1. Apple Stores! Isn’t it so neat that someone can walk into a store, experiment with the products, have workers who are very familiar with the products, and – if you decide to – you can buy a device right then and there.

2. Apples have a “cool” factor that is tough (though perhaps not impossible) to match. And many Apple users know how cool it is.

My wife phoned me immediately after last week’s newsletter, about Apple computers not having touchscreens, and announced, “You were way too harsh about Apple this time!”
“But Honey,” I explained, “We get the most responses on the blogs when I’m controversial about Apple.” She replied, “There is a difference between being controversial and adversarial!”

As usual, she is right. My wife said to tell you about her Apple Tattoo. That was a surprise to me too.

I do enjoy Apple, own and use two MacBook Airs that are a big part of every week for work. On the road, I carry two Airs and one Surface. I do use the Surface the most but don’t make up your mind until you’ve tried them both.

Bottom line: I respect Apple and enjoy their products. In fact, in many cases working with top level executives, I recommend to them the Apple (especially the Air) after finding out what their wants and needs are. Some dearest friends, and my lovely wife, are total Mac people too.

3. Apple’s “No-questions asked” 14 day return policy. Where else can you go buy a piece of hardware that you can use, including reloading the operating system with a new one such as Windows, connect every peripheral imaginable to test compatibility, and then can return it if it doesn’t suit your needs? After 14 productive days, you are likely to ask yourself how you ever lived without it. Or not. Isn’t it great for you to be able to find out?

4. Apple is a leader in the marketplace. Not just by selling so much hardware, but in the past, they’ve been “first to market” with features that none of their competitors had even thought of yet. Often, Apple defines the cutting edge. Though there is controversy, many Apple fans will tell you how the Macintosh was the first computer to even have a mouse – and then everyone else copied Apple.

5. Apple products actually work when you get them out of the box. Even “first releases.” Thank goodness, users of Windows products can now enjoy the same experience, but Apple was the first. Apple has the longest running record. Having confidence in the products you purchase is a huge buying factor for most people.

Keep an eye out: Next week will be the 5 more of 10 things to love about Apple.

The post 5 Things to Love about Apple appeared first on Foster Institute.

So this newsletter is an “extra bonus” for you who still plan to search for a new computer. If you don’t want to click on the “for more information” links, it is ok to just read the text since you’ll still get what you need to know.

FORM FACTOR: Unless you are sure the user will only use a computer at a single desk and not benefit from moving around, buy a laptop. Laptops are fast, have excellent monitors, and some are very portable.

You can easily connect a world of peripherals at the office, at home, and any other “fixed location.” Using a “real keyboard,” mouse (for those monitors that aren’t touch enabled), printers, etc. is common at “desk” locations. And being able “to be mobile” is essential for people who are on the move. As you plan to connect to those external devices, read “Docking Stations are Dead”

You already know my affinity to the Microsoft Surface Pro which is a laptop and tablet combined: “When a Surface Pro Computer is Better than an iPad” and “Ditch the iPad and Get the Surface Pro?” And many other manufacturers make beautiful convertible tablets with similar features to the Surface Pro. Shop around.

OPERATING SYSTEM: You’ll find Windows 8.1 installed on new computers – and that is a fine way to go. Despite what you’ve heard, you can run Windows 8.1 in a way that looks a lot like Windows 7. See “Yes, Windows 8 Looks like Windows 7”

MONITOR: Get a Touch Screen – That’s where the world is going. If you will use the computer at a desk, then you need more than one monitor. Large monitors are inexpensive these days – get one of those. And, no, one large monitor is not a replacement for multiple small monitors. See “Are Your Employees Still Using Single Monitors?” for more information. This is a blog entry where a posting uses the word naked with multiple monitors in the same sentence: “Still Using Just One Monitor?”

You can connect multiple monitors to a laptop: “How to Connect Multiple Monitors to Your Computer” The only problem is that, so far, with multiple monitors only one of them can be used as your “touch screen” in Windows 8.1. The other monitors can support “touch screen,” but you have to choose which one to use as “touch.”

If you are buying for a “gamer” then you’ll want to max out on everything and maybe buy a specialized machine like those at Falcon Northwest or iBuyPower

RAM: For the rest of us, get a computer with at least 8G of RAM. If you think you’ll run many programs at once, or use memory hungry applications such as editing photos, then splurge on 16G of RAM.

DRIVE: Be sure that, unless you need to store an incredible amount of pictures, music, or movies, to get a solid state hard drive. Sometimes they are referred to as SSDs.

Yes, there are times that “old” hard drives (HDDs) with moving parts are better than SSDs., They have less capacity and are more expensive per gigabyte than drives with moving parts, SSD drives are faster, use less electricity (your laptop’s battery will last longer), resist magnetism, and better resist movement (such as a computer being dropped or used on an aircraft or train with lots of vibrations).

A good strategy is to use a SSD in your computers, and use mirrored external USB 3.0 HDDs for backup. Please contact me if that sentence makes no sense.

PROCESSOR: You needn’t go for the “top of the line” processor. They tend to be “priced extra high because some people will pay that much” and they use more power. Power saving is important in a laptop.

PRINTER: Be sure you get a printer that supports easy printing from your iPhone, Android, Windows Phone, and other devices.

MOUSE: For goodness sakes, get a mouse that is designed to be used “anywhere.” They work great on just about any mousing surface.

KEYBOARD: If you type a lot and don’t know about them, check out Das Keyboard

Please ask additional questions and/or post your advice below…

The post Special Computer Buying Guide appeared first on Foster Institute.