Computer Buying Tips for Single Parent Families

The decision to buy a computer for the first time or to replace an aging or obsolete one is a significant decision for single parent families, especially if there will be only one computer for the family.

When considering the purchase of a computer, here are some basics you need to know:

Computers come in all sizes and for your family, only consider a desktop, not a laptop. And, the hardware, what's inside your computer, which includes the hard drive, random access memory (RAM), central processing unit (CPU), graphic card, and the optical media drive must be essential in your consideration.

Since your computer will have multiple users, let's first consider the hard drive. The hard drive is the central storage device in your computer. It will be used to store your digital music, photos, and video collection. Go for a hard drive with a minimum of 750GB (gigabytes). Think of this as the equivalent of about 160 DVDs. However, 1 TB (terabyte) of drive space would be even better. By doing so, everyone will have adequate space to store their personal media.

Second, consider your RAM which is your Random Access Memory. This is where your computer stores programs and data while it is on. Consequently, you need to buy a computer with 4GB or more of RAM. Keep in mind that if you want more than 4GB of RAM, you will need a 64-bit operating system (OS), because the 32-bit OS can only use up to 4GB of RAM.

Third, consider the CPU or central processing unit referred to here as the processor. This is the device that actually performed the computing tasks. In considering the processor, go for a quad core processor instead of the dual core which describes the number of processor cores found on a single processor die. Multiple processors have the ability to separate the handling of tasks to share the load so that the job can get done more quickly. Most current programs are designed to support quad core processing and even the older programs will work better with the quad core or multiple core processor.

Fourth, consider the graphic card. This is the component that plugs right into your motherboard and without it your PC could not display images. If you and your children plan to play video games or movies, then you need to have a dedicated video card. Buy a computer with the video card that offers the largest amount of memory. The computer would then be able to play your games faster and offer greater support for high definition video, such as 1,920 x 1,080 or larger.

And finally, the optical media drive enables your computer to read CDs, DVDs, and Blu-ray discs. Nowadays, most computers come with a DVD burner that can both play and record media on DVD. If you and your family will be only watching DVD movies, then you will be in good shape.