Buying and owning a computer has always been something of a financial minefield. So many mistakes can blow up the cost of your investment. When your current computer either stops working or ages to the point of uselessness, what should you do? Should you buy a new computer or pay to replace whatever part has stopped working? Should you upgrade parts to keep your computer useful a little longer? Should you install Linux? If you decide to buy another computer, should you buy new or used? Where should you buy it? What kind should you buy? What operating system do you want, or do you even care? Should you buy software to run on your new computer or use free open-source software? Can you still use your old accessories, or must you replace them with compatible ones? What kind of accessories should you buy? What should you do about your backup situation? Should you buy a smartphone, laptop, and desktop, or should you just buy a smartphone and ignore the fact that it is awful for surfing much of the Internet or doing just about anything that involves creating any kind of content whatsoever? Is a tablet computer a good investment? Making the wrong choice when faced with any of these decisions can waste your money.