Computer Hardware: Desktops and Notebooks and Handhelds - Oh My!

Even though computer hardware is central to almost everything we do, it's easy to lag behind in the advances made in both hardware and software.
Computers have become ubiquitous in almost every facet of our lives. At work, desk jockeys spend hours in front of their desktops, while delivery people scan bar codes with handhelds and workers in the field stay in touch with the central office via their notebooks. At home, we rely on our desktops and notebooks to do our shopping, to entertain us, and to keep us abreast of world events. We may not see our email servers, but we count on them to deliver our email whenever and wherever we want it. Our PDAs keep track of our hectic schedules, our to-do lists, our contact lists, and even entertain us with games while we're waiting for an appointment or to board a plane. Computer hardware weaves itself through the fabric of our lives.

Even though computer hardware is central to almost everything we do, it's easy to lag behind in the advances made in both hardware and software. Desktops that are four or five years old, for example, become obsolete. You may be able to upgrade operating systems or buy computer add-ons to extend the life of your desktop, but at some point the software, applets, and plug-ins you need to get the most out of your computer simply won't support your old machine.

If it's time to get new computer hardware - whether desktops, notebooks, or PDAs - you'll be amazed at the computing power and the crisp displays that are available, as well as the incredible low prices. Take some time to shop around, and you'll soon discover that online computer hardware sources will save you money over traditional retail stores. When you think about it, it makes sense. According to logic, direct sales cut out the middleman and can pass along the savings to the consumer.

If you're in the market for new desktops, notebooks, or PDAs, there are a myriad of choices. Here's a rundown of some of the best systems available:

Desktops: First, you need to decide - as the advertising campaign so cleverly drives home - if you're a Mac or if you're a PC. If you're a Mac, the iMac Desktop with a 20-inch display can be found for just under $1,500. That includes a 2.16 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 1 GB RAM, a 250 GB hard drive, and a SuperDrive.

If you're a PC, the Hewlett-Packard Pavilion S7700N Slimline Desktop PC includes an AMD Athlon Processor 3800 Plus, 1 GB RAM, 250 GB hard drive, SuperMulti DVD Drive, and Vista Premium - the new Microsoft operating system. Price? You can find it for a little over $600.

Notebooks: If you love Macs, you'll adore Apple's PowerBook at just under $2,500. With a 15.2-inch screen at 1280 x 854 resolution and TFT widescreen display, the PowerBook gives you a lot of bang for your buck. It runs on a 1.67 GHz PowerPC G4 and 512 MB RAM, and has an 80 GB hard drive and a SuperDrive.

In the PC universe, the Toshiba Satellite A135-S4427 is a perfect example of the computing power you can get at a very low price. The 15.4-inch widescreen notebook has an Intel Core Duo Processor T2250, 1 GB RAM, a 120 GB hard drive, a SuperMulti DVD drive, and Vista Premium - all for around $900.

When it comes to computer hardware, it pays to shop online. Desktops, handhelds, PDAs, notebooks, servers, and even software can be found at incredibly low prices - so low that you'll want to upgrade all of your computer hardware to the fastest, clearest, best systems available.

Want PDA Buying Ideas that can Help You

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So you have decided to purchase a PDA. Congratulations—you will be buying a form of technology that will help you get your life organized! Yet, if this is your first PDA purchase you may find that you will benefit from some of these PDA buying ideas.

So you have decided to purchase a PDA. Congratulations-you will be buying a form of technology that will help you get your life organized! Yet, if this is your first PDA purchase you may find that you will benefit from some of these PDA buying ideas.

1) Find a PDA at a price that you can afford. Don't go crazy when you purchase a PDA, more money doesn't always equate to a better PDA. If you are unsure as to what PDA is worth the money you are planning to pay, read various PDA reviews to see what others think of the product. In fact, in reading PDA reviews, you can successfully determine which PDA will meet any and all of your needs. I strongly urge you to use PDA reviews, they can save you a lot of grief when purchasing your pda.

2) PDAs are diverse in size and you should find one that you will be comfortable in handling on a regular basis. Some PDAs are very tiny while others are smaller than a laptop, but still relatively large. If you are comfortable with a tiny device then get a small device, but if you have a repetitive motion injury or if you have a problem with your fine motor skills, a smaller PDA may not be the best thing for you and you may want to consider purchasing a larger PDA.
This is so true, you really need to sample a pda, I mean actually hold it in your hand and try it out. Because if it's not comfortable to use then down the road you won't use it.

3) Again, the size of your PDA and its keyboard is so vitally important. No one wants to be constantly aggravated by a PDA keyboard that has keys that are designed too close together or that are small and difficult to utilize. This is especially true for those individuals that have problems with fine motor skills or have a repetitive motion injury. Therefore, thoroughly examine the usability of a PDA's keyboard before you make your PDA purchase.

I just want to reemphasize this point, I not to long ago bought a PDA for my wife. Sure I sampled them found one I thought she would like and low and behold found out the opposite. She liked the small size but did not like the keyboard. So I took her to the store so she could sample them herself I then purchased the one she was comfortable with.

4) If you are considering using your PDA to get Internet access, invest in a PDA that offers you wireless Internet access. The whole idea of enjoying the use of a PDA is the portability that the product provides and using cell phone dial up, although more secure, is in no way less costly than wireless Internet access.

5) If you plan to carry quite a few files or images on your PDA, you may want to purchase an expanded memory card. Because PDAs are small, handheld devices, their memories are a bit limited. Therefore, if you plan some heavy-duty use of a PDA, you many need to purchase additional memory so you don't slow down the processing that can be handled on your PDA.

Or better yet, purchase a PDA with more installed memory. You can always buy expanded memory down the road if you need it. But purchasing a PDA initially with larger installed memory for your current needs is cheaper than buying one with less and then adding a memory expansion card.

In the end, if you keep the above mentioned tips in mind, you will easily find a PDA that is right for you. Now all you need to do is start your research and your sampling of PDAs. Visit the nearest electronics dealer to determine what PDA you want and get your life organized today!