Dec. 10, 1997 Contact Ross West (541) 346-2060 Source: Hervey Allen, University of Oregon Computing Center (541) 346-0940 Editor's Note: A useful Microcomputer Buyer's Guide published by the UO Computing Center is available on the WWW at http://micro.uoregon.edu/buyersguide. EUGENE--Holiday computer shoppers wanting to buy the right machine for themselves or their child find that it is no easy task amid the confusing swirl of technical specifications, manufacturer claims and high-pressure sales pitches. "A key thing to keep in mind when shopping for a computer," says microcomputer support specialist Hervey Allen of the University of Oregon Computing Center, "is that you usually get what you pay for. Lots of people are interested in finding a great deal--and occasionally you can--but for the most part, cheap usually means lacking functionality. The $999 machines you often see advertised are generally going to be more frustrating than functional." Allen is a member of the team of experts at the UO Computing Center, which serves more than 20,000 campus users; his office advises students and faculty on microcomputer equipment and software applications. The center recently won recognition from the National Science Foundation for educational applications of its high-speed computer network. Last year CAUSE, the association for managing and using information resources in higher education, presented the UO with its Award for Excellence in Campus Networking. A new, adequately functioning machine and monitor can be had for between $1,700 and $2,200, Allen says. "A $3,000 machine is significantly faster and has additional bells and whistles, and for $3,500 you can get a top-of-the-line home machine," he says. There is a premium to be paid for what Allen calls "the latest and greatest" in computer advances, such as computers featuring the fastest central processing chip available. Buying one step below this level often gives the most performance for the best price, he advises. Allen notes that to save money shoppers sometimes buy used machines. "Computer hardware and software is developing so rapidly that even if you can get an older machine that limps along in an acceptable manner today, it is almost certainly going to need to be replaced soon," Allen says. One of the most important investments a buyer can make in a computer is making sure it has enough RAM, or random access memory, he adds. "The price of RAM has fallen dramatically," Allen states. "Once someone is committed to buying a computer, it is a very bad idea to scrimp on RAM--a couple of hundred extra dollars can make a machine run considerably faster and significantly improve its reliability of operation." For the truly adventurous and cost-conscious consumer, Allen says, building one's own computer is far and away the most economical way to aquire computer power--though he only recommends this approach for those who enjoy the challenge of technical headaches. If shopping for a student, it may be important to get them the machine they need for their particular area of study, Allen warns. "At the UO and lots of other educational institutions some departments are heavily weighted toward Macintosh computers, while others are weighted toward the kind of machines that can run a Windows 95-type operating system. Failing to get the right machine for your student's area of study could cause some headaches later on," Allen cautions. Connecting to the Internet is a chief concern for many prospective computer buyers, and to do so requires a modem. Many people have the impression that an internal modem is superior to an external modem. "Many top-selling brands featuring internal modems work quite well," Allen says, "but off-brands can be more problematic. We usually recommend external modems. They are a bit more expensive, but they usually work better--and, they still will be useful if you get a new computer." He adds that the enhanced speed and power of many newer machines is helpful for smoother Internet use and this is another reason to avoid older machines. The element of a computer that a regular user is most intimate with is the software he or she uses, Allen explains. Many computers come packaged with software, but, he warns, much of this software is not terribly useful. "The most important thing is to get the operating system you want, say Windows 95 or Mac OS-8, and the software you will use most often, such as a word processor, spread sheet program or graphics package," Allen advises. One of the most popular forms of software, computer games, he adds, use "every trick in the book and push the limits of a computer's abilities. So if you plan to play the more graphically impressive games, you need a fast machine with lots of RAM." Allen says that consumers who know little about computers can get a lot of useful information from a trusted and computer-savvy friend. Shoppers with a little more knowledge may want to read product reviews in publications such as PC magazine, Mac Week or The Computer Shopper. "These often include explanatory material that lets a buyer know what to look for, and what features are most important for the kind of computing he or she intends to do," Allen notes. "The magazine reviews of what is the overall best piece of equipment and what kind offers the best bang for the buck often agree with what we at the Computing Center have come up with independently." -30- #F-7317/Local, OrDailies, PDX