How to Buy A Computer!

25th January, 2025: How to Buy a Computer!

Part 1: the introduction.

Hi.

My name’s Paul: and I’m also called Nik Nak.

And this may possibly be the first post on Nik Nak’s Old Peculiar that you’ve read: or first video you’ve watched on the @MrCuddy2977 YouTube channel.

I write a set of quizzes called the Daily Teaser: and talk about movies and TV shows I’ve watched.

That’s assuming you want to hear what I think of them, of course.

At any rate, that’s what I do, between living the rest of my life: job-hunting, gossiping with friends, sleeping, eating, looking after my nephew, and watching the world go by: from a bench on Warley Hill.

That’s if I managed to get out of the house, of course.

And assuming the bench is dry.

I also have a possibly unhealthy interest in computers: and a very limited layman’s understanding of the subject.

Enough that — occasionally — friends ask me for something.

Buying advice: simple buying advice.

Something I’m happy to offer: so long as the friends in question are happy to ask me and realise I don’t know everything.

At any rate, I know a little about these things, am happy to offer advice and opinion: but fully expect you to take my advice with a pinch of salt.

I’m a layman, not an expert.

And one who’s very aware there’s a lot of twaddle out there.

~≈¥≈~

Part Two: What Do You Need?

Here’s the first thing you have to ask yourself.

What do you need from a computer, what are you going to use it for?

What do you need, rather than want?

Let’s be clear here, shall we?

There’s a few different types of computer.

Devices that take some data, do something to it with an app, then put the results somewhere.

Whether that data is sending text to an email address, putting this scene into that part of a video, display this link on that screen, play this song on those speakers.

What have you.

If I hear the phrase “do it on a computer”, the computer I’m thinking of is an old fashioned desktop: a box that goes on your desk and is attached to a monitor, keyboard and mouse.

So when I’m “doing something with a computer”, I’m talking about a desktop.

But the phrase equally applies a laptop, a tablet, a phone, a Smart TV, hell, even a watch!

You’ll be emailing from your phone, playing a song on a smart watch.

So when I ask you “What are you going to use this thing for?”, there’s going to be a lot of different answers.

If we’re doing relatively simple stuff?

We’re messaging friends, using Facebook or Instagram, doing some basic online shopping, we’re not necessarily going to need anything powerful.

We could probably get away with a phone, a tablet or even a watch.

Or a lightweight laptop, the type knowns as notebooks.

Something that’s portable, rather than powerful.

If we’re doing something heavier?

Gaming, content creation, computer aided design, coding?

We’re going to need something a bit more powerful: a specced out laptop, a muscular desktop.

I do a lot of video editing, for example.

So the most recent computer I bought was the most powerful I could afford.

Some gamers I know?

Have far more powerful rigs: as will anyone doing intense design work.

If you’re going to be doing any of this on the go?

You’re going to need something portable, however powerful.

My point?

Is simply this: you need to have a good idea of what you need, and buy accordingly.

Which brings me to my next point.

The money.

~≈¥≈~

Part Three: The Money!

Let’s talk cash, shall we?

And let me ask you this: how much do you intend to spend on a computer?

There’s going to be a figure you’re comfortable paying, isn’t there?

I started writing this piece in December of 2024: and bought my most recent computer in October of that year.

I spent some £999 on a new Mac mini: roughly $1270, or €1210, according to the quick google search I did at the time.

£799 got me the new Mac mini, with the latest processor and sixteen gigabytes of RAM: I paid £200 extra for a one terabyte solid state drive, rather than the default 512gb drive.

That — plus a few extra quid for a new mouse and keyboard — brought my total to £1257 (€1526/$1600).

I’m also aware I spent some £300 (€365/$380) on a large capacity external hard drive, to used as backup: bringing the running total to £1557.

I already had a monitor.

I managed to offset the total cost by some £140 (€170/$178), selling a pair of older model external drives.

So?

I spent some £1417 in total.

That was a price I felt comfortable paying, with the cash I had available.

My point is this.

That price you think you’re going to be paying for a computer is not the complete price.

Even if you get a deal on a desktop that includes a monitor, keyboard and mouse, even if you buy a laptop, or tablet, that price on the box isn’t going too include everything you need.

You may not buy software, right now, you may not buy a back-up drive, right now … but you’re going to need to budget for them in the not too distant future.

Please make sure you plan the budget for the computer: and for needed extras.

~≈¥≈~

Part Four: The Extras.

You’re possibly saying, “Oh, good grief, Paul, extras? What extras?”

Let’s start with the one that — I think — everything else depends on.

An internet connection.

How many of us have one?

I honestly don’t know.

But?

I know that many of us who have one, are online for no other reason than to watch YouTube on our smart TVs.

I’m also very aware that many of us don’t one: those of us on benefits will be struggling to pay for one, unless we’re using one of the rare social tariffs provided by some internet service providers.

That connection is essential for someone who owns a computer.

If for no other reason than this: a computer’s software gets updated over the internet … !

On top of updates?

You can access a lot of useful services, online.

I’m both jobhunting, and have various medical conditions.

So accessing online services is a life saver!

As is being able to contact people through various messaging services.

An internet connection is vital.

Another thing we will need money for?

Is backup: online, or local.

There’s no point you sitting there, saying “Nothing’s going to happen to my computer!   It’s impervious to damage!”

Oh, no it isn’t.

As I found out, when the power supply in my old iMac gave up the ghost.

As a neighbour found out, when her laptop died.

As a friend found out, when he spilt orange juice on his desktop computer.

The big difference between me and the neighbour, and the friend with the orange juice?

I, and the neighbour, had back up: but I’m not Mr Orange did.

I’ve relied on Apple’s Time Machine app for years.

All I’ve needed to do to make it work, is plug in an external drive and use Time Machine to back up my machine to that drive.

So?

It’s helped me transfer things between old and new Macs, recover my data when a hard drive’s failed, and — last but not least — allowed me to transfer stuff from a dead iMac to a newly purchased replacement.

Being unable to access my files in the meantime?

Prompted me to get some online storage: so I can store copies of my files, if that happens again, so I can access my files from anywhere.

My point is this: you will need backup, whether online or hooked up to your machine.

No two ways about it, you will need backup.

This means you need:

• free, or commercial, backup software.
• an external drive for the backups.
• online storage for your backups.

I’ll emphasise this again, when your machine fails — when, not if — you will to have backed it up, and need to have paid for that back up!

Another expense?

Is software.

Yes: I am very aware there’s plenty of free software around.

I’ve been using a lot of it for many years.

I’ve relied on LibreOffice, and OpenOffice, for my basic writing needs, I’ve used VLC to play and stream music and films, I’ve used HandBrake and MakeMKV to back up optical discs for the same sort of time, and I’ve used Apple’s free iWork suite.

But?

As a YouTuber, I’m aware that a copy of Final Cut Pro could come in handy: I don’t necessarily want to rely on iMovie, all the time.

I’m also aware that the free office software I use may be less powerful than its commercial equivalent.

I’m aware, in other words, that I’m going to have to pay for software at some point.

As will you.

This needs to be budgeted for.

As a last extra?

And one that’s way down the list?

Let’s talk entertainment.

Whether it’s a subscription to Spotify, Apple Music or Netflix, whether it’s free catch-up services, or online games, we’re probably going to want entertaining!

These days, there’s still a lot we can do that doesn’t need a ’net connection, or a computer.

But we can access a lot more with an internet connection, and some form of computer: smart TV, laptop or otherwise.

This costs: whether we have just a connected computer, and access to free services, we still have to pay for the connection.

Even if we’re not paying for Disney+.

My points are three-fold.

We’re going to need more stuff than we think.

We’re going to need more money than we think.

And?

Technology costs more than we expect.

~≈¥≈~

Part Five: And Finally …

In conclusion, what can I tell you … ?

Possibly not much more than I already have.

About all I can do is to try and offer a metaphor.

An ex-girlfriend of mine — let’s call her Norma — had been brought up around cars.

Her dad was quite a good mechanic, as was at least one cousin, her step-father — and her eventual husband — cabbies, most of her female relatives very good drivers … 

And she got lumbered with a boyfriend — me — who couldn’t tell a brake pedal from a gear stick.

Which is another story.

At any rate, Norma always tried to encourage me to learn to drive: as did my mother and sisters.

Norma made the effort mostly because there were times she wanted us to go out as a couple: and do so when I would drive and her would drink.

Which is yet another story!

Between all this?

Norma would make a very good point, though, one I’ll try to make here.

She’d make the very good point that — when you bought a car, went to price up a car — the price on the price tag wasn’t the total cost.

You might be looking at £5000 for a cheap second hand wreck, £18000 for a new hatchback, £30000 for a new saloon … or a couple of million for a brand new Masarati.

Norma’s point?

Was that the figure on the price tag wasn’t what’s now called the ‘total cost of ownership’.

There’s the price of the car, the fuel, the insurance, the spare tyre, the safety kit in the boot, and — for cars in the UK over three years old — the annual MOT test.

Computers are the same: the price on the box is not the total cost.

There’s a net connection, software, peripherals, hardware upgrades, hardware updates, and the inevitable repairs and replacements.

When you buy a computer?

Keep that in mind: and budget for as much as possible!

~≈¥≈~

Part Six: Farewell …

Just as a last thought?

I should tell you that I started writing this piece in October, 2024: and published in late January of 2025.

So, while I’ve been as accurate as I possibly can, some of the prices — especially the ones in foreign currencies — aren’t necessarily current or consistent.

With that out of the way?

I hope you find this piece informative, educational … and, hopefully, useful.

If it is … ?

Thank me by following the blog, liking the video version on YouTube … or by having a go at one of my Daily Teaser quizzes.

Until the next time?

Have fun!