What Computer Should I Buy?
Since I will be moving into the consulting world shortly, I have been tasked again with buying a new machine. This is always a fun time because I get to see what is new and important with all the new computers on the market. It also reminds me of all the times someone has approached me and asked what computer they should buy. Personally I don't think that there is any one machine or brand that stands out. It depends on what you want in your computer. If you are dead set on buying an Apple, a lot of choices have already been made for you. If you are open and think "Hey, I am going to go to XYZ store and try out a few to see what they are like", you will most likely find a tag that has things like CPU, RAM, HDD, SSD, and GPU specified on it. At this point you think you are over your head so you ask for help from one of the guys wearing a polo, who often times doesn't know much more than you. This is my take on buying a new computer.
A computer operates like you do when taking a test
One of the easiest ways to visualize how a computer works is by relating it to yourself. In general, think of your computer as your brain. The CPU (Central Processing Unit) is the part of your brain that, more or less, does the thinking. The RAM (Random Access Memory) is your memory. The hard drive is your backpack full of books. For the majority of people looking to buy a computer, these three things are the most important. When it comes to the innards anyway...
The CPU (Central Processing Unit)
I stated that the CPU is the equivalent to the part of your brain that does the thinking. Basically when you want your computer to do something, the task is completed by the CPU. When it comes to the number associated with the CPU, it is usually not that important unless you are doing things that take a lot of computing power. Usually this falls under media encoding. What has become more important lately is the number of cores in the GPU. Each core allows the GPU to do a task. When you have a single core, all your tasks get lined up and are completed one at a time. When you have multiple cores, each core can take a task and do the work at the same time. So naturally, the more cores the better.
The RAM (Random Access Memory)
Think of the RAM as being your memory. When you are studying for a test, you are basically putting all the information that you are looking at into your brains RAM. The amount that you can fit in that memory is important because the more that you remember, the faster you can recall information and you will not need to look it up (which takes time). When you are looking at purchasing a computer the more available RAM, the better.
The Disk Space (HDD vs SSD)
The hard drive is the same as the backpack full of books that you carry. This is important for a couple of reasons. The hard drive as most people see it is the place to put your files. It is also used when there is no more room in your memory. Think about when you are taking an open-book test. You read the question and if you know the answer (it is in memory), you answer it pretty quickly. If you don't know the answer, you go to your text book and proceed to look up the information. This is how a computer works too. This brings up an important point about speed. Obviously, looking it up in the book is going to take A LOT longer than if you know the answer. That is why it is important to have as much memory as possible.
We are currently in a pretty big transition from HDD (Hard disk drives) to SSD (Solid State Drives). What you need to know is that SSD is WAY faster than HDD. HDD is a hard metal disk that holds the information and is read pretty similarly to how a record player reads a record. SSD is pretty much the same as a giant memory card. In order to wrap your head around the speed difference think about this. When you are looking up the answer to a question on the test, an SSD would be like Googling the question; while an HDD would be like trying to find the answer in a library full of books. It is that much faster. I would recommend getting an SSD over HDD if you can afford the extra cost.
Conclusion
So when someone asks me what kind of computer they should buy, I suggest that brand is not super important. The important things are get as many CPU cores as you can, As much memory as you can, and an SSD if you can swing the extra cost. Then you should have a pretty speedy machine that will be useful for a couple years... hopefully.
Here are some other tips that I would suggest if you are trying to save a couple bucks and are not afraid of voiding your warranty and using a screwdriver:
1. You can save money by getting a machine with less RAM and upgrading it at a later date. There are a lot of videos online that can show you how to do it.
2. You can buy a smaller SSD for your internal hard drive and buy an external HDD for file storage.
3. If you are set on getting an Apple, the refurbished store is the way to go. You get an almost brand new machine with a one year warranty and you can save hundreds of dollars.