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Buying a Computer

With years of experience buying and using computers and advising clients on computer purchase, R A Clement Associates are well-placed to help clients when buying a computer. Whether it is to be used for software development, database management, networking, game playing, internet access, office applications or multimedia, R A Clement Associates can help you to make a sound buying decision from the huge range of systems on offer.

Buying a computer is often treated like buying a car - just another purchase from a wide range of products where price, performance and “extras” are the main criteria influencing the decision. Unfortunately, as many people have found to their cost, computers and cars have some very important differences.

1. Even though cars depreciate rapidly after purchase, very few lose value as fast as a computer. If you buy the wrong car you may be able to return it for a full refund within a few weeks. Few computer sellers can afford to trade on those terms.
2. Although you can test drive a car, test driving a computer is less easy as you may not be able to install software and try before you buy.
3. Whereas a car can develop many problems they are usually easy to identify, even if not always easy to repair. Modern cars often develop their most difficult-to-fix problems when “It’s the computer, innit Guv?” is the mechanic’s diagnosis…..

Much confusion when buying a computer might be avoided if the car purchase comparison is reconsidered with the following analogy: “Computers are to software as petrol is to cars”. The computer is not the most important factor, as it is the software the computer allows you to use that determines whether it will suit or not. The software is the important purchase; the computer is merely the means to the end.  Of course, other factors such as portability, compatibility and reliability still apply but the fundamental purpose of a computer is to run software. If it won’t run the software you need then it is not the right machine for the job. R A Clement Associates can help you decide what to buy, when to buy, where to buy and how to buy. Making the wrong decision when buying a computer can either result in paying too much and feeling ripped off, or paying too little and finding that the salesman’s recommendation failed to take account of your needs.

The problems can become even worse when you need to buy more than one computer or a complete network. As independent consultants we are impartial advisors with no vested interest in any manufacturer or supplier, we often save our clients hundreds of pounds by helping them avoid these pitfalls. For a friendly, jargon-free discussion on buying a computer, contact us now on 01631 562 643 and let us help you find the right computer.