A constant question asked by friends, family and colleagues is "I want to buy a new computer - which one should I get?"  It is a question that can have many different answers.   I always like to ask some questions back to qualify for the new computer recommendation request.

What is the primary purpose of this computer? 

This question is usually answered with things like surfing the internet, watching Netflix/YouTube, sending email, doing work/homework (mostly word processing).  I would put most people in this category.  I find people who are into more robust things like gaming or video editing are able to do their own research and generally don't need help selecting a new system.

Are you partial to any particular operating system?

I like to ask this question because there always seem to be 3 camps.  The first is I am not partial to any system (but generally these folks are most familiar with Windows), I want a Mac because I heard they don't get viruses and I don't want a Mac because they are too expensive and aren't worth the cost. Most people, at least in my experience, don't consider ChromeOS or Linux as an option.  I think this is mainly because they are not familiar with either OS. If the answer to question one is mainly web-based activity I will bring up ChromeOS as an option for those folks. 

 A Word About Operating Systems

WINDOWS OS:

If someone only has experience in the Windows environment I recommend they stick with that option to reduce any learning curve. I have a laptop in my office running Windows 10 and I will say that Windows has come a long way.  I used to love XP, but after XP I found the OS to be bloated and slow.  I had lots of issues with it and made the jump to Mac about 14 years ago.  I find Windows 10 to be decently responsive and easy to use. I can't say I use it extensively, but overall I don't have a negative experience when I use it.  The Windows OS will meet most of a causal users' needs.

macOS:

I will say I am a Mac guy and have been using Mac's as my main productivity machines for about 14 years now.  I love them, but they are not for everyone and for the causal user we are talking about in this blog they can be an expensive overkill option. I really like the macOS and think it has improved over the years.  I find it easy to navigate and manage.  I will say when I made the switch from Windows way back when there was a learning curve. If a casual user is happy with their Windows experience  I would recommend they save the money and buy another Windows machine. I also want to take this opportunity to say yes Mac's can get viruses.  I have witnessed it first hand.  It can happen, but if you take the same common-sense precautions that you would with a Windows machine the chances of getting one are very slim. I only recommend Mac's if the user is keen on getting a mac, has some devices in the Mac ecosystem (ie iPhone, iPad, AppleTV, etc) and would benefit from having their desktop/laptop in the same ecosystem.

ChromeOS:

I have been recommending the ChromeOS to causal users that are mainly using web-based activity.  ChromeOS can meet the needs of a lot of casual users and has attractive price points, is speedy and reliable.  The main disadvantage is you have to be connected to the internet to be able to use this OS effectively.  Coupled with Google GSuite a Chromebook can as productive as Windows or Mac-based machine and is definitely easier on your pocketbook. 

Linux:

Linux is every bit as good and in some cases better than the above mentioned operating systems. In some situations, it is a good option.  I find that most causal users are scared off of Linux because they feel the technical learning curve is too high.  In most cases, Linux installs as easy or easier than the above OS's.  I think it is least understood and therefore one I don't recommend often.

Are you partial to any particular brand?

Sometimes this question is answered by asking the previous operating systems question, but sometimes it is necessary to drill down to some brand names.  If they are sticking to a Windows OS are they partial to any brands like HP, Acer, Asus, Lenovo, Microsoft, etc, etc. The same can be said with ChromeOS, but obviously Mac's are going to be an Apple product.  

Are you looking for a desktop or a laptop?

As a freelancer I only ever buy laptops.  Sure I connect them to external monitors and in some cases keyboards and mice, but I don't even consider desktops because I want mobility.  Not everyone is like me and in a lot of cases, desktops offer more performance bang for your buck.  To me, within reason, mobility trumps performance, but this is a question that only end-user can answer.  

Do you need touch/tablet capabilities?

This is a more recent addition to the questions I like to ask. Does the end-user want touch screen capability? Some people love touch screens and some don't care about that feature.  Either way can help you narrow down their choices.  Both Windows and Chrome offer touch screen capability.  Mac's can have a "touch bar" on some Pro models, but otherwise, they don't offer that functionality with their line-up of desktops and laptop computers. 

Would a tablet work in place of a laptop/desktop?

If the system is being used just for surfing, email and watching video then a tablet may be an option instead of a laptop or desktop system.  Again, the user will be able to help you answer that question. 

How much do you want to spend?

This is a big factor and it often requires some help from you based on the answers you find from the questions above.  If they only want to spend a minimum amount but want a Mac then they may have to look for a used system.  The budget will go a long way toward narrowing down choices.  

What about processing power, ram, storage space, graphics cards. etc?

Again, we are talking about causal users here.  So spouting off a bunch of technical specifications is going to mean nothing to them. I say based on the budget, the primary purpose of the machine, OS and brand -  buy the fastest processor, most amount ram and largest amount of storage they can afford. You can never have a fast enough processor, enough ram or enough storage in my opinion. 

Check out reviews on CNET, Best Buy, Amazon, Staples, YouTube, etc?

Finally, once you have narrowed down, budget, OS, primary use, and you can start to check reviews on CNET, Best Buy, Amazon, Staples and YouTube to see what the pros and cons are of each brand/model that fits the users' criteria.  

This set of questions is meant to help the causal user narrow down the veritable sea of devices they can choose from. Hopefully, it will also help to save them some money by not buying solely based on brand or buying a device that is way above their needs. 

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Disclaimer: All the opinions are my own and are not the views of any suppliers or manufacturers.