Manuel Mejia Jr
- 2001.11.08
So you want to buy a computer for Christmas and do it for less
than $600? Miracles like this can and do happen to people every day
of the year! It would be a good idea to do thing through some
issues before making your purchase.
The Golden Question: Why do you need a computer in the first
place?
This is the most important question to ask when making a
purchase. The future use of said machine will depend on the answer.
Are you in need of a writing machine, a graphics machine, or an
Internet machine? How much time do you plan to spend behind this
machine? Is this machine meant to "keep up with the computing power
of the neighbors?" Are you planning to use the computer as a tool
to oversee a small business or a social organization? How much
space in the house, apartment, or trailer do you have to store an
operate the computer? Do you need the ability to print a color
image? Are their little children running around said house,
apartment, or trailer? Who is the primary user of the computer?
All of these questions (and perhaps others that I have not
thought of) play a role in answering this question. They will also
dictate whether you need a new $1,000 machine or a low-end
computer. If your are dealing with an eight-year-old child who
wants to learn how to type and create drawings that he or she can
color in with a marker, a $60 
investment in a Mac Plus with an ImageWriter II printer
or a $100 investment in a Mac IIcx or
an LC II with a StyleWriter 1200 printer
(all used equipment) will meet and exceed the needs of that child
and provide the rest of the family with a useful tool for other
tasks like running a spreadsheet that tracks membership dues for
the local social club.
In terms of software, a quick search of the Internet will turn
up software that will handle typing, drawing, and spreadsheets. One
will sometimes even get needed software with the computer !
If you are an adult with a need to do high end graphic work, Web
page design, run state of the art Internet applications like IRC
and JAVA, or keep up with the neighbors, then you will need a newer
computer like an iMac and spend that $1,000. It is a small machine,
and it is immune from laughter from your neighbors because it is so
old.
Getting a laptop can blunt their laughter, because laptops are
conceived as "modern" (even if it is a PB
100 with a black and white screen and based on early 1990s
technology). However, laptops are fragile machines and not the best
computer for a precocious eight year old. The laptop is even worse
if there is a four year old in the house who sees the laptop and
uses it as a toboggan or an island for dolls or toy soldiers. A
desktop computer is far more resistant to these problems.
If you use a digital camera, you must get a state of the
art computer because you will need the USB ports to download the
images. Early digital cameras used to download images by old
fashioned serial cables. Those cameras seem to be out of style
these days.
What computer is best for you? It depends on your needs and
preferences. Computers and their software and accessories are as
varied as the people who use them. Shop wisely and get the most for
the buck.
Further Reading
