Hardware

By Lasa Information Systems Team

This article provides a basic introduction to computer hardware. Outlining considerations when purchasing and supporting all your organisations hardware.

Having the latest equipment may be desirable but there are a number of ways your organisation can get the most out of it’s hardware. The old adage still rings true:

• Decide what you want to do
• Choose the software to achieve that end
• Buy the hardware to run the software

When buying ICT equipment you need to think both about your needs and consider your budget. Hardware Purchase and Replacement outlines the realities of budgeting for hardware in a voluntary organisation. The cost of buying IT equipment can be a substantial amount of your organisation’s budget so Planning And Budgeting For IT Equipment is essential.

Buying a computer

It is important to have an understanding of what you want your computer to do and the specifications of the machine you are going to buy. The article Buying A PC: Understanding The Technicalities will help you make those purchasing decisions. Further information is available in the Buying a Computer article which includes a guide to prices and features.

Organisations on a tight budget may see second hand machines as the ideal solution to their ICT needs. The Accepting Second Hand Computers article gives a run down of the things to check for when being offered second hand computers.

Additionally The Laptop Buyers Guide: Choosing Your Hardware describes some of the variables the prospective laptop buyer will need to consider.

What to do with old Equipment

Many voluntary organisations that have been using IT for several years are now looking to upgrade their technology and will have old equipment they need to dispose of. The article Disposing of Old Computer Equipment looks at options and issues for organisations wishing to do this safely and in accordance with the relevant laws.

Computers too old for day to day use may still have some life left in them and the article Putting Old Computers To Good Use outlines how these computers can be used.

Other hardware

Computers are only part of the hardware used by most organisations.

Often one of the most infuriating pieces of equipment in any organisation are printers. Problems with printers can be reduced by making sure an appropriate purchase is made, the Knowledgebase article Buying a Printer will help you make the right choice.

Network hardware

The Network Attached Storage article explains how organisations who already have a network but need more storage space for shared folders can tackle this problem.

An increasing number of organisations are moving to a set-up that involves using a network (for more information see the Network Basics article). This raises a number of new concerns around the hardware needed to run the network.

The article So You Think You Want A Server? will help you decide if a server is right for your organisation. The follow-up article Server Hardware: What To Look For guides you through what to look for, who to you buy from? and what sort of back-up system to use.

Troubleshooting hardware

One of the most frustrating problems with any hardware is when it does not function as it should. The articles Computer Not Starting Up Properly? and Printer Not Working? offer basic troubleshooting tips in two of these incredibly frustrating areas.

There are many more articles in the Knowledgebase section Hardware that can help with this important issue. 

As well as the Knowledgebase articles on Hardware, there is the Hardware Knowledgebase Discussion – this is a useful place to share knowledge, experiences, and ask questions.

For help getting started in other areas of ICT, see our index of Starting Out articles.