A Computer For Your Website Business

FIND A HOME COMPUTER

Cheap computers on sale keep start-up costs down and get you started making money at home.

The vast majority of those who read this likely have a sufficient computer for using the Internet and being a Webmaster, but home computers being sold today are far more powerful than even one year ago and continue to drop in price.

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However, what if your computer is one of the older models? Perhaps you are running on a system that is underpowered, or you are simply having significant problems with your computer that you know isn’t worth the expense of repairing. You want and need a new computer.

In an ideal world you would have the money to spare and be able to purchase the best computer available. Sadly, in today’s economy, this may not be the case.

So, where can you buy a computer to get started working from home and making a living on the Internet? First, let’s discuss the basic computer equipment you need to make money online, without incurring huge start-up costs to begin your online business.

Computer Equipment You Need to Make Money on the Internet Working From Home…

Other than appearance and color choices, computers consist of basic elements. A hard drive that stores information, RAM (Random Access Memory) that determines the speed of your computer, the processor which acts like the “brain”, and a monitor that displays information to the user.  These are all run by the Operating System (O.S.). Yes, for those of you that know there is much more like sound and graphic cards, DVD/CD drives, power supplies, and the rest of it, what is being discussed here are the main elements for having a sufficient computer for running a website.

WARNING: Stay away from “e-Machines.” Yes, they are exceptionally low in price, even new, but they are made with the worst parts. They use the poorest quality everything and have even been found to have refurbished parts installed. The $100 you save is not worth the aggravation!

The bare minimum to get started (and this is only to get started, for when you make money you can upgrade your computer) and allow you to spend only a couple of hundreds dollars:

Operating System
Since the release of Windows Vista, it is extremely difficult to find a new computer that offers XP as the O.S. Personally, I prefer the XP Operating System. I found Vista to be a memory hog, using far too much of the computers resources in order for it to run without problems. The fact that XP is now considered “old” is a benefit for those in the market for a used computer. It is an excellent O.S. and many Vista users have reverted back to it after experiencing the same dissatisfaction I had with it.

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40 gigabyte Hard Drive
This storage space is more than enough to store the programs and pictures that you will need. Though much larger HD’s are being sold as standard equipment on new computers, unless you plan on using your computer to store thousands of songs and videos, a larger HD isn’t needed.

1 gigabytes of RAM
A few years ago I would have said just 512K (1/2 that of 1Gb) would have been enough, but many programs being supplied today seem to require a minimum of 1Gb. In the next few years this may even have to be increased, but by then you will have the money to get a new computer. 512K, as I said, would be the absolute minimum. If you can get 1Gb or more, it would be far superior in performance.

Processor

Without going into the detriments of older processors, your minimum requirement would be a Pentium 4, also written as “P4″.

Computer Monitor
This is a personal choice, but the minimum size I would suggest is 15″. Often, used computers come with the monitor included. There is also nothing wrong with using a CRT monitor (the ones that look like a small TV). CRT’s are now so inexpensive that a 19″ CRT is often only $25, and I’ve seen them offered for free in the hope that someone will carry it away for the owner.

LCD monitors (the flat screen type) are expensive if bought new, but can be found at a reasonable cost if you don’t mind a 15″ model that is used. They are light and take little space on your work space.

LAPTOPS

If you have the chance at a good deal that meets the requirements above, then I suggest purchasing a laptop. A laptop with Wi-Fi capability allows you to travel away from home and still work your websites. They are just as good as any large desktop system. Open Wi-Fi networks still abound throughout the country. Some home users still allow open access to their Wi-Fi systems, as well as many businesses that provide the free service, such as coffee shops and others. I’ve spent many hours in a Pantera’s Bread location sipping coffee and answering my students emails.

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Finding A Cheap Computer

Most communities have some type of local sales magazine that people will advertise items they want to sell. These and your local paper are a good place to look for a used computer. Before purchasing though, check to see everything listed meets your minimum requirements. If it doesn’t list everything, ask! Also ask if the computer has RAM “expansion slots”. Expansion slots allow the computer’s RAM to be increased by purchasing another RAM card, usually at a cost of $20-$99.00, depending on their size and model. So if the computer is cheap enough, upgrading the memory would be an option to bring it up to the minimal speed requirements.

ALWAYS test the computer before purchasing! Don’t take anyone’s word that it “has no problems.” It may have a virus or other problems that they couldn’t, or wouldn’t fix because of the expense.

eBay is another place you might pick up a used computer, although you have to be more careful, as you don’t have the ability to test it. You nice thing about eBay is that you can fairly judge a seller by their feedback rating. 98% “Positive” with a large amount of sales is usually safe – and those sales should be computer related. That is, just because a seller has a 100% positive rating selling baseball cards does not mean you should trust that the computer he is selling actually works. If you aren’t registered with eBay as a member, you can do so HERE.

There are many chain retail stores, such as Wal-Mart, which sells home PCs for very reasonable prices. You can also find reasonable pricing on Wal-Mart Laptops. You can order online from Wal-Mart and have it delivered or pick it up at your convenience.

Many retailers also have their own store credit cards, which are easier to get than bank cards like Visa and Mastercard. Most chain stores also have layaway plans where you can pay as little as 10% down and have up to six months to finish paying. However, you don’t get your computer out of layaway and begin using it until it’s completely paid for.

Some people may not even qualify for a retail store credit card. I was once in the same situation after a bankruptcy many years ago. It is possible to repair the situation and with no cost. A free (yes, free) informational website, Repair-Bad-Credit-Fast.com, is available to provide a strategy of repairing a poor, or non-existent credit rating.

For those that have some extra cash, you can buy a brand new home computer with a monitor, or a laptop computer that is more than adequate for a start-up business for around $600, depending on the bells and whistles that come with it.