your computer and email | | | | something one day, depending on how much |
| them to your friends. You might want surround | | | | space you have for such equipment. It is |
| sound speakers if you plan to download and | | | | important to understand that accessories can |
| watch movies on your computer. If you want to | | | | actually be 'necessities' and the best time to |
| create digital artwork, you need a good graphics | | | | purchase them is when you purchase your |
| tool. If you want to talk to family or friends on | | | | computer. Manufacturers are always developing |
| the other side of the world, you can do so by | | | | new technologies so an outdated computer might |
| sending emails. Or you might want a microphone | | | | not be able to drive the currently available |
| and headset and a webcam. This ultimately works | | | | software. If you have a Windows 2000 machine |
| out cheaper than phone calls and definitely | | | | and you find some new software that you want, |
| cheaper than plane tickets. It is not necessary to | | | | you might find that the software is too advanced |
| buy all the extras at once but if you have a good | | | | and only runs on XP or Vista for example. |
| idea of what you want to use your computer for, | | | | Computers do not come with printers, digital |
| it is easier to buy everything at once and install it | | | | cameras, microphones, scanners and the like |
| all. Then you have it when you need it. Extras | | | | because not everybody wants them. It is far |
| such as webcams, printers and scanners do not | | | | better to get the 'bare bones' and customize your |
| normally come included with the computer. | | | | machine for yourself. |
| Different people prefer different makes and | | | | With Go To My PC you can interact with your |
| models, depending on their budget and what they | | | | computer from anywhere. |
| plan to use the hardware for. If the accessories | | | | |