Buying Computer Software for Your Business Opportunity

A Home Business Article Contributed by Sharon Hill

Your Business Opportunity, If Online, Needs Computer Software

There are many ways to conduct your business opportunity computer purchase - you may buy a complete outfit - PC, keyboard, monitor, printer (or all-in-one, sometimes referred to as AIO, which means a machine capable of printing, faxing, copying and scanning.) This complete computer business purchase will be an opportunity to have already installed most of the essential software programs such as Microsoft Office, Windows, and so forth. Many of the packages now also offer a free 30 day trial of security application products such as Norton Anti-virus or McAfee.

But you can also purchase a bare-bones system, or have the opportunity to save a lot of money by buying it piece meal used. In the latter situation, you would then need to make some, if not all, of the computer business software purchases yourself.

Here are some guides to use before rushing out to buy computer software for your business start-up opportunity:

Computer Statistics for Your Business Opportunity

Make note of your computer's vital statistics. Before you go to shop for the software purchases, you'll need to note the operating system, the amount of RAM (random access memory), and the hard disk space that is available. Of course, you need to know if you have a PC or a Mac, but as well you must note what version of which: for instance, if it's Mac OS X, or just OS 8 or 9 - or perhaps IMac. If it's a PC, note if Windows is version XP, 2000, 98 or 95 (should upgrade to at least 2000, though XP is best. You can purchase either home or professional version of XP.)

If you have a Mac OS X you retrieve the ram and hard disk info by opening the Applications folder, double clicking on Utilities, then opening Apple Systems Profiler. If your Mac version is OS 9 or earlier go directly to Apple Systems Profiler which is usually on the Apple menu.

The path to this info in Windows XP is Start menu, Control Panel, Performance and Maintenance, and then System. Earlier Windows versions (2000, 98, 98) double click on My Computer, on Control Panel, then System. You may also to open Performance.

Determining Business Opportunity Computer Tasks

Determine what computer tasks your business opportunity is going to require you to complete. These can be divided up into several different categories: Internet applications, office applications, finance programs, utilities, entertainment, graphics and multimedia, reference, educational, and development.

The most commonly needed for business are Internet, office, finance, utilities, graphics and reference. Development can be left for later - these are the programs you need if you're a real computer techie who wants to create her or his own software. Internet include web browsers and e-mail. Office applications give you word processing, spreadsheet, presentation and database capability. Financial applications make it possible for you to manage your money and prepare your taxes.

Graphics and multimedia programs drawing, video and audio editing and photo production and manipulation. Utilities are essential - virus protection, firewalls, backup, recovery and disk management. Reference applications provide dictionaries, thesaurus and encyclopedias and possibly an assortment of industry-related resources. Start with what you need, and later, if you wish, you can add educational and entertainment (games, language instruction, etc.)