COMPUTING FOR THE BEWILDERED By Bill Hayles Hello, again. Choosing and Buying Your First Computer or Decisions, Decisions, Decisions. Part Two. Hello, again. Last time we looked at the various options open to somebody wanting to buy a computer - where they could buy, and the various types of machine. Today we're going to look at the specification of the computer - what you need, what you don't need, and what's just window dressing. Specification. ============== Whatever route you take to buy your computer, you will be offered various specifications, and it will pay you to understand what some of the figures mean, and which are a smokescreen designed to confuse. You've probably seen the ads - both in English and Spanish - trying to dazzle you with figures and trying to persuade you that this week's offer is the best ever, and you'd be a fool to turn it down. That is, until next week, when somehow an even more unmissable offer seems to materialise. So lets have a look at what all those figures mean, which ones are important, which just window dressing, and, just as important, information NOT given. I'm using a typical advert in the current (November 2002) edition of the Spanish PC Actual magazine as an example. The specification goes: Motherboard - Gigabyte 8IR533; Processor - Intel Pentium 4 2.0GHz; Memory - 256Mb DDR PC266; Floppy - 3.5"; Hard Disk - 40Gb UDMA 100; DVD - x16 - Sound Card - AC97; Graphics Card - AGP32Mb RIVA TNT TV; Communication Card - Modem-Fax56; Monitor 17"; Mouse - yes; Microphone - tabletop; Loudspeakers - 160W. Price 840 Euros, IVA included. The motherboard used is, for most people, an irrelevancy. It's up to the supplier to choose a motherboard to suit the rest of the components. I like Gigabyte motherboards, but a non-enthusiast can't be expected to know a Gigabyte from an Asus, and an enthusiast wouldn't be buying this sort of ready built system in the first place. The supplier is blinding you with science for no good reason. The processor is an important consideration. It will be an AMD or an Intel, and they're both as good as each other. The important figure is its speed, in this case 2.0GHz (Gigahertz). Within reason, the faster the better, but the processor speed is only one factor, and not even the main factor, in determining how well a computer will perform in the real world. It's no use buying a fast processor if the rest of the components are not up to scratch. Memory is a very important consideration - in my opinion, considerably more important than the processor. The more memory, the better. In this machine you get 256Mb - the DDR PC266 merely confirms that a common type is used. Some computers come with 128Mb; this isn't enough. Ideally, at least 512Mb should be installed, at the expense, if necessary of processor speed, as a slower processor with lots of memory will perform better in the real world than a memory starved fast processor. Floppy - 3.5". Every computer needs one and they're cheap. Hard Disk 40Gb UDMA 100. Hard disks are (comparatively) cheap, and there's a tendency to fit a huge one as it looks good on paper. Unless you're doing specialist tasks such as video editing (in which case, you're unlikely to be a first time buyer), you're not going to fill a 20Gb disk, let alone a 40Gb example, and the larger size won't make the slightest bit of difference to the computer's performance. More important is the UDMA figure, indicating how fast the disk can transfer data. UDMA100 is the norm; a UDMA133 disk of lower capacity for the same price would be preferable. DVD - x16. The machine includes a CD and DVD reader that reads at 16 times normal speed. What is omitted is more significant. The supplied unit is NOT a CD writer, one that you can use to create or copy your own CDs on blanks. No indication is given as to make or model of the CD. Moral - read between the lines. Sound Card - AC97. At least they're honest about this, if you know what AC97 means! It's a very basic sound system, OK for system "noises" and the like, but not up to the job if you want serious hi-fi sound. But then again, most first time buyers won't so I consider this a reasonable economy measure. Graphics Card - AGP32Mb RIVA TNT TV . What a load of hieroglyphics! AGP merely indicates the kind of connection on the motherboard - it would be astonishing if it were anything other than AGP. 32Mb is the amount of on-board memory the graphics card has (sensible for the budget) , RIVA TNT is the (common) model and TV means it has an output which can be used with a conventional TV as well as a standard monitor output. Communication Card - Modem-Fax56. The computer comes with a standard dial-up modem, nowadays as ubiquitous as the floppy disk drive. Monitor - 17". No more details. Mouse - yes. So I would hope! Because there are no details, we must assume this is a standard, cheap mechanical mouse. Microphone - tabletop. Gee whizz. Do we really need a microphone at all? Loudspeakers - 160W. Noisy, but I bet they're not very good quality. So, what does this advert NOT say? What questions would I ask if I were interested in this particular machine, which, for all my criticisms, is reasonably specified for the price? Firstly, and I'm sure this is an oversight, the ad doesn't say that a keyboard is included. Which one? Keyboards may be comparatively cheap, but there's a lot of variation, and a keyboard which suits YOU can make your typing much easier. The same goes with the mouse. I have big hands - I like a physically large mouse. My wife is happier with a much smaller model. These are personal choices which only you can make. It's one area where a large store such as PC City or MediaMarkt can come in handy, as they have many different keyboards and rodents on display for you to try, even if you don't intend to buy from them (but don't let them know I told you!). The advert simply says "17" monitor". The monitor is one of the most important components - after all, you'll be staring at it for hours on end. So why aren't we told whether it has a flat or curved screen, what make and model it is, or anything about its technical specification? If I were considering this system, I'd want to know more! I'd want to know about servicing, as monitor repair is a specialist service, and most good monitor manufacturers, even many cheaper ones, offer an on-site service from their own agents. If the monitor is unsatisfactory, can I return it for another, possibly more expensive, model? Can I see the monitor working? Talking of servicing, the advert specified a one year return-to-base warranty. Who pays the costs of carriage? How long am I going to be without my computer? Can I pay extra for some sort of on-site service, or a loan machine while mine's being fixed? So, to sum up on the hardware side, what should you be looking for? Firstly, a sensible balance of components - processor, memory, hard disk, graphics - for the price. Secondly, items that you are comfortable with - keyboard, mouse, monitor - especially the monitor as if you get this wrong it's an expensive mistake to put right. Thirdly, components that you are going to use. If you wish to copy CDs, you're going to need a CD writer but, quite possibly, a microphone will be something that will sit in the box and not be used. That 80Gb hard disk, with 70Gb sitting empty - was that really necessary? Lastly, servicing. Computer hardware is pretty reliable, but if it does go wrong do you have to cart it back half way across Spain or will somebody come to you? Is there somebody on the end of a telephone, or an e-mail, who will help with those minor niggles? Software. ========= Be very careful to check what, if any, software is included in the package price. At the very least, you will need an operating system, currently almost certainly Windows XP Home. The retail price of this is typically 130 Euros, which is quite a large extra sum if it's not included. On the other side of the coin, special offers are often artificially bolstered by including all sorts of software which, when it comes to it, you won't use but which is, in any case, freeware. As I explained in a recent article, there is much free software available if you look for it. Don't be suckered into paying for what you don't need. If you want to pay several hundred Euros for Microsoft Office to be installed on your computer, that's down to you - I'll carry on using a free alternative. So, finally, you get your computer home, connect everything together, and it works. Now you need to know how to use it. It's not like a television. If you want to get the best out of your computer, you need to start learning, and, believe you me, you'll never stop learning. That's one of the great joys of computers. there's always something new to discover and learn. Read books and magazines, join a computer club, join classes, and, above all, practice, practice, practice. Don't expect to become an expert in a week or even a year, but the more time and effort you put into learning about your computer, the more it will reward you. That's all for today. Next time, I'll be starting to look at The Internet - what is it, what can you do with it, and how do you get on to it. If you wish to contact me, you can do so by e-mail to questions@billnot.com. Although I can't promise to give everybody an individual reply, I do read everything. My main computer related website is http://cftb.net. If you wish to join our computer chat discussion group (mailing list) you can do so by sending an e-mail to computerchat@billnot.com with the single word SUBSCRIBE as the subject.