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                                     1




                           So It's Decision Time
















  






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Chapter 1 - So It's Decision Time


     So, you have decided you need a computer and it's decision time on what to 
   buy.  Do you buy a 486, a Pentium or a Power PC?  Do you need a 14", 15" or 
17" monitor?  Do you need 8 or 16 megabytes of RAM?  Do any of these terms ring 
a bell?  Do you have any idea of what I'm talking about?  If you're like most
people, probably not.

     The first step in any major decision is to break the decision down into 
smaller pieces.  Therefore, each piece of the problem can be attacked separately 
and won't seem so difficult to manage.  A computer is nothing more than a bunch 
of pieces put together, and those pieces work together towards some goal.  The
same is true of your car, VCR, television and, even your shoes.  

Taking that into consideration, let's look at the problem and then break it 
down.


The Problem:
------------
I want to buy a computer, but I don't know what kind I want, what to get in it, 
how much to pay for it, where to buy it, etc, etc, etc.


Break the Problem Down:
-----------------------
- I want to buy a computer.
- I want to buy it from a computer company who will help me when I have 
  problems/questions.
- I want to pay a reasonable price for it.
- I want to buy a quality brand.

     Now that the problem is broken down, we can look at each piece of the 
decision with more focus.  The following is a series of questions you should ask 
yourself and think hard about, because within each of your answers lies the 
answer to your total computer buying decision.












   



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Chapter 1 - So It's Decision Time


1)   How much do I want to pay for the computer (including printer, and other 
     peripherals (mouse, hand-scanners, etc), software (computer programs), 
     etc.)?

Price is not a good criteria for buying a computer, but knowing what your 
budget will allow you to spend will help you with your buying decision.  Often, 
the only difference between a good computer and a great computer is less than a 
couple of hundred dollars.  Service after the sale is your number one 
consideration, because there is enough competition to keep computer prices 
comparable.  However, if you choose a company with a poor service record then 
you may just be out of luck.


2)   How much will I use the computer in a given week or month?

Knowing how much you intend to use it will help you decide on how much you 
really need your computer to do for you.  In other words, if you don't intend to 
use it much for doing much or very often, then you probably shouldn't pay for a 
very powerful or full-featured computer.  For example: If you use it eight hours 
a day then your computing needs may be more demanding compared to someone who 
only uses a computer two hours a month.  Take this into consideration when buying 
a computer.


3)   What will I use my computer for?

This is the primary reason you're buying the computer so you must be honest 
with yourself on what you intend to use your computer for.  For example: If you 
intend to do basic word-processing and only intend to keep the computer for a 
couple of years then why pay for a complete Multi-Media Computer?

Consider the table in Figure 1a as a comparison of different
computers suggested for different tasks.









   







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Computer            How the Computer will be used
Type

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|             | Normal   | Intensive | Games       | Intensive   | Intensive  |
|             | Programs | Programs  | Multi-Media | Multi-Media | Everything |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|             |          |           |             |             |            |
| 486         |          |           |             |             |            |
| High-End    |    X     |           |      X      |             |            |
| Multi-Media |          |           |             |             |            |
|             |          |           |             |             |            |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|             |          |           |             |             |            |
| Pentium     |          |           |             |             |            |
| Low-End     |    X     |           |      X      |             |            |
| Multi-Media |          |           |             |             |            |
|             |          |           |             |             |            |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|             |          |           |             |             |            |
| Pentium     |          |           |             |             |            |
| Mid-Line    |    X     |     X     |      X      |      X      |            |
| Multi-Media |          |           |             |             |            |
|             |          |           |             |             |            |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|             |          |           |             |             |            |
| Pentium     |          |           |             |             |            |
| High-End    |    X     |     X     |      X      |      X      |     X      |
| Multi-Media |          |           |             |             |            |
|             |          |           |             |             |            |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                
Figure 1a - Computer comparison for various tasks.

* Note - See Chapter 3, 10 and 11 for more information on Processors, 
         Multi-Media, and Software.  Multi-Media is gaining popularity so most 
         computers being sold today are already Multi-Media capable.
                                
                                
4)   Where will I want to use my computer?
                                
This may seem like a strange question, but right now the largest number of 
computers being sold are "Notebook" computers.  Notebook computers are portable, 
battery powered computers designed to be easy to take and use anywhere.  They 
may be just as powerful as a "normal" computer that sits on your desk.  If 
you're an active business traveler or just enjoy the freedom of taking your 
computer with you, then a notebook computer should be a consideration.  However, 
be warned,  typically notebooks will cost a fair amount more than a comparable 
"normal" computer that sits on your desk, because you pay for the portability.

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Chapter 1 - So It's Decision Time


5)   How long do I intend to keep the computer?
                                
Knowing how long you intend to keep your computer will help you decide whether 
other questions are relevant to your computer buying decision.

For example:  If you know:
                                
     - you're only going to keep your computer for a few years
     - you don't intend to add any additional equipment to it 
       (more drives, cards, etc.),
            
then the question of "How much upgradability do I want?" becomes irrelevant.
                                
                                
6)   Do I want my computer to be upgradable or expandable at some point in the 
     future?
                                
Often the terms "upgradable" and "expandable" are confused so let me clarify 
them.  "Upgradable" generally means to be able to replace with newer, "better" 
or faster components.  Upgradable is most often used when referring to replacing 
the computer "motherboard".  "Expandable" generally means the ability to add
additional components (individual parts of the computer like memory chips, disk  
drives, tape drives, CD-ROM drives, etc.) to your computer.  
                                
Unfortunately, most computer buyers today fail to ask themselves this question.  
If you intend to keep your computer up to date or want your computer to be able 
to grow with you, then the computer you buy must be upgradable and expandable, 
with parts from most sources (IE. local computer stores).
                                
For example:  Let's say I buy a 486 computer with enough room for three 
additional disk drives (see Chapter 5 for more information on Disk Drives).  I 
keep the computer for two months and decide I need additional hard drive 
capacity for my programs.  Since I thought ahead, I bought a computer that had 
extra room for disk drives and I "expand" it by adding an additional hard drive 
so I have more hard drive capacity.  Let's say I want to replace the CPU chip 
with a Pentium chip (see 














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Chapter 1 - So It's Decision Time


Chapter 3 for more information on Processors) then I would be "Upgrading" the 
computer.
                                
Generally speaking, buying an upgradable computer is harder than it may 
seem, because some computer manufacturers have complicated the process by 
introducing what's called "Proprietary Upgradability".  Proprietary 
Upgradability is a fancy term that simply means if you intend to upgrade the 
computer then you must buy the upgrade parts from your computer manufacturer, 
because no one else makes the parts.  For example: Compaq designs it's DeskPro 
M series to be processor upgradable, but you must buy Compaq's proprietary 
plug-in-board to actually upgrade the computer.
                               
Unfortunately, more and more computer manufacturers are choosing Proprietary 
Upgradability, because the computers cost less to produce.  When you take into 
consideration the cost of upgrading by using these companies' proprietary 
methods, you're usually better off just going out and buying a new computer!  
Yes, you read right!
                                
A great rule of thumb for upgrading (I said Upgrade, not Expand) your computer 
is, "don't spend more than 40 percent of what it would cost to purchase a new 
computer that's twice as fast". For example, if you have a 486DX-33, and a new 
Pentium 75Mhz costs $1500, don't spend more than $600 to upgrade your current
computer.
                                
                                
7)   What software do I intend to use on my computer?
                                
Virtually all computers sold today come with basic software such as DOS and 
Microsoft Windows plus a number of manufacturers are including other software 
with the computers.  They may include word processors, spreadsheet software, 
graphics programs, games, etc.  For more information on Software programs, see 
Chapter 11.
                                
This is an advantage for you because you pay less for the
software (they figure the software cost into the total computer
price) and the computer companies install the 














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software for you at the factory.  Unfortunately, there are sometimes negatives 
to the software being installed at the factory.  For example: The manufacturers 
don't always install the most current version of the software and don't always 
include the original diskettes with the computer.  The original diskettes must 
be purchased separately.
                                
Although the computer companies usually offer several programs or packages of 
programs to choose from, when you buy your computer don't forget to ask about 
other offered software.  There may be a software program you want or need that 
they will substitute for a program that normally comes with the computer.
                                
                                
8)   Who will use the computer?
                                
Knowing who will use the computer before you buy it will allow you to be a more 
critical buyer.  For example:  Let's say your five-year-old daughter will be 
using the computer for educational purposes.  If your daughter's hand is too 
small for the mouse, she may become frustrated and lose interest.  So much for 
your investment.  However, if you thought ahead then you would have purchased a 
computer with a smaller mouse so she could easily use it.
                                
Pay attention to size, shape, etc, because even small changes can greatly affect 
your computer experience.  Don't be afraid to go out to a local computer store 
and get some real "hands-on" experience before you buy.
                                
                                
9)   Where will be computer be in your home or office?
                                
This is another question most people forget to consider.  Knowing how much space 
you have and where it is can help you buy a computer to meet your living style.  
For example:  If you have limited space then you shouldn't buy a large computer.  
If you have limited desktop area then you should look more for a tower design (a 
computer that can stand safely on the floor next to the desk).  Chapter 2 shows 
several computer designs you can choose from.  It is important for you to find a 
strong, stable place for the computer to sit, because you wouldn't want it to 
fall.  














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10)  What should my computer area look or feel like?

This is a very important area.  You should position your computer monitor so it 
is at a comfortable viewing  height.  Your keyboard should be at a comfortable 
typing height (usually 26 to 30 inches for most adults).  If you have decided to 
buy a desk then please try lots of them because no two desks will feel the same.  
A good desk will give you and your computer years of comfortable use while a bad 
desk may make your computer experience miserable. 


11)  Where should I buy the computer?

I hate seeing those "Wholesale Outlet" advertisements, because they talk about 
some computer and then make it sound so great.  However, if you look at the 
fine print, you can see the computer they're selling usually leaves a lot to be 
desired.  They all-too-often leave out or don't tell you some very important
information that you should know and consider, so be careful and always compare 
what you know to the fine print.  Remember, price isn't everything and if the 
price seems too good to be true then it probably is!


12)  If I have a computer now, how do I sell it?

Since money is money and selling your existing computer may help you afford your 
new computer.  I suggest the following:

     - Place advertisements using electronic mail (e-mail) on a local computer 
       Bulletin Board System (BBS) 
     - Look in the newspaper before you place the advertisement.  There will 
       likely be other computers being advertised and you can compare prices to 
       make sure yours is in-line with the other computers
     - Word of mouth (ask friends, relatives, co-workers, etc.)


















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