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Adding a Computer to Your Shopping Cart
Today, about 50 percent of U.S. households contain a computer. If you are ready to join the "click" but don't know a RAM from a ROM or a meg from a gig, technology consultant Constance Bleiler can help!
These days, shopping for your first personal computer can make you feel a little like a whirling dervish after one too many whirls; choosing among the huge volume of options and sales pitches can be a dizzying effort. In this article, I will try to clarify some of the more important options you should look for and make sense of some of the techno-babble you will hear. In short, I will try to put a new spin on things by presenting some mid-range specifications with mid-range price tags.
The first decision you will need to make is whether you want a laptop or a desktop system. Laptops offer the obvious advantage of portability -- and the disadvantage of a higher price tag. For your first purchase, I recommend that you put extra money toward a good desktop system or additional software. You will get more bang for your buck -- and you will be able to use a color other than red ink in your work.
Although I do not offer specific brand endorsements, I do recommend that you go with a name brand for your first system for several reasons. You are assured that the guts of the computer are made by top-quality parts producers, you get good bundled deals -- with the PC, printer, and software sold as a unit -- and you get a good warranty. You often get a year of free Internet access as well. Most large computer makers offer pre-configured systems that you can tweak here and there to customize them for your own use. You will find that most sales representatives are knowledgeable and helpful -- making the customization process a lot easier than you fear.
I suggest you invest in a Pentium 3 or Pentium 4 or higher processor with 700 MHz of power. Start with between 160 MB and 256 MB of RAM, and make sure there's room for expansion. Simply speaking, the more RAM, the faster the system. Hard drive space, or data storage memory, also gets gobbled up pretty quickly, so I'd start with as much as you can afford. Consider getting around 20 GB. If you end up short of space later, you can remove files or archive them onto an external storage device. Make sure your system includes a good video card with at least 16 MBs of RAM.
When it comes to disk drives, consider a CD-RW drive -- a drive that can play and record CDs. It provides a nice option for backing up files. If dollars are tight, scale back to a standard CD-ROM drive. You can always add an external backup system later. You should also include a standard 1.44 MB disk drive for 31/2-inch disks.
Of course, you will need a modem to connect with colleagues, students, and parents -- or the far reaches of the galaxy. These days, the standard modem is V.90 56k. Although cable modem and DSL offer faster connections, I don't recommend incurring the additional costs until you've defined your modem habits. If you play your cards right and get a package with a year of free Internet service, you can begin communicating immediately while gauging your personal Internet-use pattern. If you find you have become a full-fledged Web hound after a year, you will probably want to subscribe to an unlimited-access package. If you are still a Web mini-dachshund, you can stick with a cheaper limited-use package.
Round out your basic system with a 17-inch monitor and a keyboard, a mouse, and speakers. These are all pretty standard, so don't put too much thought -- or money -- into any particular model.
Beyond the bare bones, you'll also want a printer. I recommend a mid-priced color inkjet printer. The keys to a good home printer are speed and print quality, so head over to one of those monstrous home office stores and check out sample pages for several printers. Name-brand printers are almost always universally priced; they cost the same everywhere. Of course, purchasing a bundled system that includes a printer can cut that cost.
For standard software, consider the Windows Office suite as a good leaping-off point. In addition, with the number of viruses and worms swarming around, I highly recommend spending an extra $30 to $50 for reliable anti-virus software such as Norton Antivirus or McAfee Antivirus, which can be updated. If you want to deter nasty hackers, you should also consider spending an additional $50 for home firewall software.
A lot of details go with buying a new computer. The most important things to remember, however, are to have fun and to not be afraid of looking stupid. Ask questions and insist on answers that make sense to you -- no matter how long it takes!
Editor's Note: Technology consultant Constance Bleiler has more than 13 years' experience as a technology writer and educator.
Article by Constance Bleiler
Education World®
Copyright © 2001 Education World
06/29/2001
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