As the new academic term fast approaches and children leave the family home and head off to college and university, modern parents not only have to cope with ‘empty nest syndrome’; equipping your child for life away from home now includes battling through a technological minefield for the right PC or laptop that will successfully see them through the forthcoming years of study.
Mik Billington, of BITS (Billington’s IT Services) says ”Choosing the right PC or laptop can be a confusing and daunting experience, and choosing for someone else can really send your head into a spin.
“It can be a challenging process navigating through the ‘techie’ jargon and getting up to speed on what’s hot in technological advancement whilst not being seduced by a sexy new gadget or trend. Choosing with both academic and social needs in mind whilst striking the right balance between functionality and cost is paramount.”
There are some excellent bargains to be had on the high street but to help navigate the way through the wealth of products out there it’s important to remember a few keys things to look for and a few key questions to ask yourself when computer shopping:
1.What will the computer be used for? Will they be storing music, computer games, films as well as using it for assignments? If so, make sure your hard drive (HDD) has enough capacity.
2.The more RAM/memory a computer has, the faster it will go! When wading through the Tech Spec of a computer, a general rule of thumb is the bigger the numbers, the better it is. Decide your budget and get the best you can, and don’t forget to look at all the special offers!
3.It’s always worth looking at an external hard drive for backing up your data. Don’t let all your hard work go to waste if your computer decides to give up!
4.Make sure you have a good antivirus like AVG Free, which is a lot better than many of the paid-for programs.
5.Don’t forget to budget for any extra software you may need: Microsoft Office (Word, Excel), for example, can cost upwards of £70.
For a PC health check or help and avice on chossing a new PC or laptop, call Mik at BITS on 07980 515160 or visit www.bitsweb.co.uk