Computer Buying Assignment -- Sample From An Earlier Semester Use this sample for expected format, scope and depth. Note, however, that some of the assignment criteria have changed. Be certain that you cover everything that the current assignment asks you to address. PC Purchase The purpose of this purchase is to replace my current Apple ibook, which is just over three years old and has a 1.07 GHz PowerPC G4, 256 MB RAM, and runs Mac OS X Version 10.3.9. The replacement computer should have a faster processor, more memory, and extra space on the hard disk. The computer is for my personal home use and for my SLIS schoolwork. I would like to replace my ibook with another notebook computer because I love the portability of it. For this reason, I am not considering desktop options and I chose the Sony VAIO CR Series Notebook PC. I enjoy the ability to take my computer with me to use it at school or a coffee shop with wifi. Even when I do not need to take it with me, I enjoy being able to use the computer in any room rather than being tied to my desk. Since I do a lot of reading on my computer for school, it is a plus to be able to read articles on Blackboard and websites while sitting anywhere I like. I also have a wireless LAN set up in my apartment, so a computer with a built-in wireless network card is a must. When I use my computer, I almost always multi-task. I put demands on my computer s available memory by running multiple web browser tabs and windows, a word processor, opening multiple PDF documents, playing music from itunes, and editing digital photos all at the same time. I need a computer with the memory to allow me to do these things without getting stuck. Web sites are even more graphics- and Flash-intensive than ever, and that can be a drain on my computer s limited memory when I am browsing the web. In addition, my schoolwork requires me to watch videos on my computer: either on DVD or streaming online. While my current computer performs this task perfunctorily, the lack of available RAM often causes me delays and frustration. The VAIO will have plenty of memory, making watching videos easier. I need more space on the hard disk because since I purchased the ibook over three years ago, I have started storing digital photos and digital music on my computer. My computer has become my music CD collection as well as my photo album. Since digital photos and music are large files to store, my current 30 GB hard disk is nearly filled to capacity. I am currently using 28 GB, and I need at least another 80 GB free so that I can continue uploading photos and music to my computer without worrying about running out of space. The VAIO I have selected comes with a combination CD-RW/DVD-RW optical drive. When I bought my computer three years ago, I chose a CD-RW/DVD player, because I wanted to be able to burn CDs but burning DVDs was not important to me. Now, burning DVDs is a capability I want to have, particularly because it could be an effective back-up method for my large photo and music collections. However, it is not important to me to have two optical drives, since I will not need to copy data from one disc to another. 1
I considered more expensive notebook computers such as the Dell XPS M1210 ($2,150) or the Fujitsu LifeBook P7230 ($2,179) because professional reviewers recommended them for running the new Microsoft Vista operating system. However, I knew I would not spend more than $1,500 on a notebook computer for personal use. I chose the VIAO because I enjoy the stylish look of my current Apple ibook, and the VAIO has a sleeker design than most of the PC notebooks I considered. It also comes in white, so it will not look very different from my current computer. It meets my technical requirements and my budget. The VAIO also comes with a built-in 1.3 megapixel Motion Eye camera, which will be fun to use now that I live at a distance from my family and need new ways to communicate with my teenage brothers. The graphics processor the VAIO comes with, the Mobile Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100, is perfectly satisfactory for my needs. It will be able to run the web camera video, videos streamed online and from DVDs. A higher-powered graphics processor for gaming is not important to me. Being unable to download and install new software because my computer s processor, hard disk, memory, or operating system do not meet the software s minimum system requirements is a sign that it is time to replace it. For example, Google s free tool called Gmail Notifier is not compatible with my older Mac OS X version 10.3.9. I like to download freeware, utilities, and Firefox add-ons and buying this newer system will allow me to do that. In addition, I currently do not update my itunes application even though new updates are frequently available because I am running out of space on my hard disk, and each version of itunes uses more memory and more hard disk space. I will enjoy running Microsoft Vista because it has many features I am used to from my Mac, such as the look of the menu buttons and the ability to quickly move and view open windows. Its look is less clunky than Windows XP was. Although I do not typically need to use software that only runs on Windows, the operating system may come in handy in the future, especially since now I am a student at SLIS and may need to use Windows-only software for class assignments. Running Windows will also allow me to watch movies on my computer, because Netflix now provides free movie downloads to subscribers but this feature is not compatible with Apple operating systems. 2
PC Specifications Manufacturer & Model Sony VAIO CR Series Notebook PC (VGN-CR190E/W) CPU - Model & Speed Intel Core 2 Duo Processor T7100 System Bus Speed 1.8GHz RAM Amount & Type 2GB DDR2 (667MHz) Cache - Amount & Type 2MB L2 Cache Graphics - Amount & Type Video RAM: 358MB (Mobile Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100) Sound Sony Sound Reality Audio Enhancer Speakers Built-in notebook speakers, headphone/microphone jacks Floppy drive Zip drive Hard disk - Size & Type 160GB Serial ATA at 5400rpm Optical Drive #1 CD-RW/DVD-RW Max speeds: CD read: 24x CD-R write: 24x CD-RW write: 6x DVD read: 8x DVD-R write: 8x DVD-RW write: 6x Optical Drive #2 Other Drives Media Card Readers 1 Memory Stick Duo media with MagicGate functionality, 1 ExpressCard, 1 Secure Digital Media (SD) Expansion Slots (Quantity & Types) Ports (Quantity & Types) 1 ethernet, 1 headphone jack, 1 modem jack, 1 microphone input, 1 S-Video output, 3 USB 2.0, 1 VGA output, 1 DC-In, 1 Express Card slot, 1 i.link Connection Bays (Quantity & Types) Not available Modem Integrated V92/V.90 Modem (RJ-11) Network Card Intel PRO/Wireless 4965AGN Network Connection (802.11a/g/n) Monitor / Screen - type, size, features No separate monitor. Notebook screen is 14.1 inches, 1280 x 800 resolution, WXGALCD technology. Operating System Windows Vista Home Premium Bundled Software Microsoft Works 8.5, Sony Click to DVD-DVD Creation Purchase Place Sony s website, http://www.sonystyle.com Cost $1,369.99 (not including tax or shipping) 3
Works Cited: PC Purchase Thornton, C. (2007, April 24). The Best Vista Notebooks. PC World. Retrieved July 20, 2007, from http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,130083-page,2-c,notebooks/article.html Sony VAIO VGN-CR190 (Dove) (2007, June 19). ZDNet. Retrieved July 20, 2007, from http://review.zdnet.com/4505-3121_16-32475745.html (also available from http://reviews.cnet.com/4505-3121_7-32475741.html). 4
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