Five things your next computer needs – and five things it doesn’t
There are some things your next computer needs, and many features you could probably live without.
Neil Cumins
Friday, 2 August, 2024
× Buying a new computer is often a daunting process.
As well as potentially having a new operating system to get to grips with, there’s a great deal to consider in terms of hardware, peripherals, functionality and storage.
There are desktops, gaming PCs and all-in-one devices. There are Windows and macOS , ChromeOS and Linux operating systems. There are high-end gaming rigs and budget home PCs.
Yet some attributes are universal, while others are largely superfluous.
We’ve compiled a list of five key things your next computer needs, regardless of your chosen operating system or budget.
We’ve also summarised a handful of attributes you’re not likely to benefit from, though personal circumstances may occasionally dictate otherwise.
Five things your next computer needs…
Plentiful hard drive storage. Don’t try and save money on a 128GB hard drive – two minutes of 4K/30FPS video recording can occupy one gigabyte.
Choose the largest storage device your budget will stretch to. One terabyte should be sufficient for most people, not just today but as files grow ever larger in future.
Plentiful RAM. Random access memory enables computers to multitask, and more is always better. We wouldn’t recommend any computer with less than 8GB of RAM.
Don’t get bogged down in discussions about octa-core processors or brands. Focus on getting the largest quantity of memory you can – ideally over 30GB to futureproof your new device.
A high-res webcam. In the age of WFH, Zoom and Teams , don’t accept less than a 1080 camera, ideally 1080p (parallel in this case trumping the interlaced 1080i alternative).
Look for features like ring lights, facial recognition and privacy shutters – the latter covering the webcam to protect your privacy in sensitive environments.
A generous warranty. This is especially important when choosing a new laptop , which are far harder to repair than tower PCs with bountiful space around their motherboards.
Two years is the minimum warranty you should accept, but three or five years will deliver added peace of mind. Remember warranties don’t cover neglect, malware or overloaded HDDs.
Extensive ports. It’s only once you’ve owned a laptop with just two USB-C ports that you’ll appreciate the benefits of numerous rear or side-mounted peripheral ports.
The world is transitioning to USB-C but USB-A is still widely in use, so a mixture of both is ideal. Also look for a 3.5mm audio jack, SD slot and HDMI monitor port.
….And five things it doesn’t
Fancy speaker setups. Don’t bother with 5.1 speakers or subwoofers. A good-quality pair of over-ear headphones and/or a pair of Bose desktop speakers will more than suffice.
An Ethernet socket . Modern routers pipe seamless WiFi to any computer’s network card, and you can always use a Powerline adaptor to effectively hardwire in broadband.
Touchscreen capabilities. You’re not on a smartphone or in a car. Unlike tablets, desktop computers work better through mice and keyboards than often gimmicky touchscreens.
Replacement peripherals. Retailers boost profits by bundling in keyboards, printers and monitors, but if you’re happy with your existing peripherals, don’t duplicate them.
A curved monitor. They look great in shops, but curved monitors tend to have awkward resolutions like 5120 x 2160. A dual screen display is more practical on a day-to-day basis.
