October 28, 2008
Military.com|by Cris Butler

Now that you have your choices narrowed, where do you purchase the computer? How can you get the very best deal?

Time and research.  That is how you will be able to get the very best deal possible on a new computer.

1)  How do I want to purchase my new computer?

Decide first how you want to purchase your computer.  Are you the type of person that prefers to forego the shopping crowds?  If so you can purchase your new computer online and have the computer shipped right to your door.  Or, do you prefer to physically walk into a store, speak with sales agent and then walk out the door with your new computer in hand?

2)  What type of research should I do before my purchase?

Much of your pre-purchase time investment and research can be done from home via the internet.  In the end, you will be able to keep some green in your wallet if you take the time to review available computer models and compare prices before your purchase.  Spend some time on sites such as Consumer Reports and PC Magazine.  Not only can you review particular items and research the variance of prices, you can also review recent articles on the newest and upcoming technologies and decide what will best suit your needs and wants.

Save on your next computer purchase. Shopping made easy and affordable. Get a Dell today.

While you are researching you will want to compare and decide on what hardware and software needs to purchase.  What are you planning to use your computer for?  What comes with a new computer?  What does not?  Does it come with the programs you need or must you purchase those separately?  Does it come with a camera, can you transfer video, can you burn CDs and DVDs, is it set up for gaming, etc?  What can you do without and therefore crop off of the end price?  What is on your list of truly must haves?

For military folks, an example of what not to spend your cash on, unless you prefer to do so, is an antivirus program.  Why not?  Gasp, I need that, right?  Of course you need it, it is a must have, especially if you are a service member that does any work on your home computer.  The kicker is that the DoD has a program that allows DoD employees to download antivirus and firewall software from home, for home use.  For free.  Service members can access this information and download via AKO and the like.

3)  Where to shop?

The holiday season normally brings a variety of sales events, even on high dollar items such as computers.  Keep an eye out for television sale ads or local newspaper sale advertisements.  If you don’t mind physical leg work and a bit of gas money, go directly to area stores and do some pre-purchase shopping and comparison.  If you prefer to shop online, you can sign up for ‘deals of the week’, price reductions and sales events to be sent directly to your inbox.  No matter which route you choose, know that the leg work you put in before your purchase will likely save you money in the long run.  Shopping around, at home or in person, is worth your investment of time.

For military members and their families, AAFES is always a good place to start.  Check out your local PX or BX.  My personal experience has been that they may or may not keep a great variety in stock, but sometimes you will get lucky around the holiday season with a wider variety of availability and sales events.  Another excellent way to get the computer of your dreams is to shop AAFES online.  This is my preferred method.  There are several companies that you can access via the AAFES.com online mall.  This gives you a variety to choose from.  These companies (if accessed and shopped via links from AAFES.com) will allow you to use your Star Card for the purchase, obtain free shipping and the sale is tax free.

If purchasing from a local store or online, I always ask if they offer a military discount.  Some do, some do not, but it never hurts to ask and you might just end up pleasantly surprised and with a bit more cash left in your wallet. 

If you are living overseas, be sure to inquire whether the company will or will not ship to an APO/FPO address before you decide to purchase from that particular company.  There are several websites that list companies who will ship to APO/FPO addresses.  One such website is Oconus.com.

Always do price comparison of the particular model you wish to purchase via several websites and/or stores.  If you are not mentally set on one particular brand, it can pay off and save you money, to compare similar models from the same manufacturer as well as comparing models from other manufacturers.

Happy shopping!

© Copyright 2008 Military.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.