Shopping for a home Computer

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Compatibles

You'll often run across the expression compatible when you're shopping for a computer. What is a compatible? Basically it's a copy of a popular computer. Not an exact copy, mind you—that would be illegal—but a reasonable facsimile. These imitators are often worth pursuing because they're less expensive. The most copied personal computer is the IBM PC, the machine that put the computer revolution into high gear. As a testimony to its achievements, no less than 20 IBM compatibles are available today, most of which sell for around two-thirds of what the genuine article costs. Some are duplicates (even down to the placement of the logo); others—such as Compaq—imitate IBM only at the software level. Some could be said to be superior to the original . . . others are clearly inferior.

In all instances, however, the compatible is supposed to run the same software that the original handles. In fact, the crux of the issue is software compatibility. It's far more important for the compatible to act like the original than to look like it.

When shopping for a compatible, keep in mind that compatibility can be a relative term. Some differences do exist (because of copyright laws), and some software written for the original may not run on a particular compatible. Let's hope it's not yours!

Computer Software

The question most people ask when the topic of home computers comes up is "What practical purpose do they serve?" As I already mentioned, MOTHER will, in fu ture issues, be discussing some of the software that may be of interest to her readers. But to give you a better idea of what to expect, MOTHER's staffers have reviewed a couple of pieces of gardening software: ORTHO'S COMPUTERIZED GARDENING and Home & Hobby Software's PLANTIN' PAL.

ORTHO'S COMPUTERIZED GARDENING is a two-sided disk and book package that has two main features: a personalized plant selector to help you choose—by zip code, height, bloom, light needs, etc.—the right landscape plants or houseplants for you (OCG does not deal with vegetables) .. . and a calendar recordkeeping aid. The plant selector is excellent: You tell the computer what requirements you have, and it shows you all the plants in its 750-entry master list that will work in your region, along with their caretaking needs. The calendar is limited by the fact that you can read only one day's entry at a time. COMPUTERIZED GARDENING comes in versions for IBM, Commodore 64, and Apple (11e, 11c, and MacIntosh) computers and costs $49.95 plus $3.00 shipping and handling from Ortho Information Services, 575 Market St., San Francisco, CA 94105. Recommended only for computerphiles who have real plant/ landscaping needs.

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