Christmas presents: How to buy a computer

Christmas is the big buying time for home computers. There is one piece of golden advice - if you are a computer novice make very sure you get good after-sales support. You can get that either by buying from a well-recommended, friendly local dealer or by carefully checking out what is on offer from the manufacturer of your machine.

Word of mouth is the best guide. If you know someone who had a problem with their computer and was helped courteously and efficiently find out what happened. There is very little to choose between computer manufacturers in terms of equipment quality but the differences in terms of after-sales support can be quite alarming.

Check to see how long you have cover for - both for hardware and software. Can you extend your technical support and at what cost? Find out what hours you can ring the helpline. If you are buying for your home make sure support is available in the evenings and at weekends. Check that you don't have to ring an expensive premium-rate number - support calls can last a long time. Find out if they come out to fix your machine or if you have to send it back to them. (Unless your PC is absolutely essential the additional expense of an on-site warranty is seldom worth the money.)