Know how much computer you require
By MIKE BERMAN
Scripps Howard News Service
May 21, 2003

Every year at this time, I find myself writing a column for dads and grads - those of us that feel the lust for raw computing power as Father's Day approaches or our teenage offspring moving onto institutions of higher learning.

And, every year, I issue the same warning: Evaluate your computer needs before laying out big bucks for what could become nothing more than an expensive doorstop.

Here are a few simple rules (otherwise known as Berman's Law):

• Why do you need a computer? Is it to perform simple tasks, like balancing your checkbook or word processing, or for playing the latest and greatest games? This could mean the difference between spending $399 for a Celeron-based computer or $3,000 for one that has all the latest bells and whistles.
• If it's for a college-bound teen, what are the requirements stipulated by the school? Many institutions of higher learning post minimum computer requirements on their Web sites.
• Make sure your future doctor, lawyer or technogeek has a machine that won't be outdated before he (or she) graduates.
• Don't be lured by special deals offered through college Web sites. You can often do better by surfing the Net or checking out ads in computer magazines.
• Check out the manufacturer's reputation for technical support. Many new computer users find themselves stranded by inadequate support or queasiness at the thought of popping the hood and fiddling with its innards.
• Don't let the raw power of the CPU be the main factor in your decision. Processing power has been increasing so quickly that your new 3.3 gigahertz machine could be outdated as soon as you place your order or leave the store. Deal with a reputable sales rep that won't sell you a jet, when all you need is a slower, propeller-driven model.
• Make sure the processor, video and sound cards (or built-in equivalents) can handle the programs you want to run. A lot of the new games and high-end graphics programs have been known to wreck havoc with computers that aren't powerful enough to handle them, resulting in frequent, infuriating crashes.
• And, finally, make sure the box you buy has enough RAM (random access memory) and hard drive space to accommodate the programs you'll be using. This seems simple enough, but I've come across more and more computer users that have been succumbed by low prices only to discover their machines aren't equipped to run Windows or other operating systems.

For some folks, a refurbished 600 megahertz Pentium II with a 20 gigabyte hard drive and 128 megabytes of RAM (which, to me, is the minimum memory needed to run Windows XP) will be adequate, while others will need the raw power of the newer mega-gigahertz machine with endless hard drive space and 512 megabytes of memory.

Evaluation of need is the key.

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