One of the possibly more enjoyable parts of owning a computer is buying accessories, giving your PC that extra edge, making it more efficient and more fun, depending on how you plan to use it. But anyone who doesn't know much about computers should try to know what accessories to get immediately and what accessories can be bought at a later time. Of course, once you buy a computer, it is usually already ready for use. However, you will need to buy some accessories or add-ons that you may think are already included when you buy a PC.

For starters, when you get a computer 'off the shelf', you'll get a central processing unit (or the CPU) and a hard disk, cheap memory, a monitor, an operating system, a keyboard, and a mouse. These are the basics-you are bound to get when you buy a computer, and only rightfully so.

Other parts such as office and multimedia software, speakers, scanners, printers, CD or DVD players, and other similar accessories are not usually included, although some computer packages available at various outlets may include some of these. But just the same, these components are not standard since they are not essential. And by essential, this means a computer will function without these accessories. A computer, of course, will have the necessary sound and video cards, but most computer packages available only offer the basics.

So with this in mind, how do you accessorize your computer? Needless to say, you can accomplish this by assessing what you need. Any and every accessory will be useful and can heighten the functionality and efficiency of your PC. However, more than that, you should ask yourself if you need these additional functions, if you will be able to utilize them.

There are accessories that you are bound to need regardless of your interests. A speaker or headset is one of them, since you will want to maximize the audio capacity of your PC. The same goes for DVD and CD players. But for the other accessories, their uses aren't always for the general public. For instance, would a casual computer owner or user need software for photo, music, or movie editing?

Buying computer accessories is more about what you need. If you use your computer mainly for games, concentrate on getting accessories that will enhance the experience-get a joystick, maybe, or buy an extra keyboard, invest on a good sound card and video card. Are you using your computer for business? Then it's wise to buy comprehensive office software to make your job easier.