In any case, as long as you realistically factor in the hidden potential costs of adopting very new technology, you can then proceed to make a fully informed decision. Deriving a single-figure rating After the first step of criteria selection and scoring, and the second step of determining annualized cost, you may determine that several units meet your minimum expectations. In this case, you can select the unit with the lowest annualized cost from those units making the first cut. Then select the unit with the lowest annualized cost from the qualified candidates once again. If the front runner isn't obvious by this time, a third exercise may prove helpful.
Higher numbers are better.
Now you can place the candidates in rank order. Select the highest scoring unit that is within your budget constraints. This should assure you that you're getting the most for your money. Actually, any factor that enters into the equation can be literally entered into the equation. Not all purchases will require all three of these steps.