Everyone is always looking for ways to spend less $$$ while maintaining a quality PC, here are some of my favorite upgrades for a new or old PC:
Wireless Keyboard/Mouse– it’s always a great feeling to get rid of those crummy wires- plus if you choose a nice set, you can control volume, media players, get shortcuts to emails/word documents?the sky is the limit- it’s controlling your entire computer from a couple easy buttons on your keyboard/mouse (ladies,this means you can even match your monitor or speakers for better looking computer desks!)
Wireless Internet Cards/Routers- for those of you with laptops who are still plugging in blue ethernet chords?just stop! YOU are outdated if you still use those blue cat5 cables with your laptop. Most laptops come standard now with a wireless card to connect to the internet from anywhere around the house/yard. This also is a great segway to a new router. Routers are becoming the talk of the tech world now with such new innovations that are providing to be useful more then ever. Some of the newest routers contain features like build in harddrives to have a network ready storage bin for everyone in the family to share documents or for users who like to work on a desktop and then work on that same file on a laptop as well
Better Display– If anyone is reading this article on a CRT?you have issues. LCD?s are the only way to go in our modern world with the prices expected to DROP rapidly (even though they are pretty reasonable at the moment) Treat yourself to a larger display (17-24″) moniter and dont feel shy to even look at some widescreen views. If your someone who spends some significant time on the computer- or if you even use it for simple email tasks, a monitor upgrade should be high on your list!
Sound Quality– Mp3 players are now owned by over 20% of the worlds population which means these users have a source for putting their music onto these players. Most computer users suffer through poor sound quality when a quick 30-50 dollar sound card and 20 dollar upgrade for a cheap pair of speakers would solve some ailing ears
Dont be afraid to spend some money on these products as they arent so ?rapid- changing? as their hardware brother and sisters!
8 Responses
tecchy12
February 11th, 2008 at 7:08 pm
1cool beans…what are the N routers tho? And what speakers are good to get now for my computer!
Thanks!
Jennychs
February 17th, 2008 at 2:13 am
2Hi, n00bie, here
I have the blue cable but I don’t want a router – I want one of those wireless card thingy so I can just turn on my computer and have connection via the nearest satellite tower.
My laptop (or notebook) is HP Pavilion5400 with windows xp.
I do have a 2 year wireless card which I can use but the connection is much slower than dialup.
What is the latest developments in this area?
Thanks for this site.
Very much appreciated
dell
March 9th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
3Sorry, I have two wireless routers but do not use them. I have a two story home with a metal roof which prevents a good signal from reaching within it.
I ran cat5 cables to 2 desktops in our upstairs computer room and one downstairs to a desktop, no problems. I like the idea of wireless but it needs to get better before folks like myself can toss the cables away.
fcb
June 25th, 2008 at 2:56 pm
4Wireless EVERYTHING is amazing. I just bought a desktop with a built in wireless card, keyboard, everything. I swear the only thing coming out of the computer is a plug!
Lexi
July 1st, 2008 at 12:29 pm
5I am one of those corded people. I love to play high graphic games and need the corded version to help me maintain an advantage.
I do agree on the monitor and the sounds. Makes the experience more exciting. Cables are another area you should consider for optimum performance.
whitef0x
June 28th, 2009 at 3:17 pm
6Ummmm…, I this article is totally useless and the title is misleading. I mean what cheap about buyinga 300$+ LCD or buying a new 100$ sound system. Thats not cheap at all, unless you are loaded with cash. (oh and by the way, lcds aren’t necessarily better than CRTs, even though LCD’s are newer. CRTs are far better overall, except for a few points and the aesthetics of LCDS. They have a greater view angle, better color purity, are really cheap and although they are not king in all departments they aren’t all that bad.)
Hemal
June 29th, 2009 at 10:14 am
7There are plenty of options for LCD’s that are now even $99 dollars for a new monitor. I think the size is a huge appeal for people looking to make their systems look slimmer and more attractive rather then a bulky plain CRT
imran
June 29th, 2009 at 5:11 pm
8Guys, I am someone good with computers
And wanna tell you what to buy speaker wise
1. Buy an Altec Lansing
2. MAKE SURE what you buy has at least 3 SPEAKERS!
It should have
1. Left Speaker
2. Right Speaker
3. Sub woofer
If you dont get a 3 speaker set it will sound like crap.
ONLY buy from these brands :
Altec Lansing, Creative, Bose
Altec Lansing is BEST because they are CHEAP and VERY good!
Bose is Expensive, ($100’s) Creative is Ok ($50<) but Altec is best unless you need studio quality sound or a speaker system that booms your whole house ($30<)
NEVER buy anything called "Cyber Acoustics" they are THE WORST
Here are 2 models of the Altec Lansing speakers that are great – I own them both
Got these for $25 at walmart!
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://images.tigerdirect.ca/skuimages/large/AltecLansing-BXR1121-main.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp%3FEdpNo%3D3296567%26CatId%3D2893&usg=__EKL034LZOK16vTKfyb12JSxTw6s=&h=300&w=300&sz=27&hl=en&start=16&um=1&tbnid=0_SWkqS0Xxi_yM:&tbnh=116&tbnw=116&prev=/images%3Fq%3Daltec%2Bspeakers%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26channel%3Ds%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26sa%3DN%26um%3D1
Got these for $50 at microcenter but they are AMAZING and LOUD if need be!
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0262196
These ones above are lovely – buy them and you WILL NOT be disappointed.
Good luck and happy listening
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