Encoding the MP3 after the Memorial Day podcast (Photo credit: rbieber)
We cannot function in the West without our many computers and accessories. However, and despite how expensive they are, computer equipment should be seen as a consumable much like anything you buy in a supermarket, since it will need to be replaced every couple of years. And, when deciding what to buy, this fact needs to be integrated into your planning. Apple computers, for instance, are desirable but expensive products and if you cannot afford to buy one every three or four years then you should opt for a cheaper alternative.
Computing purchases have also become more difficult, given Britains economic climate, but with the right advice you can keep up to date with technological advancement on a tight budget. Here are some tips.
Refurbished Computers
It is easy to be enticed by salesmen whispering in your ear the many latest design features of a brand new computer. However, these are hugely expensive and a viable alternative is refurbished computers, which have normally been returned to the shop within 30 days of purchase and, as such, are not comparable to that decade old pair of Y-fronts you nearly brought from a charity shop a while back. Regardless of what the salesman says, they will be compatible with the latest software in use and will have the same level of guarantee and warrantee protection as those fresh off the shelves. The savings here are enormous, with some refurbished laptops selling for as little as 30 percent of the price of similar brand new models.
Virus Protection
Any computer brought home from a shop should work perfectly and, if not, it can be exchanged easily. The problem comes when you connect them to the Internet or introduce them to good time flash drives that have had relationships with many machines. This will result in your computer getting a virus and, unless you have ensured that anti-virus software is up to date, you will lose huge amounts of money repairing this problem, which in some cases is terminal.
However, some such software can be worse for your computer than viruses themselves, because of the way they can damage the computers operating software. As such, it is important to speak to experts so that you purchase the best software out there and, while this can seem like an expensive outlay, this protection will save you money in the long term and increase the longevity of your computer.
Printers
These units appear at first glance to be surprisingly affordable, for the uninitiated, with respected brands offering their latest models for as little as 40. However, the real cost comes later, since the replacement ink cartridges are enormously expensive. Many sense a conspiracy here, since these cartridges are not completely empty when the printer politely requests that you go out and buy a replacement a mere week after installing the last one. There are online services that will refill these cartridges with ink, saving you the cost of the full unit, as well as trusted companies, like Print Smarter, that offer a range of services for those looking to save money.