Knowing how you'll use your computer will help you determine what type of minimum requirements the computer needs to have. Bigger Programs Require More Memory Keep in mind that the size of the software you plan to run will dictate how much memory your computer should have. Consider how you will use your computer, then ask about the software you'll need. A sales associate should be able to tell you how many megabytes of memory you'll need based on your planned computer use. Typically, you'll need a minimum of 16 megabytes of memory to adequately run most programs.
Most computer systems come with preloaded software.
Be sure to check the inventory of what's on the computer, so you'll know what you're getting. With computers, it's a good rule of thumb to buy as much as you can afford. You don't have to buy the biggest, fastest or most powerful computer on the market, but you should buy the best system you can-that includes monitor, microprocessor, memory, hard drive, keyboard, printer, etc. You might want to hold off buying any software until you've had a chance to take a look at the software which should come with your new computer. Laptop models are portable, and if you travel a lot and need to bring your computer along, this is the obvious choice.