When you go in a clothing store you are likely to see dozens of choices and many different sizes of clothing to choose from. Why? No one piece of clothing fits every person on the planet. The same is true of computers in that what is the right computer for one person may not be the right computer for another. Many different things come into play when shopping for a computer and each one of them will affect not only the price tag but also the usability of the machine for the eventual recipient. When shopping for a computer to give as a gift to someone else consider these sage words of advice.
What kind of user is the computer being bought for?
Is the computer being purchased for an experienced computer user or will it go to a computer newbie? Experienced users generally require more memory, better graphics cards, and bigger hard drives than beginners simply because they know how to use the computer and make more effective use of its features and software. A new computer user probably will not require high end components but at the same time you have to pay close attention to the operating system that will be installed on the computer that you buy for them. Many of the low priced "netbook" style computers look very attractive for new computer owners but some ship with an open-source operating system such as Linux instead of the more common operating system of Microsoft Windows. For a beginner stay away from Linux because as they learn and want to add new software to the computer they will have a more difficult time doing so and there will likely be almost no technical support for the software.
What will the computer be used for?
If the gifted computer is only going to be used for reading email and surfing the web then a cheap netbook will work nicely for most people. If the user needs other software programs installed on the machine though a netbook will usually require the additional purchase of an external CD/DVD drive to use to install the software. Most netbooks do not have internal disc drives, and depending on the knowledge and instincts of a user this can cause a lot of confusion and stress. At the same time, if the computer will be used to play video games or to edit family videos, a more expensive computer with a larger hard drive, better graphics, and more memory will be called for.
Is there an easy way to buy a computer for someone else?
Perhaps the easiest way to buy a computer to give as a gift is to go to one of the reputable computer manufacturers and purchase a gift card. Budget according to the expected level of need for the person receiving the gift. For a new user that is just doing email and Internet load it up with around $300-$500. For a college student or someone who is an avid gamer load it up with around $600-$900 to account for the more advanced components and software. This way the receiver of the computer can make his or her own decisions on what level of sophistication they truly need, plus in ordering their own computer they are more likely to be satisfied in the long run.
