Computer repair savings, what to buy now, and what you can pass on.
By: Andrea Eldridge CEO and co-founder of Nerds On Call, an on-site computer and laptop repair service company.
You don't have to buy the latest, top-of-the-line option every time you shop for technology. I know I risk being shunned by the nerd community for saying it, but there are times to splurge and times to save.
This doesn't apply to some people -- gamers, graphic designers, photographers and others -- with special requirements for their computers and gadgets. However, many computer users have a basic set of technology needs that can be met without shelling out a lot of money for the best of the best.
Surprisingly, you can shop for a deal on desktop or tower PCs. The parts are readily changeable from one tower to the next, so if something dies you can call a computer repair company to replace it without much difficulty. If you decide you need more RAM, it's an easy and relatively inexpensive process to upgrade. Limit your bargain shopping to a reputable computer manufacturer, such as Dell or HP, so you get a year's warranty. Because most hardware failure caused by poor craftsmanship occurs in the first year, this will ensure you aren't stuck with a dud.
Spend your desktop tower savings on getting the best monitor you can afford. Because it's the part of your system you'll stare at day in and day out, monitor size and quality will have a far greater impact on your computing enjoyment than a somewhat faster processor. Splurge on the biggest high-definition screen you can afford and fit in your space.
Before you buy, check out pros and cons on professional tech review sites such as CNet or PCWorld. User reviews from sites like Amazon and Newegg reveal problems that may arise after extended use.
Unfortunately, you can't cut corners when shopping for a laptop. Aim to get the best hardware you can afford.
Because a laptop's compact, internal parts -- such as fans and input ports -- are often specific to the machine, a laptop may require custom orders, in many cases direct from the manufacturer. This makes laptop computer repair more costly and the upgrades can be expensive too.
A laptop's portability makes it more likely to get banged around, so it's important to get high quality, durable materials. Pay attention to screen quality and buy as much RAM, processor speed and battery life you can. Upgrade now so you get as much life as possible from your machine.
Shopping for a laptop? Using the words "iPad" and "bargain" in the same sentence may seem like an oxymoron. But because a tablet is an entertainment device; you don't need the latest and greatest. Now that the third-generation iPad has been released, you can get an iPad2 for $100 less, and it's substantially the same. You may not notice the improved screen quality as much as that extra money in the bank.
Big-box retailers make their money on cables. That's why they're prominently displayed near the cash register: They're like fruity cocktails at a restaurant -- they're marked up several hundred times. But the truth is, there's negligible difference between a $5 cable purchased online from a site like monoprice.com, and a $50 cable you get off the shelf at Best Buy. Save your money.
[transcript]Buying the latest technology can be tough and expensive, especially when a new more advanced version seems to pop every day. Ken is with one of our resident nerds right now, and they'll tell us when to save and when to splurge on technology.
Ken: Thank you, Marianne. I'm standing by with Andrea of Nerds On Call. Good to see you again. How are you?
Andrea: Good. How about you?
Ken: I'm fantastic. I'm going to embarrass you for a second so get ready.
Andrea: Of course.
Ken: Can you step aside just for a second?
Andrea: Step aside?
Ken: Okay. Look how amazing this lady looks. She had a baby three months ago. Her daughter Isabelle is three months old today. She looks fantastic. You look awesome, Sugar.
Andrea: Thank you. Thank you.
Ken: All right. Okay. Now enough of that nonsense. All right. This is all about when to save and when to splurge. And people kind of don't know when to do that, especially when we're talking about these high tech gadgets.
Andrea: Absolutely. Yes. And everybody thinks you have to buy the top of the line. And you would expect me to tell you you have to buy top of the line. And I should probably give the little caveat, which is I know there are people with special circumstances.
Ken: Right.
Andrea: If you're an engineer, if you are a graphic designer, you're going to need some specific equipment.
Ken: Right.
Andrea: But this for the rest of us.
Ken: Okay.
Andrea: The rest of us that can get away with saving some money. When it comes to a desktop tower PC, you actually do not have to buy top of the line.
Ken: Really?
Andrea: You can save. The parts inside this are pretty interchangeable, so you can upgrade later if you need to. And if a piece dies, you can pull it out and replace it pretty easily because it's got so much space to work with. So save on your desktop. Just find the best bargain that you can for the money that you can spend. What you're going to want to spend your money on in this type of a setup is actually going to be on your monitor. Your monitor is going to be where you're going to notice everyday what you're looking at, size and clarity of image, so spend the money on your monitor. Save on your tower.
Ken: Okay.
Andrea: So that will be your save and your splurge. Now, when it comes to a laptop, that's actually not the case. With a laptop, it's an all-in-one unit. It's a little bit more expensive to fix, to upgrade later. You're going to want spend the money now. This is going to be your splurge item. Not to mention it's an all-inclusive unit, so your screen is all part of the same device. So you kind of need to make sure that you get something good from the beginning. And you are also going to be banging it around a little bit more. It's a laptop so it's in your bag. It's out traveling with you. So you want something that's durable and that's going to last you.
Ken: A lot of folks would think that the iPad would be a splurge item.
Andrea: You know, the reality is when it comes to tablets, nobody "needs" a tablet. I know. I know. I know it's hard to say.
Ken: Cody is not here, right? Cody is not here, is he? Okay. Cody, block your ears.
Andrea: For the most part, it's an entertainment device, so really, you don't want to spend for top of the line item. My recommendation with the iPad is actually, since they just came out with the third generation iPad, it's the perfect time to get an iPad 2.
Ken: Exactly.
Andrea: There is not a huge difference between the two versions right now for the basic user, if you're using it for entertainment. And you can actually, it's the only time you can save with an Apple device, is when they come out with a new one.
Ken: Exactly.
Andrea: So now is the time and save if you can. Just try and remember that it's an entertainment device and it's for fun.
Ken: Now, I would think that with your connecting cables, you would need to go high end to make sure that you don't interrupt your connection. You always have a nice strong connection. No?
Andrea: You would think that, but you know what I liken cables to are the fruity drinks of the technology industry. It's really where a lot of big-box retailers make their money. These cables cost, like, $2, but you buy them off the shelf at a big-box retailer and you're spending $20 to $50. They are the same, really. You don't need the gold plating. I promise you'll be OK.
Ken: All right. That's going to do it. We're going to send, put most of this information on GoodDaySacramento.com, link it to Show Info. Andrea, thank you so much. Good to see you, and you look fantastic.
Andrea: Thanks. Thank you.
Ken: Tell Baby Isabelle we said hello.
Andrea: Absolutely.
Ken: That's Nerds On Call. Marianne, back to you.
Marianne: Thanks. And if you need help from Nerds On Call, here is the phone number for them: (800) 919-NERD. They're just on the Carmichael/Sacramento line, 4315 Marconi Avenue.[/transcript]
By: Andrea Eldridge.