How Much Memory Do You Actually Need?
To figure this out, perform the following steps:
- Locate the My Computer Icon and double click on it.
- Double Click on the C: Drive.
- Locate the Documents and Settings Folder. Right click on it and go to properties.
- Wait for the computer to tally how much memory you are using.
- This is probably all you need to copy from your old laptop to your new.
When purchasing external memory, remember the prices continually come down. Do not buy your memory until you really plan on using it.
Look for the following qualities in your external memory:
Portability:
- You should try to get something that you can carry easily to ensure regular backing up of files.
Know your needs:
- a flash drive might be all you need for under $30, or you might need a 250 GB hard drive. Either way, only buy what you really think you will need.
- If you take a lot of pictures or create movies of your kids in Windows Movie Maker, you need a larger external hard drive. A flash drive will fill up too quickly, and then you will have to buy another.
You pay for size!
- A flash drive that fits in your pocket is the most expensive per GB. A portable hard drive that works off a USB port on your computer is the next most expensive per GB. The big hard drives that have their own power cord and sit on your desk are the least expensive per GB because they are not portable.
Some trustworthy names to research:
- Maxtor
- Seagate
- Iomega
- Western Digital Passport
Automatic Backup:
- You pay for ease of use
- Look for a hard drive that comes with software that automatically saves only the files that have changed on your hard drive. This makes backing up much more efficient and timely.
Do Your Research!
- I always go to http://www.cnet.com/ to check out the user reviews.
How do I know a good price?
- I go to http://www.mysimon.com/ to do a comparison of online stores. Also, I always check my Sunday sale papers for competitive pricing.
Sites I use:
www.Tigerdirect.com ; www.Microcenter.com ; www.Bestbuy.com; www.staples.com; www.officedepot.com ; www.officemax.com
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