Consider these factors when choosing a monitor:
❯❯ Size: Monitors for the average computer user come in all sizes, from tiny 9-inch screens on smaller laptops to 28-inch desktop models. Larger screens are typically more expensive. Although a larger monitor can take up more space side to side and top to bottom, many don’t have a bigger footprint (that is, how much space their base takes up on your desk) than a smaller monitor.
❯❯ Image quality: The image quality can vary greatly. You will see terms such as LCD (liquid crystal display), LED (light emitting diode), flat screen, brightness, and resolution.
Look for an LCD or LED monitor (see Figure 1-5) that reduces glare. If you are thinking of purchasing a laptop computer, the monitor is built in, so consider the size and quality of the display as part of your laptop purchase.
❯❯ Resolution: A monitor’s resolution represents the number of tiny dots (called pixels) that form the images you see on the screen. The higher the resolution, the more pixels it contains and the crisper the image. You should look for a monitor that can provide at least a 1,366-x-768 pixel resolution.
❯❯ Cost: The least-expensive monitor might be the one that comes with your desktop computer, and many of these are perfectly adequate. You can often upgrade your monitor when you buy if you customize a system from a company such as Dell or Hewlett-Packard. Monitors purchased separately from a computer can range from around $100 to $3,000 or more. Check out monitors in person to verify whether their image quality and size are worth the money.
❯❯ Touchscreen technology: Windows 10 provides support for using a touchscreen interface, which allows you to use your fingers to provide input by tapping or swiping on the screen itself. If you opt for a touchscreen device, you can still use your keyboard and mouse to provide input, but touchscreen technology can add a wow factor when performing tasks such as using painting software or browsing around the web or an electronic book (e-book).
In the recent past, most computers came with an optical drive where you could insert a DVD and play a movie or music. If you buy a software program, it may come on a DVD, so you can use a built-in or external drive to install it.
Today, many new computers and laptops don’t include an optical drive for reading DVDs, partially because you can so easily stream video from an online source without ever handling a DVD. Most computers today do have USB ports. USB ports accommodate a USB stick, which is a small plastic coated gadget that can hold a lot of data.
Your computer contains a processor on a computer chip. The speed at which your computer runs programs or completes tasks is determined in great measure by your computer’s processor speed, which is measured in gigahertz (GHz). The higher the GHz, the faster the processor. I won’t quote the speed you should look for because these chips are constantly getting smaller and more powerful. However, when you shop, know that the higher numbers give the best performance, so factor that into your decision, depending on your needs.
Computers have traditionally used hard drives to store programs and data. Many computers use a solid state drive rather than a hard drive. The access speed (how fast your computer retrieves data) of solid-state drives is much higher than the access speed of hard drives. If you need a computer that processes information very quickly, look for one with a solid-state drive, but be aware that it will be more expensive.
Another factor involved in performance is whether your processor has multiple cores. Multiple core means that two or more processors are involved in reading and executing software instructions as you use your computer. Most processors today are multi-core processors, such as the i3, i5, and i7 processor lines from Intel. Those with two processors are dual-core; those with four processors are quad-core; and processors with six cores are hexa-core. The bottom line with cores is that the more cores you have and the faster they are, the faster your computer can process instructions because all the cores can work at the same time, which makes multitasking possible. Multitasking is running several programs at one time, such as playing music, downloading files from the Internet, running an antivirus scan, and working in a word processor. Be aware that not all software is designed to take advantage of multiple core architecture.
In addition to your processor, computers have a certain amount of storage capacity for running programs and accessing frequently used data that can affect performance. You’ll see specifications for RAM when you go computer shopping. RAM, which stands for random access memory, is a measure of the capacity for running programs; the higher the RAM, the more quickly your computer can juggle multiple tasks, therefore increasing performance. RAM chips come in different types, such as DRAM, and the latest version, DDR4 SDRAM, but whichever type of RAM you see in the computer specs, make sure your computer contains at least 2 gigabytes (GB) of RAM memory.
You have to decide how you’ll connect to the Internet. You can pay a fee to get a broadband connection such as DSL, satellite, or cable. (Check with AARP to find out if it offers discounted connections in your area.) If you want to set up a wireless connection in your home so you can connect to the Internet or have a laptop and want to access certain public networks called hotspots, you have to be sure to buy a computer with up-to-date wireless capabilities. Here’s how these work:
❯❯ Broadband: These connections typically come through a DSL (digital subscriber line) or cable modem in your home. In both cases, you pay a fee to a provider, which might be your phone or cable company. DSL works over your phone line but doesn’t prohibit you from using the phone when you’re online. Cable runs over your cable TV line and is a bit faster than DSL. Typically, satellite broadband is used in rural areas that don’t offer cable or DSL service. These “always-on” connections mean that you don’t have to dial a phone connection or connect to a wireless network – you’re always connected.
❯❯ Dialup: If you intend to use a dialup connection (that is, connect over your phone line), your computer has to have a dialup modem, either built in or external. Dialup connections can be very slow. In fact, in all but remote locations, dialup has been replaced by more current technology. While you’re using a dialup connection, you can’t use your phone to make or receive calls. I discourage you from using dialup unless you absolutely have to.
❯❯ Wireless: These connections require that you have a computer equipped with wireless capability. You can access the Internet wirelessly through