Computers are measured by many standards, but these are 4 of the basics. They are the minimum standards you should consider.
 

• Operating system - The current standard today is Windows XP. Windows 2000 is also a fine, reliable software. You may have a computer with Windows 98. Even though Win98 is a number of years old, for simple e-mail and internet access, this is very adequate software as well. 
• Processor - This is the speed at which the computer processes commands or runs software. These days the current technology is Pentium 4, but if you have an older computer with a Pentium 3, that will work fine as well.
• Memory or RAM - This is the electronic chip or chips that feed the information to the processor. Additional RAM allows the computer to process data faster. With Windows XP or 2000, 256 MB (megabytes) is enough; some new computers will come with 512MB or more. With Windows 98 while 128 MB is enough, 256 would be better.  
• Hard Drive - This device stores your data while you are working and remembers your work after you turn the computer off. Today, the smallest drive you can get is 40 GB (gigabytes), with the mid range being 80 GB. Unless you are downloading and saving movies, 80 GB is a very large amount of space. Some new computers will come with 160 GB to 300 GB.

If you have been given a computer and it is a Pentium 3 with enough RAM for the operating system, a 40 to 80 GB hard drive and the right accessories or cards to connect to the internet, you will probably be happy. If you are buying a new computer, you will see Pentium 4’s with 160 GB or more hard drive space and 512 MB to 1 GB of RAM. 

Any computer, new or old will need some way of connecting to the internet. The current technology requires a network card. This connection port will allow you to connect to a “high speed” connection from the cable company or phone company. While this is a bit more expensive than a dial up connection, high speed does not block your phone line when you are on the internet or collecting your e-mail. The other way to connect to the internet is by using a dial-up modem. This type of connection requires a modem installed into your computer.  This is a slower connection. The other disadvantage is that you cannot talk on the phone at the same time as you are on the internet. 

The last thing you will need is a computer is an optical drive. Optical drives include a CD (compact disk), a CD-RW (compact disk that you can record on), DVD (disk that you would get a movie on) and DVD-/+RW (DVD you can record on). The obvious difference between the 2 formats is the amount of data/music/video that can be recorded. DVD’s can hold about 6 times the information that a CD can hold.  You will use the optical drive to listen to music, watch DVD movies and to load new software from. 

Some computers have floppy disk drives. This allows the computer to read 1.44 MB floppy disks. These types of disks are being used less and less these days. 

In another article, we can review peripherals (monitors, printers, alternate kinds of storage, keyboards and mice) that you might want or might get with your computer. We can also talk more about different internet connections including wired and wireless.