Tips on Purchasing a Computer for Your Church

Many pastors will ask me what kind of computer they should buy for their church. Most are probably looking for a recommendation of a name brand or for technical specifications. However, as with most things, what is best for one church may not be best for another. There is no “magic formula” for figuring out what kind of computer to buy for your church. However, there are a few general guidelines that you should consider when purchasing computers for your church:

• Know how you will use a computer before you buy it

  For example, you may want to buy a pretty powerful computer to run your multimedia software for your church services, but you may not need as powerful a computer for the church secretary. You should always know how you’ll be using a computer before you think about what “bells and whistles” you’ll need with it.

• What are the minimum hardware specs required for the software you’ll be using on it?

  Know these; but don’t limit yourself by them. This is an area where many people run into a pitfall. They look to see what the minimum hardware specs the software maker recommends, and then buy a computer at or just above those in order to save money. But remember: Minimum specifications imply minimum functionality! You can’t assume that your software will work flawlessly if you’re running it on a computer that barely meets the minimum hardware specifications for it. Believe me, you don’t want your multimedia computer to crash in the middle of a worship service!

• Don’t skimp!!!

  This is an extension of the point above. I know this is going to be hard for some people, but don’t fall into the trap of always buying the least expensive entry-level computer, especially for multimedia applications. The one critical area to consider is RAM (the amount of volatile memory that your computer uses to run programs). Buy as much RAM as you can afford; there is absolutely no such thing as having too much RAM. I’ve never heard someone complain that their computer is too fast.

• Don’t hold off buying a computer you need now in order to get the “latest and greatest”

  Any computer you can possibly buy will be obsolete the minute you buy it. There will ALWAYS be “something better” offered at the same price about 2 or 3 months after you purchase your computer. But don’t let this stop you from purchasing what you need now. If you keep waiting for the “latest and greatest,” you’ll wait forever. On the other hand, don’t go out and buy a computer just because there’s “something better” out there. If the computers you have in the office right now are still doing the job that’s required of them, keep them around!

• Try to stick with a reputable name brand

  If you can find a “mom and pop” shop close to you that will support their products well, then more power to you. But my experience is that although a local shop may be able to get you the same computer cheaper, it will be exactly that: “cheaper.” Most of the time, they are able to do that because they use inferior quality parts and do not provide the level of support that a larger company is able to. Try to avoid having an individual build a computer for you. We did this at our church and ran into a problem when that individual moved away and we needed support for a faulty computer. Now, I know some people will have “horror stories” to tell about the support at some major name brand shops, but for the most part, they do provide excellent technical support.

Again, buying the best computer for your church depends on your specific set of circumstances. DO YOUR HOMEWORK before buying a computer, or you may be stuck with a computer that you want to throw out the window for the next 4 years. Computers are meant to be used as a tool to help us do our ministry; not something to get in the way of letting us do our ministry. Make sure you “get enough computer” to do the work you will expect of it.

I hope this helps you when you face the task of purchasing a new computer for your church.