Buying a Computer for Dummies

by Dan Gookin

Book Overview

CPU, Ghz, Mhz, DIMMS, RAM, ROM, AGP, ISA, PCI, USB, CRT, LCD, NIC, CCD, CIS, DP, Kbps. What do all of these acronyms mean? Are you baffled by computer technology and technology? Intimidated by... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0764540777
• ISBN13: 9780764540776
• Release Date: August 2003
• Publisher: For Dummies
• Length: 267 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.2" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

An eye opener as regards PCs.

I wish I had read this book when I first bought my current computer; it is real eye opener. I don't know that I will buy another product or service without first reviewing it in a "dummy" book. Martin

THIS REALLY KEPT ME FROM DOING SOMETHING DUMB

This really helped me from buying something that I did not need or what. It kept me from spending more than I should, being a first time computer buyer. It has been several years since my first computer but I bet there is still a lot for a first time computer buyer.

Excellent but necessarily incomplete

Okay, this is a little tough to explain. This is an EXCELLENT guide for people who need to buy a new home computer or laptop. But it by itself will not be enough to guide those people through the process smoothly.There are two considerable strengths to this guide. First of all, it demystifies all the jargon and obscure terminology, and does a commendable job doing it. Second, Dan Gookin's advice to think about SOFTWARE primarily and not HARDWARE or PRICE when one is buying is worth its weight in gold. (The fact that brand names are scarcely used in this book is a strength and not a weakness, I believe, and fits in with Mr. Gookin's approach.) And for people who think "For Dummies" guides have too much clowning around, there is very little of it here, and it is not intrusive.Having said all of these nice things, the book is occasionally minimal on key information. It could be argued that to make this guide complete, the author would have had to have written an 800-page book. In any case, this book alone won't get you through the computer-buying process comfortably. You should supplement the book with a friend who is moderately or heavily tech savvy.In short, this is a great beginning and I honestly think it would be foolish for a computer beginner to buy a new machine without having read this very price-friendly work. But that reading will have to be supplemented by a friend or work colleague in the know about personal computers.

An Asset for the Average Buyer

The book is well written without becoming too overbearing. As with many "For Dummies" books, there is the correct amount of levity and quite a bit of useful information. I found the info to be up to date (at least today!) in what is perhaps the fastest changing environment that ever existed. If you need a quick education ,deciding what to buy, this is your guide.

This book helped me more than anything else out there

I walked into a computer-mega store to buy a computer and left confused and dazed. I then bought Dan Gookin's book and had a completely different approach. Mr. Gookin's book helped me to not get caught up in product name, but more on what I wanted to get done with the computer. What a great approach. Buy this book before you even think about buying a computer. It will honesly help.