For the 20 years I have been in computers the number one question has always been: What computer should I buy? Close on its heals has been another: How do I compare machines from different manufactures? These questions are moving targets and hard to answer, but each couple of years I take a stab at it in a column because it saves me a lot of time answering questions at parties.
The choice of systems depends most on the mission it is to do. Basically, what you have to decide is what job the computer is to do and select the software that can do that job. For the basics this is pretty straight forward. Most computers will do basic word-processing, spreadsheets, etc., and work fairly well. At the upper end of the spectrum of computer tasks is where selection becomes crucial.
An example is in order: If what you need to do is write letters in an office scenario pick a machine that will run Windows and Word or Wordperfect. If your going to use temps, go to Wordperfect (most temps know it). All that is required here is to meet the minimum or recommended specifications (specs) on the software box. However if what you need to do is high-end graphics, such as serious desktop publishing, the selection of the machine will be more complex, selection of the video card becomes crucial for programs like Quark Express, Corel and Ventura Publisher.
Once the mission is known, get the recommended specifications (not the minimums) from the box panels of the software to be used. Most retail computer and software stores will let you read the boxes to get a basic list. Use the highest value in each list, for RAM (Random Access Memory), Video Memory and cards required. Add together the values required for hard drive space and then triple it.
I should mention Apple Macintosh as an option before some one of the Mac users thinks I am ignoring them again. Mac's are excellent machines with a Graphical User interface (GUI) that is easy to use and a stable platform. I have always felt Macs were overpriced (although recent moves by Apple to allow cloning should lower prices and expand the usage base). Buy a Mac Quatra 550 or above if you are a graphic artist or desktop publisher, or plan to be. Buy a Mac if your soul is that of an artist. Everyone else buy a PC or a clone, particularly if you have to work in business where close to 90 percent of the market is made up of these machines. Generally speaking, Macs can do more with less memory and drive space, but due to smaller market share they almost always cost more. That being said most of you will be building your lists of requirements for PCs running some operating system from Microsoft.
Now some folks have no time for such a list so here are some basic guidelines as minimums: Today the slowest processor to get is a 486SX at 33 Mhz (the speed of the chip). Recommended is the 486DX2 at 66Mhz (this is one of the best for price / performance). As to the RAM (internal memory) absolute minimum is 4 Megs, and most software today wants about 8 Megs. Windows 95, or NT users and OS/2 users get 16 Megs. Memory should be about $50 per megabyte with prices dropping slightly for the larger sizes. It represents the most expensive part of the machine, almost always costing more than the processor and the motherboard combined.
Memory also represents speed; the more you have the faster you go. All things being equal I would choose more memory over the next grade of processor. For example a 16 Meg 486 DX2 66 will be faster overall than a Pentium 60 Mhz with 8 megs. Pentium chips are not required unless you will be doing a lot of graphics, or multimedia, in which case they are warranted.
The minimum CD speed is 2X unless you are just loading software and using text databases. However, with falling prices on CD/ROM drives 3X to 6X drives are within reach today. Again if you plan a lot of Graphics/Multimedia get the fastest drives you can. If you plan to use Os/2 make sure your drive has a SCSI interface (Small Computer Systems Interface). DOS and Windows users are fine with IDE interfaces.
Video cards are rated in speed, resolution and colors they can produce. Get at least a 512 K Video card able to do 640 by 480 pixels (resolution in Picture Elements) with a preference to a !MB card able to do 16 million colors. Faster is better, with 300 characters per millisecond a minimum and 8000 C/Ms recommended. High end video should have 1280 by 1024 at 24 bit color (true color) with over 10K C/Ms.
Another important factor linked to memory is the bus selection. A computer bus carries the signals from one part of the computer to another. Your computer should have at least 2 open ISA (Industry Standard Architecture) slots and at least 1 VESA or PCI slot. Go for PCI if you are building a Pentium Class machine, VESA if you are buying a 486.
Here is my overall prescription: a 486 DX2 66 VESA bus with 8 Megs of memory and a 425 MB hard drive, sound card (sound blaster compatible) and a 2X CD/ROM reader with a 1MB SVGA card, 14,400 baud fax modem and a 250 MB tape backup. For this machine, bundled with a few programs, DOS and Windows, you should pay less than $2000 dollars. Shopping well, and with good dealing, you will get an SVGA 14" monitor in the bargain. Get it with a ZIF (Zero Insertion Force) socket allowing a processor upgrade should it be required. Have room on the mother Board for 32 Megs of memory total to be added later.
Important Note: The average markup for this machine will be about $100 ($50 per $1000). Dealers do not have fifty percent markups in computer parts, so don't expect a lot of extras at this price. This is particularly true for integration services, adding new software, etc. The margin is simply not there for dealers to add in this kind of service. You will be very lucky to get an hour of service time for a machine of this class. You should be able to get some telephone support and at least a one year warrantee.
Ok, so what can you expect to be thrown in to sweeten the deal? The best add-in is software. The practice of adding some software to the system (often pre-loaded and configured) is called bundling. Today's manufactures often will add $300 to $500 of software into a purchase of this type. Often you can get accessories like cables and mice added in as well. After you have made the best deal you can, try and get a surge strip thrown in, a very important accessory that many people overlook. Try to get one with a phone jack on it to protect the modem as well.
For all the software you get (bundled or not) try to get the original disks and manuals. You may have to reload this software and having this information and these disks are crucial to rebuilding the system. Some low cost systems are now putting out the manuals on the disks and some have a procedure to build the disks for re-load from the hard drive. If so, build those disks while you can.
Insist that the manufacture or dealer give you all documents with the system, and be sure that this includes the addresses and interrupt settings for the installed cards. Put this information and all other computer related notes you take in a notebook or file folder that will stay with the machine. Also have your dealer record the BIOS data here. Do not accept no for an answer! You will need this information when the battery inevitably fails and it may be hard to find later.
OK, about now someone is thinking, "I just saw a Pentium class machine with 16 MB and a 1 GB (gigabyte) hard drive for the same price. What gives?" Well what gives is the hard part to explain. Basically I can buy a 1.44 floppy drive with a tin frame (disaster coming) for $30 dollars, a bent metal frame for $40 or a cast aluminum frame for $50, this is just for one part. Do this throughout the machine, particularly if you buy some seconds (dealer rejected or cosmetically damaged parts) and you can sell a machine for a lot less. That is one of the reasons that so many Packard Bells are on the market today. I know. I fix a lot of them.
To avoid this problem, have your vendors NAME the parts by manufacture that they will use in your machine. While this won't solve all your problems they will tend to regard you as a more knowledgeable buyer for asking and use the better stuff. Also it will help you compare apples to apples when looking at price. If they can't name the parts, have a consultant look at it with you. Most can tell you what is in the machine by looking and it will save you from buying pure junk. All things being equal, in the same class of machine the heavier one is often the better one, except for laptops of course!
Most consultants can help you make a good purchase for $60 to $100 in fees and you often save this back in fewer headaches later. If you hire a consultant do not have them bid. That way they know they are working for you as a consultant rather than a vendor.
If you are looking for a couple of tips as to quality I tend to favor Teac floppy drives (cast aluminum frames don't warp) and machines with metal clips mounting the memory (these don't break) and cards with gold plated contacts (these don't corrode). Also insist the power supplies are UL or SA rated, otherwise your file policy may be voided. Look for the logos yourself, have them open the cases, and look on the silver box in the back where the power cord attaches.
Next time I will go into how to test these machines and what you should expect. Most buyers would be amazed at how different the performance of two supposedly identically specified computers can be! Good hunting as you look for your bargain. One final comment: know where your support is coming from, particularly if you buy mail order or from a mass merchandiser. Vendor support from folks like Gateway, Compaq, IBM and Dell is pretty good, while store support from most dealers is OK, and support from most discount shops and mass merchandisers is doubtful at best. Try to build a personal relationship with someone that will be with you long term.
If you would like to have computer questions answered, please send them to me by e-mail at Kansas City Mail Online or by the Internet: graeme@kcmo.metrobbs.com. The e-mail impaired can reach me by fax at 816-252-5545 or phone at 816-252-4080.
Graeme Gibson, C.D.P. is the Service Director of Computer Training Corporation and author of ``How to Build a Clone Computer'' and ``The Computer Repair Handbook.'' A former NASA programmer, he has worked in the computer field since 1972. His weekly TV show Computers Today is distributed locally by American Cablevision and Tele-Cable.
(c) copyright Graeme E. B. Gibson
copyright Graeme Gibson, C.D.P. 1996
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