By Adrian Santangelo, July 15, 2007

Before You Begin

Choosing a computer shouldn’t be a chore. Finding the right place to purchase from first will help! Make sure the store has knowledgeable staff and specializes in computer repair and service, as they will have the experience necessary to properly assist you. Call them first and ask questions - they should be helpful and not make you feel like you are “wasting their time” – and of course knowledgeable about the various options. You’ll also find that custom built systems will have a better value then “off the shelf” systems. The biggest reason: quality of parts. A “big box” chain store usually stocks only the mainstream systems that weren’t built on-site. Unfortunately these big OEM’s (Original Equipment Manufacturers) buy their parts in bulk, frequently from the cheapest bidder. Stores that build custom systems will buy “best of breed” parts, meaning they shop for the higher quality parts, as they won’t be getting huge volume discounts, plus they are not required to buy certain things because of partnership programs. A custom built system will also allow you to only purchase the parts you need rather then overbuying “because it’s what they had”. Anytime you add unnecessary features and software to a system, you can introduce problems. You’ll also find that stores specializing in system building and repair will frequently have a better warranty. No need to call an 800 number just to struggle with the person on the other end for hours! Local shops care about the systems they build. Lastly, a custom built system will be much easier and cheaper to upgrade as all parts are standardized, unlike the proprietary parts used by the big OEMs (This is where they make their money - over charging for after-market parts!).

The First Step- The Question

A good system builder will start out by asking you one question, which you should do your best to be prepared for: What are you going to use the system for? Though computers are designed to do a multitude of tasks, having one built around your major task(s) is ideal. For example, if you plan on using your system for basic productivity (Office/Internet), buying a system with high end audio/video components will likely be a waste of your money and could even lead to frustrations. Instead, let a custom system builder design a system around your needs. You should never have to adapt to the system - it should adapt to you!

Accessories & Software

Once you have figured out the best parts for your system, the next task is to figure out the accessories. Wireless or wired mouse/keyboard? What type of Internet access are you going to have (high speed or dial-up)? What size of monitor are you going to need? All these questions should be easy to answer after talking to the staff. They should be able to explain the advantages and disadvantages of each option. Since these items are going to be how you interact with the system, don’t let the store skip through them quickly. Get all the information you can! Also pay attention to what is installed – full version or trial? Freeware or shareware? Bloatware or useful applications? Especially look at the security software. Malicious software (or malware for short) is everywhere online. Estimates put the number of infected systems above 90% - make sure the store you choose explains your antivirus options and why they pick a certain product. Just because a certain program is popular does NOT mean it is the best choice. Many “big box” retailers push products they can make the most money on, not the ones that will do the best job.

Warranty

Now that you have picked out your perfect package, you should make sure it is protected. Since all computer parts are mass produced, they can simply fail. Make sure you get a solid warranty for at least 1 year. Be sure to ask what the manufacturer’s warranty on the parts is AFTER the store’s warranty expires. (Many of the big OEMs will not cover systems sold at the “big box” stores.) This can be from 1-3 years, or even a lifetime warranty. A good store will provide priority service for all warranty repairs, as well as cover parts and labor if the need arises. You should never feel “like a bother” because your system had an issue covered by the warranty.

Maintenance

Any good computer builder can provide maintenance instructions for your system. This will increase the life of your system and lessen the likelihood of problems cropping up. It can also help the builder reduce the amount of warranty repairs, so those that care will help!

Upgrades

Eventually, every system needs to be upgraded. With the fast paced technology advances of today, you may find yourself needing an upgrade sooner then you think! The average lifespan of a computer is 3-4 years, but many decide to upgrade sooner then that. With a custom system, you don’t have to go buy a whole new system when the time comes - simply upgrade the parts as needed. (This is a good reason to ensure the location you purchase your computer from specializes in repairs and service, as well as system building.)

Beyond The System

Computers require attention beyond just the assembly. You may run into software issues, have networking troubles, Internet service provider questions, etc. Making sure you choose a store that can help you with all your needs will greatly reduce the amount of frustration and problems you’ll have. Lastly, most people are going to run into questions while using their system. Ensuring the store you choose has friendly, knowledgeable and helpful staff will dramatically increase your enjoyment of the system overall. After all, it’s YOUR computer, so you should enjoy it!

Another option: The next time you walk down the automotive isle at your favorite store, look for some “Auto Glass” cleaner. (It will look similar to a spray bottle of Windex, but again, never use Windex!) You will notice that “Auto Glass” cleaner contains no Ammonia - make sure of this by looking for the words “Ammonia Free” on the container. What’s better… the price is just slightly more than regular window cleaner. Now you have something to clean your LCD screen plus your car windows!

There are commercial cleaning solutions out there. In fact, we sell one at the store. In reality, it’s more expensive then making your own, though there is the convenience factor. Plus the one we sell foams nicely so you don’t have to chase it down the screen. The choice is yours of which to use!

A good battery backup serves two purposes:

1. Provides power to the system during a brownout/blackout.

2. Constantly controls the voltage flowing to the system.

Battery backups vary in price and function quite a bit. Some are designed to only allow enough runtime to gracefully save your work and shutdown while others are designed to be a replacement power source when needed. Your individual needs will determine the best solution. In general, the more expensive the device, the longer the runtime. Some battery backups even provide software that can control the system in case of a power outage when no one is present, allowing for a graceful shutdown and avoiding possible data corruption and loss. (This is usually done via a proprietary cable that is attached to the system via serial or USB.)

Voltage control is something the better models provide on top of the basic power protection. A computer is surprisingly picky about the power provided to it. If the voltage fluctuates frequently, it can quickly burn up the electronics in a power supply, causing it to fail, and even harm other parts in a system at the same time. A good battery backup will constantly control the flow of electricity a system gets, ensuring it’s a steady stream of what it needs (120V). The average home electrical system fluctuates constantly between 118-122 volts. Without a battery backup, the power supply must control this changing flow all by itself, causing it to work harder and fail sooner.

Last but not least, every battery backup also acts as a surge suppressor. Like the power strips everyone is used to, a battery backup will stop power surges from reaching the devices is protects, sacrificing itself if needed. Hint: look for a battery backup that also provides phone/modem protection or even ethernet/coax if needed. (This is good for protecting computer modems, DSL modem, and cable modems - power surges can come through ANY line that starts outside your home!)

So what is a backup? The simplest answer: A copy of whatever you want to save. After all, no one media storage is reliable enough to be your only copy. Hard drives malfunction. Flash media fails. CDs can break or scratch. Floppies can deteriorate. Any one of these unfortunate events could be the loss of family pictures or mission critical business data. Everyone must take steps to not only prevent data loss, but prepare for it. One key factor that make backups happen: ease of creation! There are a number of backup methods and devices. The most common are external hard drives (magnetic or flash media) and optical (CD/DVD). Both have their strengths and weaknesses. While a CD/DVD backup, if protected, can last for decades, it can also be the most difficult to create or automate. The more difficult it is to create the backup, the less likely it is to be done.

One way around this is fully automated backup procedures using multiple hard drives within a system. This is called RAID and comes in a few flavors. “Mirroring” (or RAID 1) is the most common - and it’s name hints at the method used. A Mirrored RAID is a set of two hard drives that are always an exact copy of each other. This is handled by the hardware inside the computer and is setup before the operating system (like Windows) is ever installed. If one drive was to fail, the system alerts you to the problem, but remains fully operational. Simply replacing the failed drive and rebuilding the mirror gets you back to a protected state. The other RAID format is known as RAID 5. This combines mirroring with another form of RAID called striping that combines multiple hard drives and makes them appear as one to the system. RAID 5 adds speed and fault tolerance to a system. It requires at least 3 drives (though works well with more) and performs faster than just a mirrored RAID. With more drives, multiple drives can fail without data loss. Again, replacing the failed drive(s) and rebuilding the RAID array solves any issues.

RAID arrays are used frequently in business environments when downtime can be costly. It can be somewhat expensive to setup and usually isn’t required for home users or even small businesses. In those cases manually backing up important files can work, but automating the task via software is highly recommended. Depending on how much information you have to back-up will help determine the best means of storage for you. If you only have a few files, then a USB flash/thumb drive might be a good bet. They are pretty cheap and easy to use. Some even come with their own backup software. If you have a lot of data to backup (larger databases or multimedia files), then an external hard drive might be a better way to go. Though cheaper (when compared to the amount of space you get for the price), they are mechanical and have a higher failure rate. However, with proper care and monitoring, they are the preferred method for data backup. Again, some form of automation is highly recommended. Not only does it make backups easier, but it also bypasses the “oops, I forgot to do the backup” scenario. Tape/ZIP drives were popular backup methods a few years ago, but aren’t recommended anymore due to the high failure rates of magnetic tapes.

When dealing with an external backup device and software, there are two main options: file copy and imaging. “File Copy” is what most people are familiar with. If you have some pictures you want to save from your digital camera, you might burn them to a CD for safe keeping, or even storage. This is similar to the file copy method. Software programs (including free ones) can be configured and ran using a variety of means to automate the backup process. “Imaging” is similar to the mirrored RAID method - it makes a clone of your entire hard drive and can store it in a single file. (Frequently, an image of a hard drive is split up into multiple, smaller, files for ease of storage.) From this image, if your drive were to fail, you can put the image back onto a new drive and operate like nothing ever happened. Software must be used for imaging as there is no manual way to create an image of your hard drive.

So what are the pros and cons of each? The file copy method usually takes up less space and can be cheaper since there are free programs that do a wonderful job. It’s also easier to understand and use the end result for most people. Unfortunately it also takes the most amount of time to recover from a failed drive as you need to reinstall your operating system AND all your software before being able to use the data. The imaging method is the opposite - though it can be more difficult and expensive to setup, if ever needed, you can recover to a functional state in a mere fraction of the time. Plus, an added bonus: imaging ensures you don’t forget to backup something. Most people in the information technology industry will recommend imaging as the preferred backup method, though whatever works best for you is what you should do.