SYRACUSE, N.Y., Nov. 20, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- Among the most popular holiday gifts this year will be computer laptops, desktops and related products. Those who buy computers as gifts can easily make the wrong purchase if they don't give their decision the proper thought. With that in mind, the national computer repair company RESCUECOM has issued a Holiday Computer Buyer Checklist -- items to consider before buying that first computer you see, or the first one the retailer suggests you buy.
"With cut-rate pricing, high-pressure sales, and new technology being introduced all the time, confusion ends up being the biggest Grinch for technology shoppers during the holiday season," said David A. Milman, founder and CEO of RESCUECOM. "Those buying computers must think not only about the price of a machine but other factors such as warranties, reliability, how the recipient is likely to use the computer and what additional accessories they are likely to need."
The RESCUECOM Holiday Computer Buyer Checklist is designed to give shoppers guidance in their technology purchasing decisions. If used in conjunction with RESCUECOM's recent National Computer Reliability Report, shoppers will be ready to make the right purchase this holiday season.
The RESCUECOM Holiday Computer Buyer Checklist:
-- Consider the user. Is this person tech savvy? Does he or she
have the latest iPod that holds 30,000 songs? If so, buying a
computer with extra storage space and memory is the way to go.
Do they watch movies on line or play computer games? If so,
extra storage space, a higher end sound system and a better
graphic card are likely desirable.
-- Don't get sticker shock. Not by the high prices, but by the LOW
prices. If the deal seems to good to be true, it probably is.
"Remember, you're buying not just a machine but a company too.
So if the computer is dirt cheap, ask about the warranty and
the customer service reputations of the computer maker," Milman
advises. Often computers are also cheaper because they are not
able to be easily upgraded.
-- Don't be rushed. Don't let pushy salespeople or last-minute
holiday shopping force you into making a decision to quickly. It
is a good idea to have questions prepared before going to the
store or shopping on line.
-- Consider installation. Often, stores don't provide help with
installing new merchandise, if needed. Will your loved one know
how to set up and use the new technology? Will he or she be able
to troubleshoot if it's done wrong? To ensure against improper
set-up, which can lead to poor performance, serious system
vulnerabilities and significant stress, consider an independent
computer repair and support company, such as RESCUECOM, to assist
with installation.
-- Protect against the bugs. It's always flu season with computers.
Make sure you've purchased an anti-virus and anti-spyware
software programs with the computer. An unprotected computer
can pick up a nasty virus within 15 seconds of Internet surfing.
Having a firewall provides an added level of protection,
particularly when a wireless system is in place. So protect
that gift before you even give it.
-- Accessorize. Does your loved one take lots of holiday photos? If
so you might consider asking about a high-quality printer or
digital camera in addition, to allow them to quickly turn
photos into memories. Also, be sure you have the proper cables
and other equipment required to connect your computer to any
cameras or printers.
-- Consider reliability. Are you purchasing a brand name computer
from a well respected vendor? RESCUECOM recently issued a
National Computer Reliability Report, which ranked the major
computer companies through a statistical comparison of their
market share and their RESCUECOM Repair Share -- the percentage
of calls to the company's 1-800RESCUE7 national hotline. The
study measured both the quality of a computer and the level of
customer service being provided by these companies.
The Report calculated the following "Reliability Scores" for each computer vendor based on the percentage difference between their overall U.S. market share and the percentage of calls into the RESCUECOM call center about the particular computer vendor. The higher the score, the less likely it was that calls about the specific computer vendor to the RESCUECOM call center were received (scores are in parentheses).
IBM/Lenovo (243)
Apple (201)
HP/Compaq (12)
Dell (4)
Gateway (-12)
Others (-16)
About RESCUECOM
RESCUECOM provides fast and flawless on-site computer repair and support, 24/7/365. All local RESCUECOM franchisees offer guaranteed results and on-site, emergency one-hour response service with or without a contract, providing the industry's fastest response and easiest relationship.
RESCUECOM services everything from home computers to super computers, wireless Internet to global networks, hardware to software, e-mail to ERP. In addition to one-time, on-site solutions for virtually any computer problem, RESCUECOM provides comprehensive, ongoing IT management services for businesses.
RESCUECOM has been recognized by Entrepreneur Magazine in 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2006 as part of the "Franchise 500," as one of the fastest growing franchise companies in the United States. For more information, please visit www.RESCUECOM.com or call 1-800-RESCUE7.