Choosing a Small Business Computer - Assignment Example

One of the first considerations is compatibility. The small office PC needs to able to access and run the bulk of the programs available. This will mandate that the computer will be able to run programs that are written for Microsoft Windows. While moving to specialized platforms such as Linux or UNIX may provide greater security, the widespread application of Windows will have a greater benefit. Having decided on a Windows operating system, the next consideration is hardware. With a real estate business, there will be applications that will require multiple images of houses that will consume a large amount of disk space.

Most desktop computers are available with a 320 Gbyte hard drive for less that $1000. They also have 2GB main memory and ample video memory to reproduce photo quality images without loss of speed. For a Dell computer model 1501 Inspiron with a 2.2 GHz Intel processor the price will be about $900 (Inspiron 1501 details, 2007). Hewlett Packard makes a similar computer, HP Compaq 5750, with slightly less storage (250 GByte) and an AMD processor for $920 (HP United States, 2007). However, the Dell comes with a 20-inch flat screen monitor that is an extra cost with the HP.

All other things, such as brand and warranty, are equal and the selection would be the Dell. With a real estate business, there will be situations where you may need to go to a client's home or office. These scenarios will require you to take your computer with you which will necessitate using a laptop. A Dell laptop Insperon 1720 has all the features of the desktop (with a slightly reduced processor speed of 1.56 GHz) and sells for $1049 (Inspiron 1702/1721 Notebook, 2007). This has a WI FI card for wireless connection to the Internet.

HP sells a similar laptop that has slightly less storage and a smaller screen for $949(HP Pavilion tx1000z series, 2007). Both have a long-term service contract available. The additional storage and the larger screen makes the Dell the better buy.With a real estate business there will be a lot of printing and document processing. One of the key concerns will be laser or inkjet For the real estate office it would be recommended to have a multi-function printer that prints, copies, and faxes. This will be a laser device that is black and white.

The office will also need to do photo quality printing of homes and rooms that is best done by an inkjet printer. The real estate office will have to have 2 separate printers. However, with the wide choices available today, the cost is minimal in comparison to the features received. Do not purchase an all in one inkjet because the cost of printing the day to day documents would be unreasonable. Laser printers print and scan documents for about 2 cents a copy compared to 10 cents a copy for inkjet.

The main consideration for a laser printer is features and cost. A few major companies manufacture most laser printers so quality is generally the same no matter who has put their name on it. Obviously we would expect better customer service from Hewlett Packard than we would from Podunk Printers, but the printer may in fact be the same hardware. Don't spend a lot of money on a laser printer. The HP 6310 will service all your office needs at only $132.00. For the office you will also need a high resolution color printer for photo quality work.

These printers are inexpensive, but must be dedicated to printing photos. The ink cartridges are