Computer Information Series No. 1

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This is the first report in a continuing series of reports concerning the PC-compatible computer. The main objective of the series is to provide you with information you cannot obtain from any other source. We do this by ONLY reporting facts and information that we personally know to be true. Or, perhaps I will share a personal experience with you in which I learned something very important that I want to pass on to others.

All in all - I hope you order the entire group of the “Computer Information Series,” and that the information will save you a lot of money, hassle and headaches! My best to you!!

Getting Familiar with the PC:

Before you purchase your new computer, you must first understand a little about them. There are 2 parts needed to complete a computer system - the HARDWARE and the SOFTWARE. The hardware is what you carry home when you purchase a computer. The computer’s hardware consists of the following components:

CPU (Central Processing Unit)

This is the square part of your computer system that houses the floppy disk drive and hard drive. It also contains the motherboard and other components inside to run your system.

Monitor

This is the television-type screen of the computer you use to type and create your work on.

Keyboard

This is the typewriter-like keys you use to type in information and commands for your computer to understand.

Mouse

A controlling device used in conjunction with the keyboard to perform tasks.

Printer

This is what you use to print out your data (letters, mailing lists, and everything else). You will either have a dot matrix, laser, inkjet or bubblejet printer.

Modem

The modem can be located inside the computer (a board plugged into your motherboard, commonly called an “internal”) or on the outside (commonly called an “external”).

Back-Up

An iomega ZIP Drive is highly recommended but some people use tape backups and most of them are external hardware.

The second part of your computer system is the SOFTWARE. Without software your computer will just sit on the desk and look at you. It’s like buying a toaster without an electric cord. Without a means of plugging the toaster into the electric socket, the toaster will not work. Without software, a computer will not work. Therefore, don’t be surprised when you spend $500 to $3,000 for a computer and find out you have to invest another $200 or more for the beginning software.

Shareware programs are very popular with new computer buyers to reduce this cost - but you do need to invest some money in a good word processing package (like WordPerfect or Word for Windows). If you purchase a new computer, normally most of your beginning software is supplied to you from the factory and if your first computer is purchased from an individual advertising in the paper - they normally give you free software too. But be prepared to buy specific software for your specific needs now or soon because your individual needs may differ.

Purchasing For Your Particular Needs:

When you start pricing computer systems you will find they range considerably in price. This is because you can mix-and-match all the custom qualities available to you in almost any way to fit your particular budget. Since most beginners don’t know enough about a computer or how they’ll effect their lives, it’s impossible for me to give you a “clear-cut” rule of success which will match your particular needs when you don’t even know what they are. However, perhaps the following information will help you when making your first computer system decision:

Monitors:

Like a television set, monitors come in black/white or color. If you want to save $150 or more, just specify that you want a black/white monitor. (It works the same, but everything will be in black, white and various shades of gray.) To further confuse you, though, both black/white and color monitors also come in a variety of types. Each type determines how clear and definite things appear on the screen.

Different types include VGA, Super VGA, CGA, EGA, PGA, MDA and Hercules. The industry standard at this time is Super VGA. It’s compatible with almost every type of software. It’s clear and easy on your eyes and very affordable. You can purchase a Super VGA color or a Super VGA black/white.

RAM (Random Access Memory)

The amount of information your monitor can hold at one time is called RAM. Computer memory is measured in bytes and megabytes (1,000 bytes = 1 megabyte and is expressed: 1MG) The more RAM your monitor has, the better. Be sure and get a minimum of 4 MG of RAM for your monitor to run most of the software on the market today; preferably 32MG if you can afford it.

Hard Drive

Your hard drive is a gigantic storage tank for all your software. It’s impossible to operate any software on the market today (unless you just want to play simple games) without a hard drive. A hard drive takes the place of floppy disks. You copy information from your floppy disks to your hard drive and it stays there - even when you turn your computer off.

The size of a hard drive is measured in MG’s (megabytes). A standard size hard drive to purchase to run most of the software on the market today would be 520MG. Anything less means you will have to purchase more floppy disks as you fill up your hard drive, which will slow up your operation considerably.

Most beginners, when they begin to think about buying a computer system will seek out the local vendors in their area. They will go to Sears, Radio Shack and Office Max to compare prices. Unfortunately, just because Sears has a system priced at $900 and Radio Shack has the same system for $700 - doesn’t necessarily mean that Radio Shack’s computer is the better buy. What if the wholesale price was only $400 and you could receive the SAME guarantee and the SAME technical support you would receive from Sears, Radio Shack or Office Max?

Yes - even some people are afraid to utilize wholesale manufacturers through the mail because they think if something goes wrong with the computer they can’t return it like they could if they purchase it locally. But I’ve got some “eye-opening” news for you - an actual manufacturer of a product will give you a much better product and better warranty than the local computer store in your neighborhood. And since the manufacturer knows their product better than their distributor (Sears, Radio Shack and Office Max) - they can solve problems faster and get replacement parts often overnight.

How do you tap into the 1,000’s of manufacturers with these wholesale prices? By going to your local store and purchasing a copy of Computer Shopper magazine. It’s almost 900 pages, packed with page after page of manufacturer prices and discounts. Just compare prices, locate a system, call an “800” number and within 2-5 days, you’ll have the computer system of your dreams sitting on your desk. (If you can’t locate a copy of Computer Shopper in your local store, write them at P.O. Box 51020, Boulder, CO 80321-1020. Current cover price is $4.95)

I wish you the best of luck in the future! Welcome to the computer age of doing business!