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This article originally appeared in
Svoboda's Home and Small Business Review
Common Sense Computing
June, 1996

Retro Computing - Buying a New Computer in 1996

by William R. Stocking

I'm glad I'm not in your shoes -- Trying to decide what kind of computer to buy. If I wasn't in this business, it would be an absolutely traumatizing experience. Even buying a car wouldn't be as nerve-wracking! Four years ago it was easy. You knew exactly what to get: an IBM compatible 386/25 with 4 megabytes of RAM, a hard drive of 80 to 200 megabytes and Windows 3.1 or whatever Mac you could afford. That was that.

Now, you have many, many more choices and very few sources of reliable answers - Anyone who sells the stuff today has a vested interest in galloping obsolescence. Do you need Windows '95? Should you wait for Window's NT? Do you have to buy a Pentium? Do you dare buy an Apple? These are a few of the questions I'll try to answer in this article.

MOTIVATION

If your prime reason for buying a new computer is so that you can start learning and using Windows '95, then you'd better think again. If, however, you are still working in DOS, and you wish to use an application that ONLY runs under Windows, then Windows '95 is the only logical choice. At this time, it doesn't make any sense to learn Windows 3.11 then re-learn Windows '95 at a later time. They are significantly different.

If you are currently using Windows 3.1 or 3.11 without significant problems, then you should question the wisdom of going to Windows '95 at this time. Changing over can be more difficult than you have been led to believe. Chicago Computer Guide in the April Issue interviewed 30 information management administrators for mid to large Chicago area companies. Results: All but four or five of these managers made statements such as: ". . . I want to stay with a stable platform like Windows 3.11 as opposed to the questionable stability of Win 95." Two Thirds of these companies said they will not deploy Win 95 this year.

However, this does not mean that you shouldn't buy something newer, bigger and faster. The best buy in current machines will be found off the beaten path.

WHAT NOT TO BUY

That Pentium 75 equipped with eight meg. of memory and Windows '95, is not a bargain at any price! This particular configuration is a real dog. In fact, any computer running Windows '95 with less than 12 megabytes of RAM is a dog. A 486/66 with 16 megabytes of RAM running Windows '95 will stomp all over a Pentium 90 with only eight megabytes of RAM. The memory requirements of Windows '95 are that critical!

Unfortunately, Pentium machines can only be upgraded two memory slots at a time. So if your Pentium machine came equipped with eight meg. of RAM, It already uses two of the four available memory slots. Bumping it up to a total of 16 meg. means that you will use up all available memory slots. Then, If you want to upgrade from this, you'll have to dump some of your current memory and replace it with larger chips -- Not good.

Suggestion: If you purchased an eight meg. Pentium, bump it up to 24 the first time. Better yet, avoid the eight meg. machine, totally.

A BETTER BUY

Your best buy in a computer today is a 486 or 586 with an AMD or Cyrix processor running at 100 to 133 MHZ. with 16 to 24 megabytes of memory. ( I'm putting one of these together for my own use later this month.) It shouldn't cost you any more than a badly equipped Pentium and with the money you save on the processor, you can buy more memory which is where you really should invest heavily. However, you can't buy this configuration at one of the super stores, you'll have to go to one of the computer assemblers such as PC Warehouse, Myoda, Lucky Computers, etc. In addition, if you DON'T want a Windows '95 equipped machine, you'll have to avoid the super stores as well.

On the other hand, if you are considering turning your life upside down with Windows 95, upgraded software and a new machine, then there is something else to consider, a MacIntosh.

SHOULD YOU BUY A MAC?

Two years ago, we would have said "No", It was too difficult to move data between PC's and MacIntoshes. And, there weren't enough programs available to run on them. Think again.

Times have changed. Today's Mac has become "Mr. Compatible". The first problem hardly exists any more. Today's Mac can easily import and export data from the PC world via the floppy drive. If you're in a network environment, the exchange of data is even easier. Providers of network components have worked hard in the last couple of years to bring the Mac into the main stream.

The second problem has also been solved for many people. Today's Mac can be equipped with software and hardware which allow it to run DOS and Windows programs! Some Window programs run a little slow, but many work reasonably well. So, if your Mac needs access to the company's PC accounting program, it shouldn't be a problem.

If your work involves design or publishing work then you must give the Mac serious consideration. The most seasoned graphic programs still run best on the Mac and it IS the standard in the design world. True, there are now Windows versions of many Mac design programs, but none of them seem to work as well. Now, with Window 95 versions of these programs in the 1.0 versions . . . well I think you know what I mean!

Other things to consider: The Mac is a stable operating environment. The people who write programs know EXACTLY how the machine will react. Additionally, "plug-n-play" abilities heavily toted on Win 95, have actually worked on the Mac for years. Not so in the IBM "compatible" world. There are literally millions of subtle variations and combinations of hardware and software to consider. (That's the kind of thing that helps keep our company in business!) The result is that Mac programs and peripherals are more likely to run bug-free from the beginning.

Mac-Pricing: You used to pay a premium for a Mac - here again, Apple has changed. As the largest manufacturer of desk-top computers Apple has managed to become more price competitive. Once you look at the cost of a Windows 95 machine capable of running programs similar to what runs on the Mac, Apple's pricing doesn't look bad. And, the Mac has always been able to make more efficient use of hardware. So, you can eliminate the "they cost more . . ." excuse.

However, you should have some genuine apprehension regarding the future stability of Apple as a company. They have recently been loosing money building these more competitive machines. I for one would hate to see Microsoft's only real competition bite the dust, but I don't think it will happen. Apple may be sold or merge with some one else, but I don't believe they'll go away. If Apple survives as Apple, the next generation of Macs may once again be more expensive. At the moment, they are a bargain.

Which Mac should you buy? We think a Power-PC is the only Mac to buy. There are some great deals on the others, but you're going to be much better off spending a couple hundred more in the beginning.

*All brandnames used herein are the property of their respective owners.

Next month: -- We give you the low-down on more Internet software and making your own Web Page!

(William Stocking is President of First Business Systems, Ltd. an Information Management Consultant to businesses of all sizes. He has written over 60 articles on business computing. He can be reached at wrs@firstbiz.com

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