Shopping Checklist

Before you hit the stores or the sites, makes sure you get the tech gear that'll keep you up-to-date.

Kimberly Brinson

Shop for the Perfect PC

Buy a system, not a processor.Any processor can handle Internet browsing, e-mail, and word processing, so spend your money on other components first. For example, a PC that has a fast processor and a small hard drive has only half of what you need for video editing.

Get at least 512MB of RAM. 256MB of RAM is the bare minimum for Windows XP; 512MB will help ensure your system works well. But watch out for systems that fill their slots with small RAM modules--two 256MB modules instead of a single 512MB module, for example. You'll pay less initially, but if you want to upgrade, you may have to throw away some of it.

Spend a little more on the hard drive. Nearly any hard drive should have plenty of space for most people, but tasks like television recording and video editing gobble up space quickly, and a moderately large hard drive usually doesn't cost substantially more than the smallest option. But you don't have to buy the biggest drive, because nearly all systems have room to add another hard drive should you need more storage later.

Don't combine integrated graphics with too little RAM. The least expensive computers usually come with a minimum amount of RAM and with integrated graphics that borrows from the system's main memory (so you may end up needing to buy more memory).

Look for systems that have integrated networking, USB, and FireWire ports. You probably won't need to upgrade those components, and systems that integrate them often have more PCI slots available for other upgrades.

Integrated audio is fine for an inexpensive system. Many systems come with integrated 5.1-channel sound; a sound card will often add support for high-definition audio (for which you need special discs) and sometimes a FireWire port.

Unless you're looking for a barebones system, get a DVD-Rewritable drive. These drives have become remarkably inexpensive--and they write CD-RWs, too. The fastest models currently write to write-once media at 16X speed.

Special slots for flash memory are nice--unless you can't reach them. Some systems put these slots at or near the top of the case, but ones on the bottom of the case will be hard to reach if you plan to keep the PC on the floor.

Pay attention to deals on monitors and bundled software. You can often save money buying a monitor and office software at the same time that you buy a system. And even if you have a monitor you like, some graphics cards will let you connect two monitors at the same time.

Shop for the Perfect Notebook

Get at least 256MB of RAM. With more memory, your notebook can run more applications at once. Many notebooks now include 512MB, but you'll have to spend a little extra to get that extra oomph.

Consider a 14.1-inch screen. That size is easy on the eyes, and also ensures that your notebook won't be too big and heavy. If you tend to travel with your notebook often, then you should choose a notebook with a 12.1-inch screen.

Make sure the notebook has a multipurpose bay. That will give you more options to swap in different optical drives or an extra hard drive, if you need it.

When choosing an optical drive, understand what you'll use it for. If you're planning to just back up your data and burn MP3s, then a CD-RW drive should suffice. But if you're willing to spend a little extra, a notebook with a DVD burner would be a handy extra.

Try out the keyboard before you make a purchase. Some keyboards can be cramped, and others tend to have the keys arranged in a different manner or of different size than you might be used to. You should familiarize yourself with the keyboard to be certain you can comfortably type on it on a regular basis.

Note what type of pointing device the notebook uses. Not all models have both the pointing stick and the touchpad, and some only have one of the two. If you have a preference, make sure the notebook you like has that device.

Get at least a 40GB hard drive. Music and video files can consume a lot of storage space, so more is always better.

If you like to work untethered, select a notebook with built-in wireless. That solves the hassle of having to use a wireless PC card if you want to hook up to the Internet.

Buy a second battery. If you tend to travel often with your notebook, or if you like working away from an outlet, another battery will be handy. Some batteries let you work up to 8 hours unplugged.

Shop for the Perfect Printer

Determine how many inks you need. So-called photo printers have extra inks, but some all-purpose printers we've tested with fewer inks have printed equally attractive photos.

Look for media card slots: Make sure your prospective printer's memory card reader supports your camera's format--not all printers support all the popular formats.

Plug in your camera and print: If your camera supports PictBridge, get a printer that also supports the standard--no PC needed to print, just a USB cable.

Control ink costs: Buying a printer with large ink tanks should keep your ink costs down--but be forewarned that ink will cost you more up front. Printing a color page with the HP Business Inkjet 2300 cost a low 7.7 cents--but a set of ink cartridges will set you back $136. (Compare more models.)

Print speeds: These specs tend to be wildly exaggerated. In the real world, you will never reach these speeds. In our tests, most inkjets print text at less than 6 ppm and color graphics at less than 2 ppm. (See this month's "Top 10 Printers.")

Shop for the Perfect Monitor

Find the inputs that will speak to your PC. If your PC's graphics adapter has a DVI port, get a monitor that can accept DVI input. A digital (DVI) connection often gives a sharper image than an analog (VGA) one does. To keep your bases covered (in case you change graphics cards), look for a monitor with both analog and digital ports.

For better ergonomics, look for a limber monitor. Buy a height-adjustable monitor, and you'll never have to move your monitor to get at the dictionary that's propping it up. A screen that rotates from side to side makes it easier to share with others, and one that pivots from landscape to portrait mode can save you scrolling.

Spring for the biggest screen you can. Bigger screens usually mean higher resolutions--and better-looking images. Just be sure you can read Windows' text and icons, which shrink as resolution climbs. If your wallet's wide enough, look into wide-screen models. They're great for sprawling spreadsheets, and the aspect ratio is right for watching the occasional movie. Go a size larger in widescreens than what you're used to with standard displays; 17-inch wide-screens actually have less screen real estate than 17-inchers of normal proportions.

Look for a specified response time of 16 milliseconds. A faster response time means smoother movements in video and when scrolling, and 16 ms is comfortable for most applications. If you're doing bread-and-butter word processing, 25 ms will do; gamers and DVD enthusiasts want the fastest response time possible: 12 ms in an LCD (or stick with a CRT).

Check the return policy regarding dead or stuck pixels. Just one dead pixel can ruin the screen for a user--but some manufacturers won't accept monitor returns unless the dead pixels are a certain color, or at a certain position on the screen, or if there are several of them. Find out what returns the manufacturer and reseller will honor.

Believe your own eyes. Check the specs and read the reviews, but don't discount the eye of the beholder. If you can eyeball the contenders at a store, do so.

Shop for the Perfect Graphics Card

Find out if your PC has an AGP or PCI Express graphics slot. Unless your system is a recent-model Intel-based model, it's probably has an AGP slot--but you can save future hassles by knowing whether you need a PCI Express- or AGP-based graphics card.

Buy a graphics card with at least 128MB of RAM. You can find inexpensive cards with less, but this minimum level will offer a more satisfactory experience.

Check a potential card's power requirements. Many of today's top-shelf cards require lots of power, so make sure your PC's power supply is up to snuff.

Count your slots. Some cards include elaborate cooling fans that effectively occupy the slot next to one where the board sits--so make sure you have enough room.

Look for extras. If you're torn between two comparable cards, check the software bundle--you may find a game you've longed to try is already in the box.

Set realistic performance and price expectations. The high-performance boards that serious gamers covet cost as much as $500; mainstream boards that offer solid performance run about $200; and entry-level boards that are a step up from integrated graphics using main memory sell for around $100.

And Before You Buy Anything...

Understand the store's return policy. Check the money-back guarantee period, and find out whether you can you return an item that you purchase online at one of the company's brick-and-mortar outlets. Would the return be for cash or for credit? Does it matter if the box is already opened? There should be no extra charge if you return a damaged or incorrect item, but if you want to return your purchase for some other reason, the vendor may charge you a restocking fee--usually between 10 and 20 percent of the sale price.

Ask to see a written warranty. Before you close the deal, understand the length of the standard warranty and the exact kinds of repairs it covers. What is involved in making a claim? Is there a time limit? Is on-site service an option? How long can you expect your product to be out of commission?

Read the fine print on rebates. Some rebate offers expire faster than a carton of yogurt. Always check the date when the promotion period expires. Fill out the forms completely. File the rebate claim promptly--some stores require you to file a form within 14 days.

Stay secure when you buy online. Sites using SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) or SET (Secure Electronic Transaction) technology are safe. To be sure that a site is using such a precaution, look for an unbroken key or padlock icon in your browser when you load the vendor's Web page. Or check the beginning of the Web address for the string "https://"

Use a credit card. The Fair Credit Billing Act protects your transaction if you use a credit card. This law lets you withhold payment temporarily if you suspect that someone has stolen your card number. No matter what happens, the most you'll likely pay is $50. Do not use ATM cards; they're not protected the way credit cards are.