Helping an earlier friend to purchase PC needs that you become a teacher about them, and that you know what they want to know.

Instructions

1. Step 1

1. ASK and LISTEN

you want to know what they want to do with it. Don't presume that all they want to do is email and Internet. Ask them, and make suggestions of possibilities they want to explore. Then LISTEN to what they must say. They know what they want to do, and digital photos of family are a large part of that.

2. Step 2

2. EDUCATE

if they have not utilized one earlier, be confident to discover what their family and friends utilize, Windows or Mac. That is who they will ask for help first.
Explain all various ways to purchase, from a big chain store, small industry, or online, with advantages and disadvantages of each.
Be confident they know that when they are going from Windows 98, or XP, that new screen will look different and things may not be in similar place they are utilized to. This is somewhat we presume, but they do not and they do not like it.
Keep the technical last and explanations as easy as likely. They only want to know WHY they will pay more for specific aspect like more memory, or big hard disk.

3. Step 3

3. PATIENCE

All this education, new words, and worry could cause anxiety, so persistence is vital. Maintain it short help. Spacing it out over time does too. There in fact is not a rush, so take it slowly. Every person absorbs new information at a different rate, so listen to see what they can handle.

4. Step 4

4. Give them EXPERIENCE

Go with them to some shopping sites, explaining differences between same PCs and how cost follows. They may be old, but they have had much experience cost shopping than you have. And frequently, their budgets are restricted. If they do not want to do research, explain how much money they can save.

5. Step 5

5. PROTECT

if they have asked you to help them, you have a compulsion to keep them from overzealous salespersons. Make a date to go "window-shopping", and go along, but allow them take lead. You are just there for reference and explanation. Allow sales person do his job, too and listen to see if the information is in clients' interest.