1. An SLR camera – this is the main one of course, but it isn’t necessarily the most expensive. A good SLR will still cost hundreds though, and that’s without a lens. Some cameras come with a lens, and these are great for beginners

2. Lenses – I didn’t realise how expensive a lens can be. Basic ones can be hundreds of pounds, and top of the range models can be thousands. Most lenses cost much more than the camera itself. There are a number of different types of lenses – telephoto, wide angel, fish eye etc – so make sure you choose one that matches the style of photography you enjoy the most.

3. Filters – these are usually quite cheap, but can make a big difference to the quality of the photo. I always put UV filter on each lens for protection – it doesn’t affect the photo.

4. Tripod – If you want to take sharp photos then a good tripod is essential. A basic one costs around a hundred pounds, but really you need to get a high quality model. Mine cost £120, so it’s not a top of the range model, but it does the job pretty well. Make sure you setup the tripod before you buy to check it’s sturdy.

5. Photo editing software – If you want Photoshop then the cost is huge. Photoshop elements is cheaper, but doesn’t have a lot of the functions, although it comes with the basics.

1. I like computers, but I don’t want to spend a lot of time trying to work out which Linux distribution is right for me and my computer.

2. There are lots of free open source programs available for Linux, but aside from general programs such as graphics editors and word processors there are few which can match up to paid versions in Windows.

3. The lack of games on Linux is a major problem for me. Yes, there are some games which can run on Linux, and maybe you can install emulators to get them to run, but with Windows the whole process is so simple.

4. If there are problems with a Windows computer, I can usually sort it with some help with Google. Linux seems to be a lot more complicated, and requires a much greater time investment to get the most out of it. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, because once you learn about the operating system it’s easier to customize, but it’s not something I want to be doing at the moment.

There are other reasons, but these are the main ones. I find it surprising that many Linux fans can’t understand why the general public isn’t too keen in swapping – it seems obvious to me when you look at the technical level of most PC users.

Mobile phone retailers always find it difficult to compete with each other, as it is the providers who set tariffs. This means that is very little leeway for them to provide traditional deals such as half price and discount offers. For this reason, the companies try to provide free gifts to make their company seem more attractive, and this is where you get a good bargain if you know what to look for. There is nothing underhand about these offers – they are simply effective ways of getting a customer into the shops – but that doesn’t mean they are all equal.

The downside to getting a free laptop with mobile phones is that they are usually only available on the higher priced contracts. I had to get a £35 pm deal for two years.  There are, however, some good deals to be found online. When looking at a free laptop contract deal you should take into account the total cost of the contract, as this can sometimes be more than the laptop itself. When I added up the total cost of my deal I decided it was worth it, but for other deals I decided they weren’t.

You also need to think about which type of mobile phone you want to get with the contract, how many texts and minutes you get and whether or not the provider has good coverage in your area. As long as you take into account all these factors you’ll have a much better chance of getting a good deal.