What You Need to Know Before Buying a Computer
Below you will find links to computers that I recommend. But before we get to that, here as some facts you need to know as you consider a computer purchase:
- The performance of a computer is based upon three things: Processor, RAM, and Hard disk.
- The most common types of processors from slowest to fastest are Dual Core, i3, i5, i7. The speed of each processor is measured in Ghz (GigaHertz).
- RAM is Random Access Memory. It is the amount of memory your computer uses to perform work. You need a minimum of 4 GB (Gigabytes) RAM, 8 is better. Even more is better.
- Hard Disk sizes are measured in GB (Gigabytes). Typical sizes range from 300 GB to 1000 GB or more. 1000 GB is called 1 TB (Terabyte) The size of a disk determines how much stuff you may store on your computer. It has no effect on speed.
A Word About Hard Disks
There are two types of hard disks. (Also called hard drives). The standard type that most computers have contain moving parts. They have a spinning platter with a rapidly moving drive head that 
moves at blinding speed. Standard hard disks are the weak link in a computer. Since a hard drive is a mechanical machine with moving parts, they slow things down. The hard drive is the bottleneck in a computer. Also, like all machines, they eventually break. The average life expectancy of a heavily used hard disk is only three years.
- Solid State Drives (SSD) are the new player on the block and they are a vast improvement in hard drive technology. They have no moving parts. They eliminate the bottleneck and move data at incredible speeds, increasing the performance of the entire computer many fold. The average life expectancy of an SSD is 1,000 years.
- The Operating System (OS) on a computer is the software that makes it usable. The main thing you need to know is that Windows 7 is the best OS ever made and Windows 10 is one of the worst. Here is a list of the Windows operating systems, I have been in the computer business when each was invented and have used them all. Here is my opinion on each:
The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly about Operating Systems
DOS/Windows 1.0 – Barely worked.
DOS/Windows 286 – Better, but painfully slow
DOS/Windows 3.0 – An improvement
DOS/Windows 3.1 – Widely used. Crashed or locked up several times a day.
Windows 95 – Good for its time, but unstable.
Windows 98 – Even better for its time, but unstable.
Windows Millennium – A train wreck
Windows NT – Had potential, but blue-screened often.
Windows 2000 – A Better Windows NT
Windows XP – A really good stable desktop OS for its time.
Windows Vista – Bad OS. Very unstable and hard to repair.
Windows 7 – The best OS made to date.
Windows 8 – Bad OS. No menu system. Not user friendly. Convoluted Access to System Restore
Windows 10 – Very Bad OS! Unstable. Bad menu system. Not user friendly. Spies on you.
Recommended Computers From Mark
Here is a listing of 3 Used/Refurbished laptops I currently have available. These are computers I have personally checked out and refurbished. If you buy from me there is no tax and you get Windows 7, the best OS. Need software installed on it? Need your data moved from your old PC? Call me and lets make a deal. If you prefer a large monitor and regular keyboard that a desktop PC provides, be aware that an external monitor and keyboard can be connected to a laptop and it may then be used as a desktop.
E6330 Business Laptop – ONLY $1,150. Plus Shipping & Handling – NO TAX – The Fastest Laptop Money Can Buy – Featuring a Solid State Drive (SSD) and an i7 Processor. The combination of SSD and i7 make for super high performance. Refurbished (used) Dell– With i7 Processor – THE fastest processors on the planet! 2.6 Ghz i7 Processor, 8GB RAM, 500 GB SSD Hard Disk, 13.3 inch screen, DVD-Writer, Charger.
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Dell E6420 Laptop – ONLY $550. Plus Shipping & Handling – NO TAX Refurbished (used)– This is an i5 Processor – one of the fastest processors on the planet! 3.2 Ghz, 8 GB RAM, 320 GB Hard Disk, 14 inch screen, Web Cam, Stereo Speakers, DVD Writer, Charger.
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HP Laptop, AMD E-300 Processor – ONLY $250. Plus Shipping & Handling – NO TAX – 1.3 Ghz, 4 GB RAM, 300 GB Hard Disk, 15.6 inch screen, Web Cam, DVD Writer, Charger, Windows 8 64-Bit – With Windows 7 Style Menus.
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Call Mark 480-430-778 Zero or email to support@CertifiedOnlineComputerRepair.com
Recommended Computers From Amazon
To find computers with Windows 7 and an SSD drive, go to Amazon.com and do a search for “refurbished Windows 7 SSD i7”
Here is an example – click the picture of the PC below to go to Amazon.
i7 (3.4 Ghz), RAM:16 GB, Hard Disks: 500 GB SSD & 1 TB Standard Drive, OS: Windows 7 Pro