How to choose a computer

Understand Your Computing Needs

Choosing a business computer can be an intimidating task if you're not an expert. The following will help you get started:

• If you're operating a business from home, have a dedicated PC that someone else in the family isn't going to use when you need to get work done.
• Think about growth – be careful not to select a computer your new business will outgrow quickly. Investing in a computer with more capabilities (more memory, a faster processor, more hard drive space, etc.) will pay off in the long run.
• Do your research on business computers and software. Consult expert sources like CNET.

Once you've done some general computer purchasing research, you need to figure out exactly what your business needs. Like many parts of starting a new business, you can either do it yourself or hire an expert.

Hire an expert to help you choose the right business computer

Microsoft Small Business Specialists, many of whom offer free introductory consulting, can help you select the right computer hardware and software to help you get started while keeping an eye toward your future goals by helping you select a computer system that can scale to your business growth.