The answers will determine the features and cost of the computer. Word Processing, surfing the words (text) on many web pages, checking e-mail and creating simple graphics do not require an advanced computer. If you are publishing a book, working with complicated graphics and video, surfing the latest multi-media web pages, or playing the latest 3-D video games you should buy the most powerful computer you can afford.
As you determine what you need, it is important not to buy a lot more than you will use up. Because of the rapid developments in technology, the value of your computer drops dramatically. It may be more economical to replace your current computer sooner rather than to buy more than you can use in the next year or two.
Computers need to be used. They will have very little value in four or five years. If you purchase a $1600 computer this year and use it for four years, it will cost you $400 a year. If you purchase a $800 computer and budget it for two $400 years you could then consider purchasing a new computer in two years.
If you are new to computers and unsure of what you will actually use it for, you might consider an inexpensive used computer to get your feet wet. Once you know what you want, you can make a more informed choice. It is important to buy a computer no more than a couple of years old that runs Windows or Macintosh System 7. Older computers are more difficult to use and will only frustrate a new user. Often you can get a good deal from a colleague.
When budgeting for computers, remember that you will also need to buy software. These are the programs that make your computer useful for specific tasks. There are also consumables such as ink cartridges for your printer.
Home computers are an investment in yourself, your career and your family. You should buy a computer because it will allow you to do things you could not do otherwise. If you wait, you lose the value of that computer in meeting your current needs. As a professional, your time has value. If a $400 a year computer can save you time and/or improve your output, is it worth it?
When you consider your school system's monetary investment in you, it is surprising that schools have so much trouble investing an additional $500 a year in their employees' productivity in the classroom. Perhaps this needs to become a negotiating item.
Often computers allow you to do more or higher quality work rather than save you time. For example, grading programs allow you to spread the time to enter and calculate grades over the course of the semester but they do not necessarily save you time. They also allow you to print out grade reports more often than you would have considered doing otherwise. This can have positive educational outcomes.
The computer also allows you to update last year's course material without having to start over from scratch. Computers connected to the Internet allow you to share ideas and resources and make contacts with people you might never have met otherwise. People with a passion and expertise in a topic often enjoy helping others learn about it.
You may also find that you make different choices for the use of your time with a computer. Surfing the Internet may replace some of the time you spend watching television. Using online reference sources might save you from driving to the library and allow you more opportunity to refine your graduate paper or lesson plan.
I use a Macintosh, but there are many productive people using Window's based computers. At Heights High we support both Macs and Windows. The real questions that should be asked are how will you use the computer and who will help you support it? There are always questions that a new computer user needs help with. If you have friends that are familiar with one computer type (platform) over another that should affect your decision. You also need to be sure that the software that you want is available on the platform of your choice. The Macintosh has less software available, but quantity is not as important as the quality and ease of use for your needs. Many Macintosh owners purchase software by mail.
Being able to share with your friends and colleagues is an important consideration. The current versions of all the major software programs allow sharing of files between Macintosh and Windows computers. So the work you create can be shared even though the software programs used to create it must currently be designed for the specific computer platform. One of the major benefits of the World Wide Web (Internet) is that it works almost the same way on many computer platforms including Macs and Windows.