When Deborah Hendler was shopping for a computer, she had to consider the needs of everyone in her family.
Her two young children used Macintosh computers in school. Her husband had an IBM at work. She wanted something that ran business-oriented software as well as educational games.
Finally, it had to be easy for her to learn. Hendler is a Virginia attorney whose secretaries always handled the computers, and she had never used one.
“If it was just for me, I probably would have bought a Mac because it’s the most user-friendly,” Hendler says. “But my husband has an IBM at his office, and he wanted ours to be compatible with that.”
A lot of decision-making goes into buying a computer, from what to buy to where to shop. Hendler felt like a novice, but after doing some reading and asking friends about their computers, she bought a Pentium 133–a personal computer, or PC, that many experts say is a good purchase for the average user.
The two main types of home computers are Macintoshes and Windows PCs. Their basic operating systems are different, and software that works on one generally won’t work on the other. The vast majority of home computers are Windows machines, although Macs have a loyal following.
The Mac has always been known as an easy computer to use. It’s also easier to buy, because the monitor is usually included in the price and other certain features come standard, so there’s less comparison-shopping involved. Setup is generally much easier, as well: Plug and play is the byword with Macs.
PCs use an operating system called DOS. Most use the Microsoft Windows interface, which is modeled after the user-friendly Mac system. IBM sells a rival system called OS2 which is far behind Windows in popularity.
Most PCs from a variety of manufacturers use Pentium computer chips, manufactured by industry giant Intel. But competitors Advanced Micro Devices and Cyrix are now undercutting the leader with their chips, forcing prices down, especially at the lower end of the market. This is good news for first-time buyers.
The current Pentium class of chip, sometimes referred to as a 586 to distinguish it from earlier generations, the 386 and 486, are rated in processing power according to megahertz. The more powerful the chip, the faster your computer will operate and the more applications you can run at the same time. Good new computers for home use will be rated at 133 mhz and higher, although less power is fine for people who don’t use a lot of multimedia applications.
For those who want the best of both worlds, there’s the PowerPC–a Macintosh that can run software designed for either a Mac or a PC. But PowerPCs are much pricier than simpler machines.
Prices are dropping dramatically. And these days you can get a fine system–with plenty of memory, a CD-ROM drive, a modem and good sound and video capabilities–for less than $2,500. A bare-bones PC that still has plenty of power can be had for half that. These prices don’t include the price of a printer, which will add $200 or more to the cost.
But getting a good deal goes beyond what you pay up front. Some models are more expensive than others to repair or upgrade.
Here are some other tips to consider:
– First, decide between a Mac and a PC.
The key factor is how you’ll be using your computer. Get advice from friends and relatives who use their computers the way you’ll be using yours, then choose the computer best suited to the software you’ll need.
– Buy as much memory as you can afford. There are two kinds of memory in a computer: The storage capacity of the hard drive and random-access memory (RAM). RAM is the key number because it determines how fast your computer is able to execute commands. You should buy a computer with at least 16 MB, according to experts. If you’ll be playing graphics-intensive games or using other multimedia application you’ll be happier with 32 MB.
– Be sure it has sufficient cache memory. Cache memory is what makes adding, subtracting, finding and creating go faster. Experts recommend getting 256K of level 2 cache. High-end computers may come with that much, but for less-expensive models it’s an easy add-on, costing $80 to $100.
– Buy a fast modem. Buy a name brand, such as Hayes, Motorola, USRobotics or Supra, Evans says, because they work better than generics. The speed to buy is 28,800 bits per second, usually referred to as 28.8.
– Don’t worry about the speed of your CD-ROM drive. The standard speed these days is 8X, and Evans says that’s fine.
– Look into full multimedia sound. If you’re buying a PC, computer consultant Alan Muldawer suggests getting a computer whose sound card is produced by Creative Labs. Macs have good audio capability built in.
– Buy a large monitor–at least a 15-inch or, better yet, a 17- or 21-inch. Big screens make reading, browsing the Internet and looking at large documents much easier. The downside of a larger monitor is that you’ll have to buy more video memory, or video RAM, to drive the monitor.
Where you buy your computer is as much a matter of personal preference as what kind you buy.
– Mail order. You can get good deals this way, but it helps to know exactly what you want–not always the case with first-time buyers.
Repairs also can be tricky. Some companies have agreements with local repair shops, which will send someone to your house for a fee. Others require that faulty equipment be sent back to the manufacturer. The seller often pays for shipping, but you still have to go to the trouble of packing and sending it.
When ordering by mail, don’t send money up front, Schinnell warns. Use a credit card or order it COD, so that if something isn’t quite right you have some leverage. Three of the top mail-order companies are Gateway (800-846-2000), Micron (800-876-9155) and Dell (800-879-3355). Each sells its own brand of computer and offers one year of free on-site help from a local company.
– Superstores. Check newspaper ads for big local stores that offer competitive prices, have repair shops on site and take back defective equipment.
– Small stores. Smaller shops usually provide more personal attention and expert advice, though they can go in and out of business fast. Those that have stood the test of time can offer good prices.
