Buying A New Computer--Here's What You Should Know

(12/25/2006)  So, you want to buy a new computer, but you've heard that Microsoft's new Vista^® operating system is on the way and you're not quite sure what that means to you. Well, here's a word of help for you.

First, to answer a question that numerous people seem to have, yes, Vista^® is real. It is RTM (released to market) for big customers even now and sometime very soon all new computers from your favorite manufacturer will come with the new OS. In January, it will be RTM for general retail distribution.

Second, yes, Vista^® will include numerous improvements that will make it worthwhile for many users. It will have better security, stronger graphics than ever before, and lots of new capabilities. That's the good news, but it brings new requirements, too...read on.

Now that we've established those things, what about all the articles out there that say now is the time to buy to save a bundle. That may be true. It may not. The question becomes whether you actually need all that new stuff during the next, say, 3 years. If the answer is yes, then this part of the conversation is mute--you need to wait just long enough to get Vista^® to have that. On the other hand, if for a couple or three years all you will use this computer for is going to be email, a little surfing of the net, maybe some word processing and playing a little music, it is a great time to save some money. You can get a great bargain on a 32-bit-processor computer with Microsoft Windows^® XP. Download the latest IE7 and enjoy.

But, what to do if you're not sure of the usage you'll want or need? Then you can take a middle road. Here's what to do and why. First, the new OS and lots of new software that's in the pipeline right now need a 64-bit processor. Within a couple of years all new releases will be designed strictly for a 64-bit processor. So, you need to purchase a 64-bit processor--avoid the Intel Itanium because it doesn't qualify, even though it's often called a 64-bit processor.

Now, realize that much of what's new and great in the computer world revolves around a new batch of graphics processors. There's the problem with lots of the machines you can buy right now. Their graphics cards aren't up to the task presented by Vista^® and you will have to buy a new graphics card later to really use the new OS. It's hard to say what that will cost you, but a guess would be $100 to $350 dollars--depending on how serious you are about graphics work (but excluding true graphics pros who will pay much more--you know who you are.) There are 3 kinds of labeling on the market right now that can affect what you want to buy--especially in a notebook.

1. No label--just pass it by no matter how good a bargain it appears to be
2. Vista^® Compatible--pass it by. The video card will let you run Vista^® but it won't be able to do lots of things you want it to.
3. Vista^® Ready--OK! This one has a video card that can handle the new OS's most complex video needs. This is the one you want.

Finally, there's the questions of memory and hard-drive space. In over 30 years of IT work there are two complaints I have never heard from anyone. First, I've never heard anyone say, "Darn it--I bought too much memory." They always say, "How much will it cost me to upgrade my memory?" Second, and in a similar vein, I've never heard anyone complain, "Dang, I bought too big a hard drive." It's always more like, "Can you put a bigger hard drive in my system?" There's a message here, but I'm going to let you figure out what it is. OK?

Finally, let's look at 2 other things to note. Many of the new notebooks will not be equipped with either a floppy drive or a serial port, though they will almost all come with a built-in modem. Normally, this is not a problem, but if you need a floppy drive or a serial port for any reason, the absence of it becomes a problem very quickly. So, look before you leap. You may need to budget for a USB-driven floppy drive or serial-port adapter. Or, of course, it may be time to budget for a new printer.

There are 4 "flavors" of the new OS. You can see what the differences are by hitting this link Features

^®Microsoft Windows and Vista are registered trademarks of the Microsoft Corporation.

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And The Clock Almost Ran Out On That Friendship

(12/20/2006)  

My grandfather's nick name was Bud and everyone for miles around knew and respected him.  He had a reputation as a pillar of the community, as someone you could trust.  If Bud said it, it was true and that was that. If Bud said a rooster was dipping snuff, look under the wing and you'd find the snuff tin.  You could count on Bud.

One day Bud went to the nearby community of Springville.  It was a grocery-buying trip, but it included some other stops, too.  Now in those days, Bud could take his list to Mr. Henry, the local mercantile shop owner and give it to him.  Mr. Henry would have everything ready to load into the Model T when Bud returned and then, being old friends, they would sit around the old stove and drink a cup of coffee and talk for a time.  So, there was Bud, giving his list to his old friend--they'd know each other for 30 years or more--when he saw this really nice looking alarm clock there in the store.  Bud needed a new alarm clock and this one just caught his eye.  It was exactly what he wanted.

"How much do you need for that alarm clock, Henry?"

"Why, that's the newest and best that's ever been in these parts.  It'll cost you twenty dollars to get that one, Bud.  Can I add it to your order?"  Mr. Henry probably saw a gleam there that said Bud really wanted it or he wouldn't have been so glib.  Bud was not known for wasting money and $20 was a lot back then--probably something like $200 today.

"Nah, that's more than I can afford for an alarm clock, Henry.  It'll just have to wait and I'll find something I can afford." 

Henry was not dismayed.  "Now, Bud, you know that's not a problem.  Why we've known each other so long I don't even remember how long it has been.  You give me a little money today and take that clock with you.  When you get to it, you pay me he rest.  OK?" 

Bud mumbled something about really liking the clock, but not wanting to be in debt.  Still, he really liked that clock. 
"Henry, he said, "I'll be back in a little while to pick up my stuff and I'll think on it between now and then."

"OK, Bud, I hope you'll take it, though.  I can tell you really like it and I'm sure your missus will, too.  You can't find a nicer one, either.  We're old friends and I know that look in your eye means you really want it, so don't worry about a thing.  Just pick it up with the rest of your stuff when you get back."  Mr. Henry knew Bud would take it.

And Bud left it at that as he went out to take care of other business.

About an hour had passed when a stranger walked into Mr. Henry's store and bought a soda.  "Say, the stranger said.  I need some supplies.  I don't guess I could get some stuff on a credit could I?" 

Now Mr. Henry was no fool and he didn't know this slick-looking stranger from Adam's house cat, so he launched into his normal spiel under these circumstances.  "See that sign up there, fella?  What does it say?  I'll tell you what it says.  It says we don't give credit to anybody.  Nobody gets anything on credit here.  What do I look like?  A bank?  We need the money.  Now if you want to make a loan, you go on down to the bank over there and see them..."  He droned on and on until the young stranger was <i>really</i> sorry he'd ever asked.

You guessed it.  About the time Mr. Henry finally ran down, in walked Bud.  He announced, "Henry, I've decided to take that clock on credit after all."

Henry sputtered.  What could he do?  What could he say?  The young stranger's ears were up as he awaited a response.  Mr. Henry was painted into a corner.  He decided to risk Bud's understanding. He launched again. "See that sign up there, fella?  What does it say?  I'll tell you what it says.  It says we don't give credit to anybody.  Nobody gets anything on credit here.  What do I look like?  A bank?  We need the money.  Now if you want to make a loan, you go on down to the bank over there and see them..." 

Bud's red face said it.  He was livid.  He didn't know what was going on.  He didn't understand what was going on.  He didn't like what was going on.  So he packed up his merchandise, threw down the money for it, and stomped out of the store.  Mr. Henry closed that day and delivered that clock to Bud's home.  He tried to explain, but it took the two men a good 6 months to get their friendship together again and years later all you ever had to do to get Bud to launch into a tirade was ask him,  "What do I look like?  A bank?" 

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