| So you're thinking of buying a new
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| | The reality is that most computer
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| computer...
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| | hardware - the physical pieces like the
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| Where do you start? There are so many
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| | computer, monitor and printer - is sold
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| brands and models of computers available,
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| | at very low profit margins. Often,
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| and it can all be a little overwhelming
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| | computer systems are even sold at or
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| when you start to look around.
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| | below the dealer cost. When you're buying
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| How do you decide what type of computer
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| | a computer, it never hurts to ask for a
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| you need? And perhaps more importantly,
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| | better deal, but don't be surprised if
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| how do you decide what the best value is?
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| | you only get a few dollars off, if
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| I have sold computers professionally for
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| | anything.
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| almost 20 years, and there are certain
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| | Over the close to 20 years I've sold
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| "tricks of the trade" that most computer
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| | computers, I watched the profit margins
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| stores and salespeople use. Knowing these
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| | go from over 40% to less than 5%. It's
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| secrets can make your decision easier and
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| | almost embarassing to offer a $20
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| will help you buy the right computer for
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| | discount on a $2500 computer system, but
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| your needs.
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| | that could mean the difference between
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| 1. Buy What You Need, Maybe a Little More
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| | making and losing money on the sale.
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| One of the most important things you can
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| | What you can do to get the best price is
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| do when buying a new computer is make a
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| | to do some comparison shopping. Most
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| list of the things that you will be using
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| | computer stores offer price-matching
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| it for. There are so many different
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| | guarantees, so if you find your computer
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| models - with different capabilities -
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| | for less at another store, most dealers
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| that you can easily buy more, or less,
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| | will match or beat that price, even if it
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| than you really need if you don't.
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| | means they lose money.
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| If this is your first computer, this can
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| | 4. How Do Computer Stores Make Any Money?
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| be a little tougher. Until you've used a
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| | You might be wondering how these computer
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| computer, it's hard to know exactly what
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| | stores make any money if they're selling
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| you might want to do with it beyond the
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| | computer for so little profit.
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| obvious, like connecting to the internet.
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| | Their money is made on add-on items. The
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| Regardless, you should think about some
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| | highest profit areas in most computer
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| of the things you might want to do. Some
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| | stores are cables and "consumable"
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| possibilities include:
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| | products such as printer ink and paper.
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| - Connect to the internet
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| | Printer ink is a huge money-maker for
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| - Play games
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| | most computer stores (even more so for
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| - Digital photography
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| | the printer manufacturers). Why is this?
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| - Digital video
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| | Once you've bought a printer, you're
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| - Type documents
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| | going to have to replace your ink at some
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| - Accounting
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| | point, and continue to replace it as it
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| - Design websites
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| | runs out.
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| - Programming
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| | Most chain computer stores and office
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| - Digital scrapbooking
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| | supply stores that carry a large
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| - Geneology
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| | selection of ink cartridges make more
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| Some of these things need more power than
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| | from ink than they do from the computers
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| others. For example, connecting to the
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| | themselves.
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| internet really doesn't need a lot of
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| | Cables also have huge markups. A cable
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| power. Even the most basic computer
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| | that costs the store $2-3 will often sell
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| available will probably work just fine.
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| | for $20-30. That's ten times their cost!
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| Digital video and many games need a lot
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| | If you're buying a new computer, you will
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| more power. If you don't get a fast
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| | likely need to buy some cables. Some
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| enough computer with enough memory,
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| | items - printers, for example - don't
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| you'll be disappointed with the
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| | often include the cables needed to hook
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| performance.
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| | them up.
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| Knowing what you're going to be using
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| | Many printers also come with "starter"
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| your computer for will help your
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| | ink cartridges that are only half-full.
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| salesperson, whether they're on the
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| | You might also want to pick up some extra
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| phone, the internet or standing in front
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| | ink cartridges.
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| of you, recommend the best system for
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| | This is where you should be able to
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| your needs.
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| | negotiate a better price. Don't expect
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| As a general rule you're always better
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| | the salesperson to throw them in for
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| off buying more power than you need
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| | nothing, but they should be willing to
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| rather than less, but buying too much can
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| | offer you a better price. After all, if
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| be a waste of money.
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| | you're happy with their service, you'll
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| 2. Warranty Considerations
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| | probably continue to buy your ink, paper
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| Computer warranties are one of the most
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| | and other products from that store in the
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| confusing and obscure parts of your
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| | future.
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| purchase. Most manufacturers have cut
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| | 5. What Software is Included?
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| back on their customer service to the
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| | The last secret of buying a new computer
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| point where poor service has become a
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| | has to do with the software that is
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| given.
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| | included. Most new computer systems
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| The three most common options are onsite,
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| | include quite a few programs and
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| carry-in or manufacturer's depot service.
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| | sometimes the value of the software can
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| Onsite service can be helpful, but think
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| | be quite high.
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| about whether you want to have to be
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| | Something to watch out for when looking
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| available for a technician to come and
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| | at the included software is "trial
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| diagnose your computer, and possibly have
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| | versions" or "limited editions".
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| to come back with parts at another time.
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| | Many programs that are preloaded are
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| Carry in service is a good option, but
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| | either crippled versions that don't have
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| find out whether the service center is
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| | all the features of the full program, or
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| factory authorized for warranty repairs,
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| | trial versions that will only run for a
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| as well as whether the technicians are
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| | certain amount of time before they
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| all certified.
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| | expire.
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| Shipping your computer to a factory
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| | Computer are often sold with trial
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| service center can take a long time -
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| | versions of the following types of
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| sometimes a number of weeks. It also
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| | software:
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| creates risk that your computer will be
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| | - antivirus
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| damaged or even lost in shipping. In some
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| | - firewall
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| cases, the manufacturer will even replace
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| | - MS Office or other office suites
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| your computer with another unit and ship
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| | - Accounting - both business and personal
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| it back to you, rather than repairing it.
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| | The computer manufacturers generally
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| This can result in your losing any
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| | don't make it easy to tell whether the
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| information that was on your system and
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| | software on their systems are trial
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| having to reload all your software.
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| | versions or limited versions. This is a
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| Another aspect of the warranty to find
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| | question that you should specifically ask
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| out about is technical support. Find out
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| | if you can't find the answer in their
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| if the computer manufacturer offers a
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| | promotional information.
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| toll-free phone number and what the
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| | If you're buying a new computer with
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| quality of service is like.
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| | trial versions of the software, keep in
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| The better computer salespeople will be
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| | mind that you will need to pay to
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| honest about this and tell you if a
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| | continue using it after the trial period
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| company's service leaves something to be
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| | is over. This is an added cost that you
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| desired. You can also do some research on
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| | need to consider as part of your overall
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| the internet - most of the computer
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| | budget.
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| magazines like PC Magazine and PC World
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| | These five "secrets" of buying a new
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| have annual customer service comparisons
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| | computer are fairly common sense, but
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| that rate the larger computer companies.
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| | they are not always made clear up front.
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| Always find out how the warranty is
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| | Knowing what to ask will help you in two
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| handled before making your decision. Even
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| | ways. First, you can be sure you are
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| if it doesn't influence your choice,
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| | getting the right computer for your
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| knowing what to expect if something does
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| | needs.
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| go wrong will save some nasty surprises
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| | Second, if the salesperson or company
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| down the road.
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| | that you're dealing with explains these
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| 3. Can You Negotiate the Price Down?
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| | things to you without being asked, you'll
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| A computer is a relatively large
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| | know you're dealing with someone who is
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| investment - anywhere from a few hundred
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| | honest and upfront.
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| to a few thousand dollars. Many computer
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| | Knowing you can trust the people you're
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| buyers expect that there is a significant
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| | dealing with is an invaluable feature of
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| amount of "wiggle room" on the price.
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| | your new computer system.
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