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Shopping for a new computer? Dell, HP, IBM, Toshiba: what should you buy?
There is no quick simple answer to what you should purchase (every church is different, and not every computer needs to be the same within a church). There are some basic guideines you should follow to ensure you get an appropriate computer for your church.

Know how you will use a computer before you buy it.
For example, you may want to buy a pretty powerful computer to run your multimedia software for your church services, but you may not need as powerful a computer for the church secretary. You should always know how you'll be using a computer before you think about what "bells and whistles" you'll need with it.

What are the minimum hardware specs required for the software you'll be using on it?
Know these; but don't limit yourself by them. This is an area where many people run into a pitfall. They look to see what the minimum hardware specsthe software maker recommends, and then buy a computer at or just above those in order to save money. But remember: Minimum specifications imply minimum functionality! You can't assume that your software will work flawlessly if you're running it on a computer that barely meets the minimum hardware specifications for it. Believe me, you don't want your multimedia computer to crash in the middle of a worship service!

Don't skimp!!!
I know this is going to behard for some people. But don't fall into the trap of always buying the least expensive entry-level computer, especially for multimedia applications. The one critical area to consider is RAM (the amount of volatile memory that your computer uses to run programs). Buy as much RAM as you can afford ; there is absolutely no such thing as having too much RAM. I've never heard someone complain that their computer is too fast.

Don't hold off buying a computer you need now in order to get the "latest and greatest".
Any computer you can possibly buy will beobsolete the minute you buy it. Therewill ALWAYSbe "something better" offered at the same price about 2 or 3 months after you purchase your computer. But don't let this stop you from purchasing what you need now. If you keep waiting for the "latest and greatest", you'll wait forever. On the other hand, don't go out and buy a computer just because there's "something better" out there. If the computers you have in the office right now are still doing the job that's required of them, keep them around!

Try to stick with a reputable name brand.
There are some cheaper white boxes outer there, but they are often exactly that: "cheaper." Often times they contain inferior quality parts and do not provide the level of support that a larger company is able to offer. There are horror stories related to the name brands, but for the most part, they do provide excellent technical support.

Buying the best computer for your church depends on your specific set of circumstances.
DO YOUR HOMEWORK before buying a computer, or you may be stuck with a computer that you want to throw out the window for the next 4 years. Computers are meant to be used as a tool to help us do our ministry; not something to get in the way of letting us do our ministry. Make sure you "get enough computer" to do the work you will expect of it.