Practicality Believe it when I say that there are some things best not done with a computer. Computerizing all of great Aunt Ida's recipes is a wonderful idea, in theory. You either move the computer onto the kitchen counter, or you run back and forth from the kitchen to the computer while making dinner. Give me the faded, stain splattered index card any day. If you don't write letters, have a Nintendo 64 and have never heard of the Internet, you don't need a computer.
Preparation There are as many different makes and models of computers as there are houses.
You would do your homework. Decide how much money you want, or can afford, to spend. You may not know exactly what house you want, but you would have an idea of what works and what doesn't for you or your family. The same is true when you are purchasing a computer. Do your homework.