Buying a computer is a major purchase so it�s important to know the kind of computer that will meet all necessary requirements before deciding on the one to purchase. Generally, the term computer refers to any device that has a microprocessor -- usually we think of a computer as receiving input through a mouse or keyboard, processing data and displaying results on a screen.

Types of Computers
There are a lot of terms used to describe computers. These terms usually refer to the size, use or capability of the computer. There are also a lot of different types of computer available for both home and business use. The following list of definitions should help make the decision-making process more straightforward.
  • PC -- The PC (or personal computer/microcomputer) is designed either for general use by a single person or it can be linked with other PCs on a network. While a Mac/Apple computer is technically also a PC, this term is usually reserved for systems that run Microsoft�s Windows Operating System, used by IBM-type machines. Apple computers are usually referred to as �MACs� and do not run Windows but run their own operating software. A workstation is a PC with a powerful processor, added memory and expanded capabilities -- it may often be used for a special job, such as graphic design. A desktop computer is the term used for a PC that is not portable -- this kind of computer will be set up in a permanent location. Most desktops offer more power, storage and versatility at a lower cost than laptops. While IBM-type machines (PCs) are most often used for home and business use, MACs have excellent capabilities and intuitive operating requirements when dealing with multi-media, such as music, graphics, photos and video and can suit a variety of business and domestic needs.
  • Laptop/Notebook -- a laptop or notebook is a portable computer that integrates a display, keyboard, mouse-type pointing device or trackball, processor, memory and hard drive in a battery-operated case about the size of a sheet of paper. It is designed to be portable so it can be used in any location and can be taken out of the home/office for use elsewhere.
  • Palmtop/Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) -- Palmtops or PDAs are integrated, very small devices that use flash memory instead of a hard drive for storage. These computers rely on touch screen technology for input.
  • Server -- A server is a computer that provides services to other computers over a network.
  • Mainframe -- A mainframe is a huge computer that could fill an entire room and handle millions of transactions daily. Today such computers are more usually known as enterprise servers.
  • Minicomputer -- A minicomputer falls in between microcomputers (PCs) and mainframes (enterprise servers). Minicomputers are often known as mid-range servers.
  • Supercomputer -- A supercomputer is comprised of many high performance computers working in parallel as a single system.
  • Wearable Computers -- The latest trend is wearable computers. Here, common computer applications such as e-mail, databases, multimedia and calendars/diaries are integrated into watches, mobile phones and even clothing.
How to Buy a Second-hand Computer
Buying a second-hand computer can work out cheaper than going for a new model. The easiest way to check this is to go online to compare the prices of second-hand and new computer systems to get a feel for the market. It�s important to have a clear idea of the things that the computer will need to do (i.e. will it be used as a simple word processor or will it need to be able to cope with more complex tasks such as game playing, streaming and downloading from the Internet) before coming to any decision. Then work out a budget and assess the best system that meets the budget -- getting an up to date and fast system with a lot of memory can potentially save money in the long term. It�s a good tip to avoid buying a computer system that is more than two generations (i.e. two operating systems) old.

Check out each system before deciding which one to buy, using these tips to ensure a successful second-hand purchase:
  • The person selling the computer should have the original receipts, manuals and software disks. If the computer is relatively new it may also still come with a remaining warranty period. If buying second-hand from a computer shop they may give out their own warranty/guarantee if the computer has been refurbished. Don't use pirated software as there is no guarantee it will work correctly, it could harm the system and it�s illegal. If you get the sales receipts, you can be fairly sure the machine is not stolen. Having the manuals and software will help you troubleshoot problems, install software and peripherals and choose add-ons, etc. If the computer comes without the operating system software, then this will have to be purchased before the computer will work and it can be expensive. If it comes with the operating software already loaded on then check that the licenses are up to date. Bear in mind that if it is necessary to buy operating software then the computer -- if an older model -- may not have enough memory to run newer versions of the software. Computers sold at auctions often come without the operating software because they come from large company� computer networks. They can't leave the software on the machine as their licenses would have been issued for their needs � i.e. operating a network or multiple user setup -- and not for a single user license.
  • Look at the machine�s condition by checking for dents, broken parts and missing cables. Try out the floppy and/or CD drives and open a word processing program to check it loads OK. Then press each individual key to make sure they all work and try to print a document to test the printer. Take a look at the monitor and make sure that lines, text, and images on the display are not bent, distorted or discoloured. Any of these signs would indicate that the monitor is dying and monitors can be expensive to replace. An analogue or digital monitor, flat screen or LCD are all fine options here. It�s also a good idea to open the most �resource hungry� programme that is loaded on the computer to test its speed and make sure it works properly.
  • If the computer is advertised as being capable of internet access, make sure that it has a working modem and software for it (for dial-up access) otherwise check out the way the previous owner accessed the Internet.
  • Ask how much memory and storage the machine has -- the more, the better. Most users will need a minimum of 256 megabytes of memory, but, if budget allows, go for at least 512MB or even 1GB if using demanding applications such as gaming, downloading and music and photo storage, for example. Memory and hard drive storage are relatively inexpensive and can be upgraded easily enough. If the computer will be used to play videos and/or games then look for better models that have a separate circuit board, called a video card, with the video processor and memory. For video cards, 64MB of RAM is fine. However, if there will be a lot of video work or advanced gaming, get a card with 128MB of RAM.
  • Nowadays most computers should come with optical read drives -- i.e. drives that can play CDs, DVDs or both. CD-RW drives will create/burn CDs -- these are the most common recording options but more expensive machines may have the ability to burn DVDs.
Take some time to assess the right kind of computer before making a purchase. It�s important to do this research and then to look at both new and second-hand machines both over the Internet and in shops. The one to buy -- whether new or second-hand -- is the one that can meet needs and budget and that comes with the best speed, memory and storage capacities. If buying a second-hand machine, be sure to follow the above tips and try to get a guarantee.
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07 February 2010
PowerMac G4 £120..
Powermac g4 for sale or swap with a blackberry only. powermac g4 1ghz , 1. 25gb ram 2 dvd multi drives one external one internal. non apple keyboard , apple pro mouse, 17" dell moniter tft. airport extreme card inc. .
£120
LE2
29 January 2010
Dell Laptop Motherboard Repair, Service & Replacement..
ztronics service provides dell laptop motherboard repair, service & replacement for all top major dell laptops in the market today, including: dell inspiron dell studio dell studio xps dell adamo service. ztronics. com also has a large inventory tha. .
LA16
26 January 2010
Cheaper Antivirus Avira, Kaspersky, NOD32, Norton Key..
Buy or renew cheaper antivirus online kaspersky, avira, norton symantec, bitdefender license software (activtion code, product key, serial key, cd key). visit: http://renew-antivirus. com product available: - kaspersky antivirus 2010 (1 pc/1 year) - kaspersky . .
DD7
01 January 2010
PBell Intel Celeron 3.2Gghz laptop, DVD writer, USB, La..
Please call & do not text - texts will not be replied to 3. 2ghz processor ! . yes 3. 2 ghz please do not call asking stupid questions, read the ad ! open to sensible offers, windows vista / xp, cpu type intel® pentium® 4 running at 3. 2 ghz, 40 gb hard d. .
£165
BD3
27 December 2009
120gb PS3 With games and 1 official ps3 headset ..
Hey, i am selling a 120gb playstation boxed in very good condition, it has some minor scratchs on the bottom from where it has been standing up. - playstation 2 120gb boxed with 1 controller - games include fallout3, call of duty waw, the orange box, gta iv, metal g. .
£250
SS6
22 December 2009
Dell Laptop Keyboard Repair Service by Service.Ztr..
service. ztronics. com provides best dell laptop keyboard repair service for all top dell laptop models including: dell inspiron dell latitude dell precision dell vostro dell xps dell studio xps dell studio we also have a large inventory that stores. .
LA16
19 December 2009
Searching for cheap computer parts? Visit www.unitedchi..
Established in 2009, united chimpdom is a small computer component and parts web-based business located physically in stevenage, uk. united chimpdom specialises in used and refurbished computer parts and accessories at clearance prices, from processors to hard drives a. .
SG1
15 December 2009
hp compaq laptop plus 8gb ipod touch..
Ipod 8gb 1,750 songs 10 hours of video earphones hp compaq the intel core 2 duo t5670 processor has been employed for internal processing. it offers a speed of 1. 80ghz. a 4gb ddr2 ram is also present in this laptop. 2 memory slots are available too, for memory ext. .
£350
NE3
08 December 2009
for sale emachine pc..
Hi im selling a emachine pc it is a 15. 4in flat screen monitor with tower,laser mouse,keyboard,speakers and a spare keyboard. no time wasters please.
£150
DH7
04 December 2009
HP G60- fully loaded-like new..
Specifications: -microsoft vista basic -3 gb memory -320 gb harddrive -amd athlon x2 64 -nvidia geforce 8200m w/ up to 1407mb vid memory -large 16:9 widescreen -webcam with audio -altec lansing speakers -5-in-1 digital media reader.
£250
LS26
AOC L42HA91 42" Lcd Tv Widescreen HDMI Wall Mountable 6..
manufacture aoc screen size 42" resolution 1920 x 1080 contrast ratio 4000:1 response time 6. 5ms interface hdmi,d-sub colour black warranty 1 years wall mountable yes . .
N14
29 November 2009
HP 250GB Desktop PC with 17" LCD Monitor ..
Hp 250gb desktop pc with 17" lcd monitor, dvd rewriter, speakers, wireless mouse & keyboard, windows xp operating system, excellent condition & in good working order, genuine reason for sale, can be collected or can deliver. .
£250
25 November 2009
Data Recovery Software..
Stellar information systems limited is the foremost provider of high-quality recovery solutions for all types of data loss situations. the service is performed in class 100 clean rooms using advanced tools and techniques. software are provided for windows, mac os x, li. .
S71
Sony Computer Monitor..
Sony sdm-e76d 17inch lcd flat panel monitor. very good condition. collection only.
£25
NE27
22 November 2009
NEW!! QUAD CORE FAST GAMING Phenom II 955 12.8 Ghz..
New gaming computer. get it now for christmas . quad 12. 8ghz with bios update socket am3 [the latest] black (overclockable) with asrock n78 fast boot motherboard boots into windows 10 times faster (in. .
£399
RG19
21 November 2009
New hp laserjet 29X tonner for 5000 series ..
New hp laserjet 29x tonner for 5000 series c4129x price for new is £125- quick sale price is £35- contact 07886 655 444 new (box opened) hp laserjet tonner c4129x for 5000 series price for new is £120- in the market, am selling it at q. .
£29
E6
15 November 2009
ASUS Eee BOX MINI DESKTOP PC FOR SALE..
* windows xp * 1gb ram * intel atom processor * external dvd writer * flat screen moniter built in wi-fi card reader moniter got built in sound .
£250
NE6
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