The following is taken from "Your guide to Buying a Computer" supplied by the Ministry of Fair Trading. For more information on this subject, vist http://www.fairtrading.wa.gov.au//
The computer industry is growing at a rapid rate.
More people then ever are buying computers. The following information is provided to help you avoid the common pitfalls associated with buying a computer. Fair Trading has identified the combination of fierce competition, low profit margins and consumer inexperience as contributing to a marked increase in the number of computer complaints.
A Recent NSW Government Inquiry found that consumers frequently experienced the following problems:
 | faulty goods; |
| dissatisfaction with after sales service and support; |
| avoidance of warranty obligations; |
| lengthy repair periods; |
| non delivery or delivery delays; |
| payment of excessive non refundable cash deposits; |
| supply of goods with less than their quoted componentry or capasity; |
| misleading advertising; and |
| misleading retailer advice |
Many consumers opt to purchase computers from retailers who are based interstate. This may be in reponse to television marketing, via the Internet, mail order or by phone. Consumers need to be aware that resolving problems can be a great deal more complex when purchasing in this manner. It is therefore very important to check the credentials of the retailer you are dealling with.
For Hawkewynde IT credentials 
Another critical consideration is the warranty. Results of a CHOICE Magazine investigation found the three out of ten computers needed at least one repair in the first twelve months after purchase. Given these findings, it is very important to check the details of the warranty before going ahead with the deal.
Warranty Seals, some companies "seal" the unit with a sticker and suggest that if the seal is broken they won't honour the warranty. This is questionable, If you need a third party to carry out an inspection which may affect the seal, get clarification from the Ministry of Fair Trading before proceeding.
For Hawkewynde IT warranties
It is also important to make sure that you know what you are getting. Many consumers have been caught out with deals which aren't as good as they sounded.
How Hawkewynde shows you what you are getting
Be aware that some stores sell standard packages while others will let you create your own package.
Make sure the computer comes with everything you need. For example, speakers if it is a multimedia system.
You aim is to buy a computer which is capable of comfortably running the soft you have selected. You need to be aware that some combinations of software may cause software conflicts on you machine. This will prevent your software from working properly. For this reason it is a good idea to ask the salesperson to set up and demonstrate the product in the shop for you.
Decide the performance level you need from your computer. This depends on what you plan to use it for. Computer games, multimedia and desktop publishing software require a faster computer whereas simple word processing software can run satisfactorily on a less powerful computer.
The performance level your computer is capable of is determined by a combination of variables: the Central Processing Unit (CPU); the Motherboard; the amount of level 2 cashe (high speed memory) installed; the memory installed; and the internalhard drive.
Beware of "overclocking". This is the practice of adjusting the processor to run at a speed faster than its recommened specification. A note from Hawkewynde IT, our suppliers will not honour a warranty on any equipment where the damage is attributed to an overclocked processor.
Make sure your computer comes with enough Random Access Memory (RAM) to efficiently operate your software. Ram is measured in Megabytes (Mb).
Make sure that the hard disk has sufficient storage capacity to store you information and programs.
You may want to consider buying a computer which is upgradable. This means that you will be able to repace existing components with up to date and faster components at some stage in the future.
You need to be aware, however thet the ability to upgrade your computer may cost you more and that in some cases buying a new computer can be cheaper than upgrading your old one.
Sometimes the software you purchase is pre-installed. If this is the case you should always make sure that you are given the original media (eg diskettes and CD's)
Make sure the software supplied is not a pirated copy. Pirated software does not genrally come with disks, instruction books (if they do they are usually photocopies), a license to use the software or help from the manufacturer if you have problems. If you ersae the software and you do not have the original media, you won't have any way of restoring it.
If you suspect that you have been sold pirated software, contact the Buisiness Software Association of Australia (BSAA) on 1800 021 143.
Many of the software "bundles" on the market come with shareware. Shareware is software that is offered to users on the condition that if you use it on a regular basis you will send a payment to the payment to the author. Manuals for shareware may come on a CD or floppy, but more often than not, as a downloadable file from the Internet.
Viruses are hidden instructions which can move through networks and operating systems and become embedded in programs. They can destroy data or display messages.
It may be a good Idea to purchase anti-virus software. This is particulaly important if you plan to use shareware and the Internet, as your chances of picking up viruses are greatly increased.
When purchasing anti-virus sortware you should also make arrangements to be kept up to date on the availability of new anti-virus software.
Monitors vary considerably. Check the quality of the screen as this will affect the image quality. You need to mach the size of your screen with the purpose you have in mind, eg for Computer Aided Design (CAD) you will need a large screen, for study purposes a smaller one may may be adequate.
Be aware the companies vary in how they describe the dimensions of their screens. It may be best to check the actual physical dimensions and the size of the viewable image.
Be careful not to compare computers based on price only. The quality of the design and the various components is very important.
Where Hawkewynde IT fits in the market
Comparing the company's after sales service is a very important consideration often overlooked by consumers. A critical aspect of doing the deal is comparing the after sales service being offered. It may be worth asking for references from clients who can comment on the standard of the company's after sales service.
For customer service offered by Hawkewynde
If possible negotiate a deal which includes some training.
For our training shedule
