Begin with the big picture

Let's start by pointing out that personal computers fall into two broad families:

• the PC, which uses the Microsoft Windows operating system and is manufactured by a variety of companies, and 
  
  
• the Macintosh, which uses the MacOS operating system and is manufactured by Apple Computer.

Whichever family you are considering, the computer for which you are shopping consists of the following components:

• system unit, which includes the processor, memory, hard drive, CD or DVD drive, and which can also include a modem, floppy disk drive, Ethernet card, and sound card
  
  
• monitor (On an Apple iMac, this is integrated with the system unit.)
  
  
• keyboard and mouse
  
  
• speakers
  
  
• software
  
  
• printer (optional)

If you are purchasing a PC rather than a Macintosh, you can minimize potential problems by selecting a name brand manufacturer, such as Dell, Gateway, or Hewlett-Packard. These manufacturers generally use name-brand components and offer reliable customer support.