title: So, you are buying your first computer.
abstract: Buying your first computer need not be that complicated. The first thing that is needed is an understanding of what you want and need the computer for. By making a list of the various essentials, you will be on your way to purchasing that computer. Once that is completed, you will need an understanding of what each of the components of the computer is, how it works, and what options you have. This way, you will be better able to discuss your needs with the salesperson. The focus of this article is limited to personal computers or PCs (i.e., IBMs [Armonk, NY], IBM clones, Compaq [Houston, TX], Gateway [North Sioux City, SD], and so on). I am not including Macintosh or Apple [Cupertino, CA] in this discussion; most software is often made exclusively for personal computers or at least on the market for personal computers before becoming available in Macintosh version.
authors.affiliation: Duquesne University, School of Nursing, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ferrara-Love
mesh_terms: D003199:Computer Systems; D006801:Humans; D008838:Microcomputers; D009726:Nurses; D012984:Software