Help a parent or friend find the right PC

Choosing a PC is a tough decision for anyone, and it’s even more complex when you’re trying to help your family members or friends make that choice.

I recently helped my parents pick out a new PC, set it up, and customize it, and it was quite a learning experience. I have a few ideas that might make it easier for you to help a beginning computer user find the right PC, whether it’s your child, parent, friend, or even yourself.

1. Explore your options
This is a big step for the decision-maker, so suggestion #1 is to have patience and help them understand what goes into making the choice.

To get started, show them how getting a computer can help them start using the Internet and demonstrate some of the different features a computer offers, as well as the different types of computers that they’ll be choosing from, like netbooks, laptop PCs, and desktop PCs. Take a look at some of the different types of software available; trip planning software, photo libraries, and tax preparation programs are just a few examples of programs that might be interesting. My mom, for example, got especially excited about getting to see and print pictures of her grandchildren.
2. Visit a store or website together

You might be inclined to just go out and buy a PC for a parent or friend, hoping it will be easier for everyone. Instead, make the trip or purchase together. Unlike those of us who routinely shop online for electronics, some people (our parents, for example) are more used to picking out big

purchases at stores. For them, choosing a PC may be like selecting a home appliance, so taking the time to go to an electronics store to try out different PCs may be the best option. If you visit a Web site like the Microsoft Store to purchase the PC, make sure your friend or parent makes the online transaction and accepts delivery.3. Decide between a netbook, a laptop, or a desktop
Choosing between a netbook, laptop, and desktop PC is an important decision. Each has its own set of benefits. My dad wanted to use a computer in the den, where he has a very comfortable chair. He plans to use his computer only at home and only in the den, so he chose a desktop. If your friend or parent wants to use the computer in more than one location— in the kitchen, in the living room, or while on vacation— or if they have a small amount of space to work with, they may want to think about purchasing a netbook or laptop.

A few more questions to consider:
* Do they need a large screen, small screen, or something in between?
* Do they need something very lightweight?
* What are they planning to use the computer for?
* Can they use wireless keyboards and mice?

4. Ask the right questions

Knowing which features of the computer will be most used, can help decide whether to get a basic PC or one with more memory, extra hard-drive disk space, or other advanced features. Be sure to ask “What do you want to do with your PC?” My mom wanted to use a new PC to send e-mail, browse the Internet, and print and save photos. So, she had her choice of several relatively inexpensive options among netbooks, laptops and desktops.

Ask the decision-maker specific questions about what they want to do with the PC to determine the required features. The chart that follows shows some of the common computer tasks and the features that are important to perform those tasks easily and efficiently.

The answers to these questions will help determine which PC features will best meet their needs. For example, if they want to use the PC to share photos and make videos of their trips or their grandchildren, make sure you encourage them to choose a PC that has enough memory (RAM) for video streaming, a large enough hard disk to accommodate videos, a faster processor speed, and CD/DVD read-write capabilities. On the other hand, if they are just interested in using e-mail and exploring the Internet, a more basic PC with decent memory (RAM) may be the right choice for them.

5. Set it up

If you’ve helped a beginning computer user choose a PC, it’s good to stay involved even after the decision is made. After the PC arrives, schedule time to help get the computer set up. Together, unpack the cables, the keyboard, the mouse, and other components, and take extra care to arrange them in the desk area. Place the PC and monitor, connect the cables, plug in the PC and the monitor, and connect them to the Internet. Read our article on setting up and customizing a computer to get some helpful tips about customizing a PC to fit your needs.

6. “How to” take the next steps

Show your friend or family member the exciting variety of activities available to them on the new computer and the Internet.

Source : http://www.microsoft.com/athome/setup/findpc.aspx