Buying or Upgrading a Computer

Although many computer experts still say that having a computer built to your specification, or building your own, offers the best value, high-street stores can often undercut specialist shops through sheer purchasing power. Before buying a computer, it's a good idea to check what the various components do and which computers are best suited to different types of tasks.

While the desktop PC is the most common type of computing device in the home, it doesn't suit everybody. And if you're especially short of space, or travel a great deal, you might find that a model from the growing choice of laptops and handheld devices is sufficient - or useful to run in tandem with your home computer.

Whether you're buying a PC, Mac, or other kind of computer, and whether you're buying new or secondhand, there are a number of potential pitfalls that, with a little vigilance, you can avoid. In particular, it is important to find out what sort of warranty the computer comes with, and what other after-sales care, such as helplines, is available.