Computer Savvy Consumers With school just around the cor ner, some families are considering a major purchase—a computer. When my husband and I finally purchased a computer, it was the end of a long “battle” of wills, needs, opinions, and priorities. The six months that we debated about the purchase were a true test of our marriage. Fortunately, we survived. I got the brand of com puter and word processing soft ware that I wanted. He got the “bells and whistles” that he claimed were essential. Just like not every family needs an anwering machine, not every family needs a computer. But if you've decided that a computer is for you, taking time to become informed before purchasing a pro duct makes good financial sense. The first step (and maybe the hardest) is to decide what you want your computer to accom plish. If it's a family purchase, THE CMARINE COLLECTION 6-05 SADDLE RIVER ROAD FAIR LAWN, N]. 07410 NAME CITY TEL(DAY) □ Free Catalog Only □ Byrdes Collector 1 Method of Payment For faster service, please use credit card or money order Checks take about 10 days to clear I □ Check □ m Card # Exp. Date | □ Money Order □MI FOR your protection all credit card numbers are verified | Issuing Bank Signature (Check / money order payable to The Charme Collection) guaranteed, different members will have different priorities. Will it primarily be used for writing, calculating, sorting data, doing work at home, graphic design, desktop publishing, communicat ing with others, entertainment, education, or shopping? Sorting this out in advance of the shopping trip is important! If having a com puter to produce your Christmas letter and other correspondence is your main objective that’s one thing. If you want to be able to entertain children with the latest animated games, you may need a computer with quite different capabilities. If you’re doing word process ing, die speed of the processor is probably not an issue because most computers can keep up with people’s typing skills. However, if you search for documents, work with graphics, use complex finan cial tables, and venture into the newest computer games market. B&B SPRAY PAINTING SANDBLASTING SPRAY - ROLL - BRUSH Specializing In Buildings, Feed Mills - Roofs - Tanks - Etc., Aerial Ladder Equip. Stone - Barn - Restoration 574 Gibbon’s Rd., Bird-In-Hand, Pa. Animrlng Service (717) 354-5561 I’LIASI PRINT ZIP (EVE), speed will be an important consid eration. Consumer Reports recom mends selecting upgradeable machines—ones that can have the “latest” capabilities added, so that you can keep up with the industry for awhile. If you currently own a computer and want to upgrade to a new model, choose a processor that provides at least twice the per formance of the one you currently use. Before you buy, read! Consum er Reports did an evaluation of computer hardware last year. And each month a range of computer magazines evaluates the newest models, and features. Check out recent issues at your local library. Familiarize yourself with terms and vendor options. Second, if your friends or fami ly members own a computer, interview them. Ask what they like and what they would change about the machine they have. Ask why they chose the model they did. Your family and theirs may have very different needs. If you are purchasing a computer for a college student, consider recom mendations Bom the college or academic program. In some cases, it is important to have the right to interact with professors, other students, or on line services. Unlike several years ago, the line between Macintosh and IBM-- compatible is getting very gray as software and hardware changes are made. When your family has selected is will make welcome additions to both les of those you love All gift boxed artist to the hands of the craftsman, Imagination like pure 24% lead crystal, fence and traditions of generations of , of these unique pieces is distinguished :ut, brilliance and superb ring. ■■ images of beauty they bring to life, lectibles are not Just here today - teirlooms tomorrow. IRENA COLLECTIBLES the, product that will be best for you, begin to price shop. Check mail-order companies, computer superstores, special price prog rams through schools/work. But be cautious. Prices too good to be true in ads sometimes are gim micks. Either, the store is selling the computer at below cost to gen erate more traffic in the store, or the product is not really what it appears to be in the ad. Maybe the price does not include all the com ponents. Sometimes the hard drive is just what you want, but. it’s paired with a less-than-adequate monitor. Ask to see the monitor in use to test its readability. Watch for salespeople that try to steer you into buying an upgraded component that increas es the cost of a sale-priced item significantly, especially if the computer has the components you already decided were right for you. Finally, be sure to read the com pany’s refund and warranty poli cies. Keep any paperwork that is necessary to make exchanges and to arrange for repairs as needed. Generally, the company’s warran ty for the hardware is adequate, and extended warranties are not Uncmtr Farming, Saturday, Auguat 26, 1995-B5 ADSI £ PAY OFF! I w: a .—. necessary. Buying the computer is not the only important decision you’ll have to make. Selecting the right software is also important Soft ware evaluator, Mima Spencer, suggests that if children are going to be using the software, have them actually try out the program. Does it occupy their attention repeatedly? Does it foster creativi ty and ecnourage the child to make choices? Are the directions clear so that the child can operate the program independently? Again, read reviews and compare notes with other parents, teachers, or librarians. The more a child returns to a program, the more you get your money’s worth. Also be sure that your computer has the capacity to run the software. This is usually described on the pack age. Read carefully. If the software is for you, you try it. If it’s for your kids, let them try it. Sometimes what delights a child does not amuse an adult and vice versa. Taking time to investigate options and communicate consid erately about needs will ultimately result in the best purchase possible.
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