Identifying Your Required Hardware

The physical equipment that comprises a computer system represents the system's "hardware." The basic hardware components of any computer are the central processing unit, a monitor, a keyboard, disk and hard drives, and a printer. Other common business components include CD-ROM and DVD drives, tape drives, modems, and scanners.

Which of these components you'll actually need will depend largely on the types of software programs you choose to run and the types of tasks you want to accomplish.

Of course, merely identifying which of the above items you really need leaves you short of having an actual system on your desk. You still have to go out and get it. Fortunately, we do have some suggestions to help you with that process.