If you’re in the market for a new computer, there are things you need to know. Things your PC manufacturer or retailer won’t necessarily share with you.
And with the frenzied days of buying just ahead, now
is the time
to inform yourself. Otherwise you could end up overpaying ― I mean really overpaying ― for your next laptop or desktop.
Turns out there’s a time for everything, when it comes to a new PC.
Wait for the new chips
Don’t pay attention to the new models, but instead the new chipsets ― the things that power the PCs. “My advice is to buy
a new PC right after a new motherboard chipsets
come out,” says David Cox, the CEO of an internet
company in Cheyenne, Wyoming. “You will get the most
longevity out of your system that way.” AMD and Intel have released new chips recently. Competition between the two
have driven down prices and introduced a lot of cool, new features, according to Cox. “Last time consumers had
this much buying power was before 2005,” he adds.
Tune in to “special” days
Antony Vitillo, an artificial reality developer, says certain
days are best to buy a PC, beyond Black Friday and Cyber Monday. “Some of them are celebrated by one particular
website, like Amazon Prime Day,” he says. Wait
for these days to see what deals are being offered.
But also, know that there will be other windows
that open later. In other words, if you miss Black Friday,
don’t worry; Cyber Monday is just a few hours away.
Hang on for PC buying season
Yes, there’s a season, says Yanatha Desouvre, an information systems professional who has watched the ebb and
flow of computer prices for the last two decades.
Fall is the best time for a PC purchase.
“Manufacturers have back-to-school sales,
including printer bundles and other accessories,” says
Desouvre.
The holiday season is also a good time, with retailers
trying to meet or exceed their fourth-quarter sales goals.
But perhaps the lowest prices come to those
who wait a little longer, a few days after the holidays, when
the discounting can reach a frenzy. The worst time?
Summer, since prices are high and it’s near the end
of the product life cycle. Never buy a PC during the summer.
Purchasing data backs up that assertion.
For laptop computers, for example, prices typically
drop an extra 8 percent to 25 percent in August and early September, according to DealNews.com.
In fact, August had 24 percent more computer
deals last year than September did.
The PC deals pick up again in November
with Black Friday sales, according to the site.
Find out if the coast is clear
PCs rely on components, and the cost of those parts
can fluctuate based on demand and other factors.
“For example, an earthquake or hurricane can affect
pricing of hard drives and memory by creating a temporary shortage of supply to the current demand,”
explains Tim Lynch, publisher of Psychsoftpc.com,
a computer site. For example, that happened to computer monitors when the production of quality
glass was effected by a natural disaster, he says.
Always check to make sure your computer’s prices are not artificially inflated by an outside event
Missed it? March madness awaits
Yet another buying window opens up in March,
at the end of the first quarter, according to Todd Millecam, the CEO of SWYM Systems.
“They’re getting rid of the stock they couldn’t move for Christmas,” he says. “This is also the best time to buy components to build your own PC.”
In other words, manufacturers and retailers are often under immense pressure to move inventory and meet sales goals,
and those can favor the buyer at the end of the fourth
and first quarters of the calendar year.
So watch for aggressive prices in the final days of March.
There’s a bigger question if you’re in the market
for a new PC. Should you wait for the newest computer or buy one that’s been available for a while?
That’s worth addressing in a story about seasonality, since the most important season is yours.
PC expert Itai Danan says consumer
typically find the best value in the middle
range of the new family of processors.
“Even getting a PC with the lowest speed
processor of the newest platform, rather than a faster
one of the previous platform, is advantageous.
Not only will it last longer but it will also stay upgradable
for longer since memory and other compatible
components will be available longer.”
Finally, when you have an opportunity to buy a discounted
PC, seize it. Sale quantities are limited, notes Eric Rintell, president of Rintell Technologies.
“You have to be swift,” he says. “In the past,
I have woken up in the middle of the night to ensure
that I can purchase the sale PC.”
To improve your odds, subscribe to sites or newsletters
that preview the sales weeks in advance so you can plan
ahead.
Otherwise, you’ll pay too much for your next PC.
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