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Computer
Hardware and Software
Hardware is a complex topic. We
will try to give you some basics things to watch for. There
can be many pitfalls in choosing computer hardware. Even if
you are not building your own system you should know some hardware
basics.
Expansion Slots
The motherboard has a number of expansion
slots. Newer systems have several PCI slots for accessory cards,
an AGP video slot, and several USB ports for accessories. Systems
with built-in video and/or audio may have only 1-2 PCI slots and
they may not have any AGP slots. This type of system is difficult
to upgrade or expand.
Many brand name systems use proprietary
motherboards, which cannot be replaced or upgraded unless you deal
with the manufacturer. We prefer to stay with the standard
ATX style motherboard if possible.
Hard Drives
Hard drives are becoming increasingly larger, faster, and less
expensive. Modern hard drives spin at 7200 RPM or faster and
have a 100 Mhz ATA transfer rate. Older drives spin at 5400 RPM
and/or have slower transfer rates. These drives work in older systems,
although at reduced performance.
Be wary of house brands, off-brands,
and factory rebuilds, which could be potentially troublesome. Some
manufacturers offer older "bargain" drives with a 1 year
warranty. These may be 5400 RPM drives or they may have downgraded
capacity, i.e., a 20 gig drive with bad spots sold as 18 gig. We
don't recommend them.
Drives over 32 gigabytes may not work in older systems, i.e, Pentium
II and older. Most drives come with software that adapts them to
the computer but this makes the drive non-standard and it can prevent
booting from a floppy if the system needs to be serviced. We recommend
against using this software. A new "Big Disk" standard
is emerging that breaks the 120 gigabyte barrier.
Memory
Windows really needs 64 meg to run well and 128 meg or better is
recommended. (Windows 95 does not work well with over 64 meg!) Your
motherboard should have at least 3 memory sockets and preferably
more. Memory comes in many types, SDR, DDR, Rambus, PCI-100, CI-133,
etc., so you should find out now what type your system uses in case
you have to upgrade later.
If you must hold back on memory now be sure your vendor leaves
several memory sockets free. Some vendors like to dump their older,
lower capacity stock so you may find all of your sockets filled.
For example, 256 meg can be one 256 module, two 128 meg modules,
or four 64k modules.
Some systems have a modem or video
card that uses "shared memory". This means that the memory
for the accessory is taken from the system memory. A computer with
64 meg that uses 32 meg of shared video memory will have a gorgeous
display but run poorly because Windows only has 32 meg to use.
Input / Output
Many varieties of input and output ports are used in modern computers.
If you don't have older accessories consider buying a "legacy
free" system, which does not have the old-style ports and which
does not cripple system performance by supporting them. Modern systems
have several USB ports and some have "Fire Wire" port
for high speed audio and video.
If you are going to connect to the Internet with a dial-up connection
you will need a 56k modem. Brand name modems generally perform more
reliably than store brands and "white box" models. A Windows
Modem will use the system processor and memory but this is not usually
a problem on faster systems with plenty of memory.
Many computers now come with an Ethernet card, which is used to
connect to the Internet with a broadband connection (cable or DSL).
An Ethernet card is needed if you wish to network several computers.
A cheap monitor is not a bargain. You will spend a lot of
time looking at it. Some inexpensive brands may be hard on the eyes
and they may not last much beyond the warranty. A cheap mouse and
keyboard can lead to typing mistakes and medical problems.
The Computer Case
The computer case is an important component. It holds the
power supply and it secures the accessory cards. It also has fans
that provide essential cooling for the internal components. A flimsy
case may allow components to come loose, causing a system failure.
A cheap power supply can introduce strange problems that are not
easily corrected. A cheap fan can sieze up and allow the system
to overheat. Look for a heavy case with well machined metal and
a UL listed power supply 250 watts or larger. For systems over 733
Mhz the case should have plenty of fans. If your system has an AMD
processor make certain the power supply is certified for AMD.
Many brand name systems such as Compaq, Dell, HP, Sony, use proprietary
motherboards in custom cases. These systems are generally very
good and very reliable but you will not be able to repair it easily
so a service contract is recommended. Many brand name systems and
most house brands use standard ATX motherboards
and cases. These are easily upgraded and repaired.
Other Considerations
A computer is of little use without an operating system and software. There
are several operating systems to choose from and any number of word
processors and office suites.
Many systems now come with the software pre-installed. This
is done by copying a standard "system image" to the hard
drive. This image includes Windows, the applications, and the
installation files. You will receive an "image disk",
also called a "rescue disk", that will let you rebuild
your system from scratch if you have a catastrophe, removing all
of your data in the process!
With pre-installed software there are several cautions. You often
get no distribution CD or manual but you do get a license. You can
re-install any program using the installation files stored on your
hard drive, if you know where to find them, but if the hard disk
fails you will lose these files. If you have to use your rescue
disk you will lose any upgrades, patches, drivers, and new software
you have installed. You will also lose all of your data!
Operating Systems
Windows 95 is officially obsolete. If you have it and it works
then keep it, otherwise you should upgrade.
Windows 98 Second Edition is relatively reliable and stable and
still available in stores, although it is being replaced by Windows
2000 and Windows XP. If you have Windows 98, upgrade to the
Second Edition.
Windows ME is the last member of the "Windows x9" family
and the last "home" version of Windows. When it was new
it was not terribly compatible with some hardware and software but
that has changed. Upgrading to ME is not recommended if you have
an older system, unless you have ME drivers for all of your hardware.
Windows NT is more reliable than Windows 95 / 98, it is not plug
'n' play, installation can be tricky, and it does not support USB
ports. If you are a gamer forget NT! Windows NT is being replaced
by Window 2000 and Windows XP.
Windows 2000 is very reliable and an excellent, albeit complex,
product. Windows 2000 works very well for gamers.
Windows XP is replacing NT and 2000 for office use and 98 and ME
for home use. It is Microsoft's all-in-one solution, available in
home and and office versions. Note that there are not one but two
all-in-one versions, Home and Professional.
- XP Home Edition lacks the ability to share files easily.
- XP Professional has the file sharing and network capabilities
of 2000 and NT.
Linux is inexpensive or free, it is highly reliable, and it works
beautifully on older and less powerful systems. It also requires
some technical savvy and thus it is
not for everyone. Newer Linux releases are basically plug 'n'
play and easily installed. If you can master Linux commands and
if you don't mind becoming a computer geek, Linux could be for you.
We feature a collection of Linux
commands in our "Click Picks" department.
Software
Many systems come with an office suite such as Microsoft Office
or Word Perfect Office. Many computers come with Microsoft Works,
which includes Word and stripped-down versions of other Microsoft
products. While Office is a more comprehensive product Works
with Word may be adequate for many people.
Microsoft Office XP comes with a
restrictive licensing system keyed to your hardware. If you upgrade
or reinstall, you may have to justify to Microsoft what you have
done before they will unlock your software.
Corel's Word Perfect Office is generally far less expensive than
Microsoft Office and it is an excellent product. Word Perfect
Office for Linux is ready-to-run right out of the box.
Sun's Star Office is essentially free, it runs on Windows or Linux,
and it runs well as a server based application. It is compatible
with Microsoft Office and includes a browser, FTP, and other high
tech tools. If you are technically included download a copy from
Sun for free.
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