Easy Computer Help: Computer Training & Tips to Learn Computer Basics
• Sunday, March 23, 2008 - How to Choose When Buying a Computer - Is Asking "What is the most popular computer" the Right Question?
First off, I've found that a lot of people start thinking about how to chose what type of computer to buy by asking "what is the most popular computer?" and letting the answer to that decide the question for them.
Well, this isn't necessarily the best idea.
Just because something is popular doesn't necessarily mean it's the best -- for example, fast food restaurants are popular places to go, but I think we all know they don't serve the best food in the world.
Here's the thing to remember when thinking about how to chose when buying a computer -- you should generally avoid the big brand names.
Yes, this might surprise you, but in my opinion, it's usually not a good idea to buy from one of the big brand name companies (there's one exception that I'll get to in a minute).
Here's why: dollar for dollar, you're generally going to get a worse deal than if you go with a reputable "generic" or "white box" store.
A lot of people have low price as the first thing on their list when they're trying to figure out how to chose when buying a computer. So they go with a cheap brand name and spend a few hundred dollars on it, and they think they're getting a good deal.
But what they don't realize is that it's common for a lot of the big brand companies to sell very out-of-date computers in their lower price ranges, and from what I've heard, they also often sell computers with parts they know are bad!
I'm not kidding about this -- most of the big computer companies out there, when they sell their least expensive computers, are trying to unload old inventory that's been collecting dust on their shelves for a long time.
They sell it to you as if it's new, and maybe it is in the sense of never purchased before, but it's hardly new in terms of the technology.
And the more disturbing part of this is that from what I've heard, those computers often have parts in them that are *known* to be bad parts!
You see, when a chip manufacturer like Intel makes a computer processor (the "brain" of the computer), they test it to make sure it works.
Makes sense, right?
But inevitably, many of them fail these tests. Now you'd think these bad parts would be thrown away, but no -- from what I've heard, what happens is they still sell them to the big computer companies at a discount, and those companies put them into their computers anyway.
What you can do with a bad processor a lot of the time is set it to run slower, and while it may not be running at full speed, it works well enough to pass the tests.
But the parts are still bad! Sure, they may work OK for a while (maybe just long enough to make it through the warranty period) but they have more little "glitches" and end up breaking down sooner.
So if you can find a reputable local company that sells computers they assemble themselves, you'll get a well built computer for a lot less because you're not paying for the brand name.
I can't help you find a local store like that everywhere, but those of you reading this who live on the Big Island of Hawaii can go to Falcon Computers in Kona or Falcon Computers in Waimea.
These are two branches of a store that offers computer repairs in Kona and Waimea, as well as a good place to buy a computer in Kona or Waimea on the Big Island
A family-owned store like that is the only place I'd buy a Windows PC, personally.
So earlier I mentioned there was an exception among the big brand names -- if you've been reading my newsletter for a while, or know me, you might have already guessed which one it is -- Apple.
Apple is the only big brand name computer I personally would buy (I'm writing this on a MacBook Pro). I do this partially because I've used a lot of different types of computers over the years, and really don't enjoy using Windows much.
But I also do this because Apple doesn't deliberately put bad processors in their computers, or try to sell out-of-date computers as new. Some people complain that Apple's Macs are overpriced, but that's actually not the case -- when compared apples to apples (excuse the pun) they tend to be in the same price range as a Dell or HP of the same general specs.
So bottom line is, here's how to chose when you're buying a computer: if you want to stick with Windows, then support a local business and go to a good store that puts your computer together for you from parts.
And make sure you ask them to put Windows XP on it, not Windows Vista (for reasons covered in this 3-part article about the problems with Windows Vista).
Or get away from Windows and switch to a Mac.
Either way, you're getting a better deal.
Hope that makes sense and helps with your decisions on how to chose when buying a computer.
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• Thursday, March 6, 2008 - What is The Right Way To Get Computer Help? Computer Tips That Make It Easy To Learn Computers
What is The Right Way To Get Computer Help?
Computer Tips That Make It Easy To
Learn Computers
If you're like a lot of people, you feel confused by computers and wish you had more confidence and skill.
You know you're not as good as you want to be, and you end up frustrated by them a lot.
Maybe you feel like you're missing out on something that other people enjoy, and wish you could learn the basics of computers so you can join in but you aren't sure about what you're doing.
If any of this seems familiar to you, then it's important to realize that you're not alone -- a lot of people feel this way about computers.
You also need to understand it's not your fault.
I've been helping people with their computer challenges for a long time, and I've spent years researching exactly what causes people to get stuck, and what makes them feel frustrated and confused.
I've discovered there are 8 main reasons why most people fail when they try to learn computer basics and get better at computers -- and none of those reasons are your fault at all!
If you have always felt like a dummy, it's because the game has been rigged against you -- the traditional ways people try to learn computers are almost designed to make you fail!
Here are 4 of the common experiences people have when they try to
learn the basics of computers:
- You try to learn from someone you know like a neighbor, family member, or someone else who may seem like they understand computers, but who in reality doesn't really know that much and ends up passing on misinformation, misunderstanding, and bad habits.
It's like a 16-year-old trying to get someone a few months older to teach them how to drive: not a good idea.
- You sign up for classes, but end up feeling frustrated and like you've wasted your hard-earned money because the teacher goes at the pace of the fastest student, and you end up like most of the other students: left out and left behind.
- You hire a computer consultant who probably knows what they're talking about, but while they understand computers, they don't understand the first thing about teaching.
They talk in confusing technical terms that they can't or won't explain clearly, and often get impatient or annoyed with you when you don't get it.
- Because of the expense, you only hire a consultant once in a while, and when you do, you want to cover a bunch of stuff in one long lesson to save money on repeat trips.
But you end up wasting your money because you tried cramming in too much at once, so most of it goes in one ear and out the other.
Here are a few important things to understand about how people's mind work and how we learn that is critical to remember when learning any skill, including computers:
- When we learn a skill -- reading, writing, using computer, or anything else -- we have to start off focusing on the little details, or little steps, and work up from there: letters before words, words before sentences, paragraphs before pages.
Most professional computer trainers are way up at a level where they see the big picture and have trouble thinking back to when they focused on the little steps.
Because of this, they have trouble explaining to you and don't really understand why you don't get it.
- Scientific studies have shown people need to learn in short lessons of half an hour or less, with a break between lessons.
When most classes or lessons from consultants run an hour or two long, is it any surprise you forget it all?
Obviously, when you're working around somebody else's schedule, and you're paying by the minute (plus travel time in a lot of cases) it seems to make more economic sense to have a single long lesson that lasts an hour or two, instead of several short lessons.
But in reality, you end up wasting money on those lessons that go on for more than half an hour, since you end up forgetting a lot of what you're taught!
An unfortunate catch 22.
- Repetition builds skill: nobody learns a skill in just one lesson. But because of the cost and today's busy schedule, almost nobody ever gets computer lessons more than once in a blue moon, so they end up stuck in a frustrated rut.
Know how to ride a bike?
I bet if you do, then you had to practice a while before you got good at it.
At first it was a struggle to keep upright, but you kept doing it. Eventually, you could ride around like a pro without even thinking about it. Maybe even with no hands!
And the nice thing about learning computers is -- no skinned knees!
- Focus on one subject, and only go off on side topics if it directly relates and helps understanding of the main thing you're trying to learn about.
Jumping around to a bunch of different things in one lesson is no way to learn.
True, some people are what I like to call "non-linear learners" (think ADD) and they want to jump around a lot or they get bored.
But even hyperactive people (I'm one of them) really learn best with short, focused lessons, and the *choice* to be able to jump from one topic to another -- as long as each short lesson is complete and not a jumbled mess.
These are a few of the things I discovered were holding people back from the confidence and skill that they deserved.
These understandings I gained from my years of studying this problem did lead me to a solution.
Over the more than twelve years that I've been a computer coach, I -- through a lot of hard work on my part, and a lot of thought and care -- figured out how to explain things in plain English.
I use metaphors and analogies, relating the complex and normally confusing terms to everyday, understandable objects like a table, a rug, a car. Things that you can relate to and that make sense to anybody, even a so-called "computer dummy".
I also learned how to bring things down to your level of understanding -- helping you grasp what I'm talking about, even if you're a beginner and still focused on the tiny details -- all without talking down to you.
The thing you'll discover if you approach learning computer basics the right way, with the right computer help, and the right computer tips along the way, is that it can actually be easy to learn computers.
And it can be fun, too.
Worth Godwin is a computer coach with over 13 years experience helping computer users in Plain English. He's also worked "in the trenches" as a hardware and software tech, solving real-world computer problems.
Worth has an easy email newsletter that you can join now for free. When you join, he'll send you free computer tips, translate basic computer terminology into plain English, and share easy audio and video computer lessons with you for free.
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