Helping you save money and learn a skill...for free!
Newsletter #3 - Buy Your Parts
Table of Contents:
What Will You Be Using The Computer For?
Where To Buy The Parts
Hot Tip of The Week - How To Easily Back Up Your Computer
Note: If you can't view this newsletter correctly, please visit it on the web at
http://www.youcanbuildapc.com/newsletter/03-BuyYourParts.htm
What Will You Be Using The Computer For?
The first question any good computer company asks it's customer is what they will be using the computer for. From there, the computer expert will then be able to make suggestions based on the customer's needs and the expert's knowledge of computers.
That is the first question any good computer builder should ask, and the first question you should ask yourself before building a computer. This way, before you buy any parts, you will be able to know what to look for when shopping.
Once you've established what you'll be building the computer for, you will want to figure out how much you are willing to pay for the computer. In the opinion of YouCanBuildAPC.com, there are three basic price prices that encompass many computers.
1. Under $1,000
This is the very basic computer that one can use to burn CDs, write papers, surf most websites, and print documents.
This computer won't have any fancy features such as the ability to edit video, play games, etc.
2. $1,500 give or take a little
This is a very decent computer that will do all the above mentioned things, but can also be used to print digital photos, edit some average quality video, burn CDs and maybe DVDs, and play many games.
3. $2,000
This computer is almost everything you can ask for. It will do all the above things, but will do them much faster and with more bells and whistles than you'll know what to do with.
(Unofficial #4. $5,000)
We didn't place this computer in a formal list because, for the purposes of a first time builder, this one would not be very easy to build. There is a well known "rule of 5,000" among computer geeks and nerds that claims the ultimate computer with everything you can ask for, will always cost about $5,000. This has held true even when computers first came out. Basically, a $5,000 computer will be top of the line, give you everything you need, but will be worth $2,000 in 2 years, and $15 in 10 years.
Where To Buy The Parts
1. Bargain Shop
For penny pinchers and "experimental" builders, eBay is the absolute best place to buy your parts. You can buy either new or used, but either way you'll be getting a bargain.
There are many companies that exist only on eBay, meaning they only sell their computer parts through eBay. This means that the eBay customers are the most important people in their business and they will do everything they can to make them happy.
If you're not familiar with eBay or eBay's Feedback system, check them out. You won't be disappointed.
Also, if you're worried at all about buying online or having to return something, eBay is one of the safest places to buy online. Check them out and you'll see what I mean.
This is a great store that specializes in all sorts of computer parts. They will have everything you need to build a computer and even feature same day shipping! The good thing about buying from TigerDirect, rather than eBay, is that you can order all your parts together rather than from different sellers. This makes the ordering and organizing of your parts much easier. Although you will spend more on this website than you would on eBay, they still offer some of the most competitive prices online and have been around for a long time.
You can't go wrong with TigerDirect!
Hot Tip Of The Week!
Back Up Your Computer Quickly and Easily
When it comes to your computer files there are those that are priceless, and those that are expendable. Whether you wish to back up just the important ones or your entire computer, there are several options to choose from.
Three of your best options are listed here and we will go in depth explaining what they offer and who should use them.
Here's a table for a quick view of all the features of each company.
| Feature | Xdrive | Mirra | GoToMyPC |
| Storage | 500MB - 5,000MB | 80 GB - 250 GB | As much as your home computer |
| Monthly Cost | $10 - $50 | None | $19.95-$29.95 |
| Free Trial | 15 Days | No | 60 Minutes Connected or 30 Days |
1. Xdrive
Xdrive is like having an extra hard drive, only it's in a remote location that can be accessed from any computer in the world.
There are four main features of Xdrive; Store, Access, Share, and Backup. Here we will break them down and explain how they can benefit you.
Store: From the Xdrive website.
"Xdrive provides you with extra storage on the Internet where it's most readily accessible. Use your Xdrive to unlock the power of your data by making it available whenever and wherever you need it most. Protect your most important files against viruses and system crashes by storing them on our secure servers and rest assured that your data is safe."
"Xdrive's state of the art Data Center provides you with a secure location for storing your most important files. Our servers are housed in a disaster-proof facility protected by biometric security and full-time security professionals. Since starting as one of the first services to offer storage on the Internet, Xdrive has become the trusted leader in secure online file storage."
Conclusion:
If you want something that can automatically backup all your important files, or if you wish to be able to access and work on certain files from anywhere with internet access, then Xdrive is perfect for you.
For a limited time, Xdrive has a free trial so you can see if this is something that you would like to use.
2. Mirra
Having Mirra is like having your own 80 GB, 120 GB or 250 GB server in your home. This differs from Xdrive because you would have the Mirra in your home, it's much larger, yet can still be accessed from anywhere with an internet connection as long as your Mirra drive is connected to the internet at home.
Rather than listing all the features here (I will list a few) the Mirra website is really worth checking out. There are so many uses for this home server and it's such a snap to set up. While the upfront cost of a Mirra server is greater than Xdrive or GoToMyPC, there are no monthly fees to pay!
From the Mirra website:
Hands-Free Continuous Backup.
Every time you save a file, your Personal Server backs it up.
You select which folders to keep up to date.
Your Personal Server copies files, photos, email, any of your data.
Your Personal Server backs up files from multiple PCs.
Free Remote Access and Sharing.
Access to your files from anywhere in the world
Files and photos easily shared over the web
Completely free; no monthly fees
Secure, encrypted, password-protected access and downloads
Easy to Set Up, Easier to Use.
Set up your Personal Server in less than 15 minutes
No IT professional required, no messy networking
Works in the background continuously updating data
No CDs to burn, no buttons to push
Conclusion:
Mirra is really a combination of GoToMyPC and Xdrive, but has many more features than either of those combined. If you can afford it, Mirra is a great investment for your computing needs. Please check out the Mirra website to see all the features before deciding whether this is for you or not.
If you're worried that it will be difficult to set up or maintain, setup can be done in 15-30 minutes, and once it's set up you can forget about it. Check out the website to learn more!
3. GoToMyPC
From the GoToMyPC website:
"GoToMyPC is for individuals needing remote access to 1-20 PCs. It's an easy and secure remote-access solution that enables you to conveniently access email, files, programs and network resources from home or the road. Get unlimited access to your PCs from any Web browser anywhere."
If you travel a lot or need to access files from somewhere other than your home, this is perfect for you. Say your on the road and want to make sure the files you've been working on don't somehow disappear due to theft, damage, or any other extenuating circumstance. All you have to do is dial up your computer at home and back everything up quickly and easily.
Conclusion:
If you wish to work on your office computer from home, this is the perfect option for you as well. Rather than taking your work home with you, working on it there, then having to bring it back to the office and update your computer, why not just make the process easier. Leave your computer on at work (if you have Windows XP you can lock your computer while keeping it on) and work on the things you need to get done in your spare time at home. What better way to impress the boss or advance the company than working in your spare time from home!
If this sounds like something you could use, go ahead and sign up for the free trial. There's no harm in trying it out!
Sincerely,
Brian Renner