Chosing office computer systems

Using the right computer system for your office is an important component of a successful business. The question is, how do you determine what is right?

First you need to sit down and think over a few things. Really think about your business and consider carefully some of the following questions

1. How many people do you need to accommodate with this system?
2. How many programs will you be running at once and how storage intensive will they be?
3. Do you need constant internet access to all computers or only intermittent access to some of them?
4. Do your computers need to be portable?
5. Do your computers need to be networked? All or some of them?
6. Do you need a service plan or will you be able to maintain the system yourself?

And the final, but possibly most important two questions - How much can I afford and how will I pay?

If you're a computer savvy person, one of the most cost and custom effective ways to pick the right computer system is to design what you need. You can do this online through numerous companies, some third party and some directly through the manufacturer. It's the same as picking the different kinds of food you want to make a complete meal versus buying a prepackaged frozen diner. You can pick the hard drive, the processor, the ram, the networking, and the programs, all individually based on the needs for your company, be it big or small. The catch here is that you have to know how to put it together yourself, and you generally won't get any type of service plan so you'll need to know how to service it yourself as well. The benefits are that you get a really good custom fit for your business and you'll probably save money.

If you go this route for your computer system, make sure you price it out on several websites.  Also check on line at various opinion websites to see if you can locate complaints or compliments that others have had about that company or product.  Carefully compare warranties and available service in addition to price.  If you get stuck with back parts, it's not as if you can march down to the store to demand a refund.

If you're able to type a mean document, but not able to put together the hard drive, screen, and keyboard to produce that document, you will probably be better off taking the computer store route.  Don't be scared, it can be a good thing.  Most computer-oriented companies anymore have comprehensive service contracts, knowledgeable employees, and competitive pricing and payment plans.  Before you go in, decide what you need for your office computer system and make a list so that you don't get "up sold" on too many things, but do listen to ideas and suggestions that the salesman may have to make your system as efficient as possible for your needs.  Take notes, write down the information on the brands, the programs they come with, the programs you'll need to purchase separately, and all important information.  Then shop around, find out who'll give you the best deal on a comparable computer system, who has the best warranty plan, who repairs them locally instead of out-of-state and/or comes to your office, and who may bundle what you need for a better over-all price.  You'll be surprised what kind of "deals" they can make once you start talking about what you've seen at another store and ask how they compare. 

The final suggestion is probably simple and what most people do in the first place, but it's always a good reminder.  Ask around for referrals.  Check with the other offices in your building or with other companies that you have relationships with.  They can point you in the right direction.  If a friend or neighbor is thrilled with their office computer system, you will easily know where to start your search.  If they're not, you will know who to avoid.  A little preliminary research can often prevent a lot of future headache.