I want to help make the process of buying a new computer less painful
UPDATED: March 14th, 2025
New computer shopping can be as stressful as buying a car for some people. I know this to be true because I went though the exact same thing my clients go through when my car recently had to be replaced. You look at the obvious places and see brands/models you have hear of and others you have not, only to realize you really don't know if one is better then another.
Then you start to research only to be overwhelmed with the information on this and that. I was lucky enough to have a uncle and cousin in the car business that gave me a lot of great information and ultimately set me up with a new-to-me car in 2014.
Read on to see the plain English version of what I recommend when buying a new computer to avoid the stress it can cause.
All of the following information is my opinion. No computer is perfect or will last forever but here is what I have found to be the best for buying a computer today
✅ Processor: Intel i5 (13th/14th Gen) or i7 (13th/14th Gen) OR AMD Ryzen 5 (7000 series) or Ryzen 7 (7000 series)
🔹 Why? The newer generations offer better efficiency, performance, and future-proofing without a big price jump.
✅ RAM/Memory: 16GB minimum, 32GB preferred for power users
🔹 Why? With newer applications, browsers using more RAM, and multitasking needs increasing, 32GB is becoming a more common sweet spot for those who want longevity.
✅ Operating System: Windows 11
✅ Storage (SSD preferred): At least 500GB SSD, ideally 1TB
🔹 Why? Modern software, larger media files, and increasing storage needs mean 500GB is the bare minimum now. 1TB SSDs are much more affordable and a great choice for those who want to avoid storage headaches.
Brands to try to get: Dell, Lenovo, Asus
Brands to stay away from for various reasons: Compaq, Toshiba, HP, Acer
You can either shop online (Amazon.com) if you like or go to a store like Best Buy or Micro Center and look and see what ones you like that meet those minimum requirements.
TIP: If you want Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, etc...) you have to buy that separately or with the computer as an add-on. Most of the time a computer does NOT come with it pre-installed. Office either comes as a Subscription to Microsoft 365 or a 1 time purchase. Talk to your sales rep to decide on the best option for you.
TIP: Ideally you want to buy a business computer as they tend to come with less junk software on them. If you get a normal consumer computer we can always remove that software.
Once you get your new computer make sure to schedule an appointment so we can set it up, transfer all your data like files, pictures, and other things over. This will save you some headaches and time and takes us only about 1-2 hours to do depending on how much needs to be migrated to the new computer.
If are still having issues buying a new computer or need help with anything please contact us and we will help out.
