More than half the letters we get nowadays are help cries like these:
- "I'd like to purchase an IBM-type computer but I've kept hesitating because I don't know how to compare them. I mistrust the manufacturers, retail stores, the products themselves."- "Are chains like Computerland going to close, leaving me holding the service contract?"
- "Should I stay away from clones and stick with IBM? Or is IBM going to drop its PS/2 line like they dropped PCJr and Convertible?"
- "Am I nuts going with an IBM type when I keep reading that the Macintosh with a mouse is so much easier to use?"
- "Should I buy an Apple II since that's what they have in my kids' schools?"
Whew! First of all, IBM-type computers are no harder and no easier to use than Macintosh. Macintosh is becoming the computer to select if (and only if) you're in engineering or design. For that, the new Mac IIfx is super, but less pricey models will serve you well.
Apple seems to be abandoning its Apple II line. Stay clear of it.
If you buy an IBM type, don't worry excessively about a maker going out of business or discontinuing the model. Parts for IBM type PCs should be available for five years because most makers buy parts from the same factories.
A major difference between high-end brand and low-cost brands is quality control. The less quality control, the cheaper they can sell for the same profit. If a bad part lands in your machine, it's because you are the quality checker. It means a trip to the shop, but it usually happens while the machine's still under warranty.
Look for a brand that has a one-year or better warranty. Computers usually show if they're lemons within the first few months of use. If they don't go bad then, usually the only parts that wear out are the disk drives (which have a life of about 3 years).
Other computer problems are of-ten fixed by a general cleaning by a good servicer. That should cost about $100.
If your local Computerland closes, not to worry. When warranties run out (for any reason), we use an independent computer service company. Its service people are better than those at stores and don't charge any more.
When you compare prices, compare models with the same specifications. First look at the big parts.
Do both include a monitor? Monitors cost about $100 for monochrome, $300 to $500 for color.
Among IBM types, CGA monitors are cheapest, EGA middling, VGA the most expensive. VGA gives the best quality, and we recommend either color or monochrome VGA monitor and VGA circuit card.
Do both computers have hard disk drives? Price goes up modestly with disk size: 20M, 40M, even 320M and bigger drives are sold. Nowadays get no less than 20M for home use, 60M for business.
Do both computers have at least one floppy drive? It's a must for adding new programs and making data backups. Two floppies is overkill if there's also a hard disk drive. Comparing 3.5-inch and 5.25-inch floppy disk drives, size matters little.
Do both computers have the same number of expansion slots so you can later add circuit boards that run networks, modems, color monitors or extra memory? Three slots is minimum; eight is probably more than you'll ever use.
Every IBM type computer should come with at least one parallel and one serial port. More lets you connect two printers, a mouse, a digitizer and similar sometimes useful gadgets.
Do both computers have the same circuit boards already installed? For example, a computer sold without monitor may also lack the monitor circuit board. This means you'll have to buy the board and also use up one empty slot.
It is important to compare microprocessor chips on IBM-type PCs even if you don't know what their weird names mean. The 8086 and 8088-2 are very old but may be OK for word processing and simple school-work.
For accounting and programs that store large amounts of data, the old 80286 is faster. All the best new games require at least an 80286 chip.
Be warned: many 1991 programs and updates won't work with the 80286, 8086 or 8088-2. Instead look for the new 80386-SX.
If you do graphics or statistical work such as drafting, science or engineering, you need the 80386 and a math coprocessor chip. For you, the very new 80486 isn't overkill, but its price may be.
In two computers with the same main chip, you'll find salespeople comparing clock speeds. Clock speed controls not the clock and calendar (which almost all of today's computers come with) but how fast the processor collects and deposits data.
Speed is expressed in MHz. 10MHz and 12MHz are minimal. 16 to 24MHz are rather fast. 33MHz is fast. However, unless you buy a PC with 80386 or 80486 chip, clock speed is of fairly minor importance.
RAM is often included in sales jargon. It refers to the computer memory where work is stored for processing.
In RAM size, 640K is minimal nowadays on IBM PCs, 2M on Macin-toshes. On IBM types, 1M is better and 2M to 4M isn't excessive. On Macs, 4M to 8M is good to shoot for.
The only program you should compare when pricing computers is the operating system. Don't accept MS DOS older than 3.3. On the other hand, MS DOS 4.0 had bugs fixed in version 4.01.
Many vendors throw in other software. Too many buyers use this "free" software and then complain that the computer doesn't do what they wanted. Selecting the right program is always more important than selecting computers.
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