What are some tips for buying a computer?

Although buying a refurbished computer can save you money, watch out for signs of physical damage, and ask whether the computer comes with a warranty. The computer should also come with installation disks for the operating system and other application programs you may need.

Get a computer with a hard disk size appropriate for your needs. If you plan to store large multimedia files such as movies, music and high-quality videos, choose a computer with a high-capacity hard disk, such as 500GB to 3TB. If you plan to use the computer for light tasks such as browsing or emailing, choose a lower-capacity hard disk instead.

Consider the RAM of the computer you're buying. As with the hard disk, get a computer with an amount of RAM proportional to your needs. If the computer is intended for gaming, you need a large amount of RAM and a separate graphics card. If the computer is meant for simple day-to-day activities, a RAM of 2GB to 4GB is sufficient. Other hardware to consider includes the processor, video card and sound card.

In terms of brand, purchase a computer whose support team is easily reachable. Additionally, get a computer that comes with adequate documentation.