Shopping for a home Computer

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CHOOSING A COMPUTER

There are literally hundreds of computers to choose from today, ranging in price from a few hundred to many thousands of dollars. Home computers, the ones we'll be talking about here, generally fall into the $200 to $1,200 price range. And within this range, package prices will vary depending on the particular components needed. Some tasks, for instance, require a mechanical printer, while other applications need a device to hook the computer to a telephone line. The more complex you make your system, the more it will cost.

Basically, computer systems can be broken down into two types of components. First there's the hardware, central to which is the computer itself—the seemingly magical "black box" that makes everything happen. A video monitor connected to the computer tells you what the machine is thinking, and a keyboard lets you tell the computer what you're thinking. Keyboards come as a part of the computer package and may actually be integral. Monitors, however, are usually purchased separately—largely because there are a number of choices (see the sidebar "Video Monitors"), not because they're dispensable.

The second main component of a computer system is its software. Each of these packages of numerical instructions tells the computer how to perform a certain task. This article, for example, was written using a software package called a word processor. There are software packages that calculate taxes, estimate profits, and plan menus. The applications are limited only by your imagination and the physical traits of your machine. With the right software, even an inexpensive computer can perform an amazing variety of tasks; without it, the fanciest rig is useless.

MAKE A PLAN

Before you even start shopping for a computer, you should decide what you want the computer to do for you and how much you're willing to pay for that service.

What will be the computer's main use? Will it be for education—such as teaching the young ones their ABCs? Or perhaps you want a computer in order to hone your own math skills. If education fits your computer's job description, look for one that has a large and broad base of learning software. The computer itself should be capable of displaying attractive graphics, which are so important to keeping the attention of a child. Both the Radio Shack Color Computer and the Atari 800 handle graphics well, are inexpensive, and have quite a bit of educational software written for them. Apple may have the largest selection of educational software—because their II-series computers are often used in schools—but the firm's hardware and software are relatively expensive.

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