Datasheet

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Chapter 1: Buying a Computer

sophisticated sound and image capabilities are often referred to as

gaming or multimedia models and they typically require a larger hard

disk to handle these functions. Because the capabilities of these cards

change all the time, I don’t give you the specifications for what’s high

end; instead, ask the person you’re buying the computer from whether

the system can handle sophisticated sound and graphics.

Choose a Version of Windows

As mentioned in the previous task, choosing your computer’s operating

system (software that runs all the programs and organizes data on your

computer) will be one of your first decisions. This book focuses on

computers running the current version of Windows, which is called

Windows 7. Windows 7 comes in three different versions for home and

business users. If you consider yourself primarily a home user, you

should consider the Home Premium version of Windows 7:

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Home Premium includes entertainment tools such as

Windows Media Center for playing music and movies.

If you want to do more than look at photos, you’ll

find that this version of Windows 7 is good at work-

ing with design and image manipulation programs

such as Photoshop. Also, if you choose a laptop, be

aware that Home Premium includes great features for

managing the battery power of your computer.

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Windows 7 Professional is great for small busi-

nesses or if you work from home. This version of

Windows has ultimate security features.

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Windows 7 Ultimate provides everything that

Professional provides, plus a few more bells and whis-

tles for protecting your computer from thieves with

BitLocker and handling languages other than English.

Before Windows 7, there was Windows Vista, and

before that, Windows XP. Many people still use com-

puters that run Vista or XP and get along just fine.