Complete Idiot's Guide to Buying Computer (The Complete Idiot's Guide)

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Buying a Computer covers ALL the necessary considerations to make BEFORE you purchase that computer. What are your computing needs? Mobility? Ease? Portability? Power? Multimedia features? This book leads you through the initial assessment of your computer needs. It then takes you through an industry overview of computers (desktop vs. laptop vs. hand-held) with the inside scoop on the pros and cons of these machines. You will learn about clones and how to decide whether or not to make the clone purchase. You'll also receive information about where to go to make that computer purchase (and where not to go), and what kinds of questions to ask. A tear-out checklist is included to take with you when making your computer investment.

Preston Gralla is executive editor for ZDNet and the author of several books including Complete Idiot’s Guide to Online Shopping, Complete Idiot’s Guide to Protecting Yourself Online and the best-selling How the Internet Works. He was the founding managing editor of PC Week, and a founding editor of PC/Computing. Gralla has written about technology for many magazines and newspapers, including the Los Angeles Times, USA Today, and PC Magazine.