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So you’re in the market for a new personal computer (PC)? The good news is it’s a buyer’s market. You can get a lot of computer for comparatively little money. The bad news is there’s so much marketing hype, it’s tough to tell what you truly need.

If you’re like 94 percent of other computer buyers, you’ll be choosing a PC with the Microsoft Windows operating system. Apple Computers, which created the personal computer in 1976, lost much of the burgeoning PC market to cheaper and, at that time, faster Windows-based computers. Today, Apple’s Macintosh computers have become more competitive and remain a favorite among graphic designers and video editors.

Five hundred dollars will get you a decent Windows machine that will do nicely for everyday word processing, Internet access and basic digital imaging. If you want a brand-name PC, add about $200 more. A full-feature multimedia computer, complete with TV tuner, will cost about $1,200. Expect to spend an additional $350 to $500 for a flat-screen LCD monitor. Here’s an overview of what you’ll need.

Processor
The processor, or CPU, is the brain of your computer. Its speed is measured in gigahertz (the more gigahertz it has, the faster the machine can respond to commands). Even the slowest machine on the market today usually is adequate for the mainstream user. Buy a computer with at least 2.2 gigahertz.

Memory
The memory, or RAM, is the muscle of your computer. Don’t skimp here; buy as much memory as you can afford. As a rule of thumb, make sure your new computer has a minimum of 512 megabytes of RAM. Check whether it shares the main memory with the video memory. If so, buy more memory than 512 MB.

Hard Drive
The hard drive serves as a giant reservoir for storing data and programs. Try to buy at least 100 gigabytes (GB).

Video
Look for a unit with at least 64 megabytes of dedicated video memory. Some machines come with integrated video memory, meaning the memory is shared with the main system. This is fine for people who intend to edit still photos, but for video editing, buy a machine with dedicated video memory.

Audio
Computer speakers are so cheap and so good these days you should spend the extra $50 to $100 to buy a subwoofer system with speakers. If you wind up playing music or watching movies on your computer, it’ll provide much better sound.

CD/DVD Drives
Floppy disk drives are out, CD-RW (Rewritable Compact Disk) and DVD (Digital Video Disk) drives are in. Buy a computer with a built-in CD-RW drive so you can create your own music CDs. Make sure either the same drive or another built-in drive can read DVDs so you can watch movies. If you are a movie buff, buy a computer with a DVD burner installed, which will allow you to record or “burn” your own movies on DVD.

Internet Access
Dial-up modems aren’t that efficient anymore; most computers now come with a network card (sometimes called an Ethernet or NIC card) that allows you to access the Internet at faster speeds. This is required for Internet access via Roadrunner or high-speed DSL phone lines.

Ports
Insist on a unit with a few USB version 2.0 connections to attach printers, cameras and scanners. If your video camera has an iLink connector, be sure your new computer has an ultra high-speed connector called FireWire or 1394.

Security
This is a biggie. New computers come with built-in Internet “firewalls” that provide protection from people who want to gain unauthorized access to your computer. Be sure the firewall is turned on and download the security updates for your operating system as they become available.
Finally, it’s a good idea to install software to protect your machine against viruses and spyware. Two popular makers are Norton and McAfee.

Manufacturer
The only difference between most computer brands these days is the case. Nonetheless, I recommend you go with big names like Dell, Sony, Gateway and Hewlett-Packard because they generally provide better after-purchase service.

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Buying a Personal Computer