Buying a PC?

Starting college is a great time to buy a new PC, especially if it is appropriate to do so for the course you have chosen. But when making this decision, there are many factors that need to be considered:

“How much do I want to spend?” As a student, this will probably be the main factor. Computers vary hugely in price (from hundreds of euros up to thousands of euros) and new and improved pieces of technology are constantly showing up on the market, this is why you should choose a computer that suits all of your needs and will last for satisfactory time of four long years.

“Where will I need to use it?” You need to decide whether you will need a computer to use just at home, a desktop, or if it has to be portable, a laptop. For anyone attending IADT, I think a laptop would be a good choice (taking into account the lack of available computers in the college library).

“What do I need to be able to do with it?” For the Applied Psychology course at IADT you will need several different computer applications. For example, you will need to be able to create and edit numerous text documents (Microsoft Word), Possibly analyse statistical data and produce graphs and charts (Microsoft Excel), Prepare the assisting slideshows for presentations you will be giving (Microsoft PowerPoint), Work with and create graphics in your multimedia design module (Adobe Photoshop/Illustrator), and of course the internet will be needed for the many last minute “Wikipedia” searches you may have to engage in, which means an anti-virus program is desirable.

“What kind of microprocessor do I need and how much memory?” The microprocessor will determine how quickly selected programs will open and run and because some students tend to leave things to the last minute and are working with deadlines, I think it’s a good idea to crank up the gigahertz. In terms of memory, again bigger is better. Most PC’s come with about 512 MB of Random Access Memory, but there is no point on leaving yourself short of space so aim to have 1GB. With all the assignments you will be doing, running out of space is the last thing that you will want. But even with all this memory, DON’T FORGET TO BACK UP! Investing in a memory stick is a good idea because as wonderful as modern technology is, bad things can still happen. Obviously this also means to make sure that your PC has a satisfactory USB port.

“Anything else I should think about?” You should make sure that you are comfortable with the input devices that come with the computer such as the keyboard and the mouse (or the finger pad on a laptop). A printer is also something that you should think about. With all the storage space that you will have on your PC, most files can be simply saved onto the computer which will cut back on the price of a printer, the regular purchases of ink cartridges and will also save the trees. There are several printers available for student use in IADT, so really a printer is not essential.

There are obviously more factors that can be considered if you want to be very specific (which you should be when making your purchase) and for more information you can check out the following links…

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If I had to recommend one PC in particular (with my very basic computer knowledge), it would probably be the Dell Inspiron 1525 Laptop. I would recommend this because it is lightweight and mobile which is a huge advantage for an IADT student who will be carrying it around most of the day. It has an exceptionally large processor and memory, as well as an Intel Integrated Graphics Media Accelerator which wouldn’t be a disadvantage for graphic design. It also has additions such as Wi-Fi and an integrated web-cam, not forgetting to mention the range of fun metallic colours and patterns that are available. Click here for more information!

Hope this was helpful :-)