APMA News - October 2012 - (Page 50)

IT Consultant By James R. Christina, DPM Which PC Should I Buy? I recently decided to replace my aging PC desktop at home and was confronted with a daunting array of choices. I already have an Apple iMac and continue to like the option of having an Apple computer as well as a PC that runs Windows. Even though you can set up a partition on your Apple computer to run Windows, I have found it more convenient to have both options on separate computers. A choice such as this is just one of the personal preferences you should consider as you decide on a computer. Let’s look at some of the various choices related to the computer parts that will influence your final decision. cost significantly and easily attach through a USB port). The alternative to an HDD is a solid state drive (SSD). Because an HDD has spinning parts, it can and does go bad. SSDs are more reliable, but much more costly, particularly if you want a significant amount of memory. Memory In computing, memory refers to the physical devices used to store programs or data for use in a computer or other digital electronic device. Memory has become considerably cheaper and is usually easy to upgrade. To speed up your computer and handle multiple tasks faster, it is typically recommended that you maximize your memory. However, note that there is a maximum of memory that can be added, and the maximum will depend on your processor and the configuration of your computer. CPU/Processor The Central Processing Unit (CPU) is responsible for interpreting and executing most commands from the computer’s hardware and software. The CPU could be considered the brains of the computer. Currently, there are two main considerations with a CPU. You can choose either an Intel chip CPU or an AMD CPU. The Intel processor is typically used by businesses and tends to be more expensive, while the AMD processor targets its reduced price at the consumer market. The debate rages over which is quicker, while the top-end processors of either type will usually deliver more than enough speed for the average user. The i-7 processor is Intel’s current top-ofthe-line processor, while the Phenom II architecture is the top end for AMD. When looking at computers, you may see Intel i-3, i-5, and i-7 processors, and different generations of each. It is important to note there may be significant cost differences, and the average user may not notice significant differences in speed for basic tasks—Internet surfing, e-mail, word processing, etc. Differences are more noticeable when multitasking or playing games, so identify your most likely uses for the computer before making your purchase. Graphics Card Your choice of this final important piece of hardware for your computer depends on what functions you primarily want to perform. A basic graphics card will be adequate for simple tasks on the computer, but for improved graphics, you may need to upgrade the graphics card that comes with the computer. Serious gamers will need advanced graphic cards to enjoy the full 3-D effects of some games, and they will require graphics cards with appropriate memory and a PC with a large enough power source for the graphics card. Once you decide on the basic parameters of your PC, you can either purchase one that is already set up and then make any changes you require, or you can go through companies such as Dell or Lenovo that allow you to customize your PC (you can upgrade CPU, memory, HDD, and choose a graphics card). Your choices will depend on your needs and your comfort level with doing some of the upgrades yourself. I finally decided to go somewhat middle-of-the-road with an Asus desktop that has a second-generation Intel i-5 CPU, 6 GB DDR3 memory (which I am upgrading myself to 16 GB), a 1TB hard drive (7200 rpm), and the standard graphics card. Do your research, know your needs, and you should be able to make an educated decision when wading through the computer maze. Oh, and don’t forget: Even if you decide to go with the latest, greatest, and most powerful, something new will come along shortly. n Contact Dr. Christina at jrchristina@apma.org. Hard Drive The hard disk drive (HDD), also known as the hard drive, disk drive, or hard disk, is a device for storing and retrieving digital information, primarily computer data. It consists of one or more rigid (hence “hard”) rapidly rotating discs coated with magnetic material, and magnetic heads arranged to write data to the surfaces and read it from them. HDDs have variable speeds (typically 5400 rpm, 7200 rpm, etc.) and different sizes for storage (250 GB, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB, etc.). You can now get a fairly large HDD (1TB) at a reasonable cost. The HDD is where information is stored on your computer, so if you have a lot of photos or videos to store, you may want to maximize the size of your HDD (another alternative is to use an external HDD for storage because they have come down in 50 APMA News October 2012

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of APMA News - October 2012

APMA News - October 2012
President’s Message
Contents
The National Celebrates 100 Years Advancing Podiatric Medicine
Annual Scientific Meeting Sponsors
Annual Scientific Meeting Registration Form
National Residency Facilitation Project: How Are We Doing?
In Memoriam: Irvin O. Kanat, DPM
ICD-10-CM Effective Date is October 1, 2014
REdRC Subscription Fee Waived for 2012–2013 Residency Year
2012 Podiatric Practice Survey: Benefi ts Received by Respondents
APMA By the Decade: 1992–2001
Reimbursement
Federal Advocacy Forum
List of Cosponsors to the Equity and Access for Podiatric Physicians Under Medicaid Act
APMAPAC Chair Report
IT Consultant
Website Wisdom
Small Business 101
APMA All Stars
In Short
Resolutions Deadlines
Worthy of Note
Affiliates Corner
CPME Invitation for Comments
List of Affiliated Organizations
Insurance Advisor
Member Affinity Programs
New Members
Death Notices
APMAPAC Update
Development Update
Classified Advertising
Dates to Remember
Advertising Index
10 Questions
Your APMA

APMA News - October 2012