Chapter One: Choosing A Computer To PC or not to PC: A Windows-based machine or a Mac? Laptop or desktop? A new computer or a used one? What to buy depends on your needs. If you're just using your computer to write letters and do your income tax, you need only the simplest setup. If you're planning to get involved in desktop publishing you need lots of memory to handle the graphics. A desktop computer is fine if you plan to use it in one place, but you should consider a laptop if you're bringing it along to the library, to meetings, to Club Med (To Club Med? Are you sure?) We can help you weigh the options, but the ultimate decision is very much a person one.
Comparing Brands: Windows-Based computers vs. Macintosh
The first big decision is which operating system to choose. We have always had a special thing about Macintosh computers -- when the Geek Squad started out, we ran our whole business with them. Though you may have heard about problems with Apple machines in the past, the new ones are very, very good.
You also need never worry about Apple going out of business. Naturally, you don't want to be left stranded on the Planet of the Windows-Based Computers with the last Mac in existence, at a loss for service or equipment. But that is a scenario that will not take place. A couple of years ago, there were about 20 million Mac users around the world -- of every hundred personal computers, five were Macs -- and the number hasn't dropped appreciably. As long as there are some 20 million customers relying on these machines, there will be spare parts manufactured and servicepeople who will figure out how to take care of them. If you love your Mac, if you don't care to learn a new system, if you're already heavily invested in Mac, there's no reason not to stick with it.
On the other hand, if you're open to change or you're making your first purchase, we'd point you toward one of the Windows-based computers.
Here are some of the pros and cons of both Windows-based systems and Macs.
Features: Windows took some of the great Mac innovations and improved on them. So now Windows machines offer most of them, and more. However, with respect to desktop publishing or working with graphics, Macs have the edge -- they just make it easier.
Performance: While some of the new Macs have faster processors, that's only one measure of performance. Windows 95/98 seems to some of us to be faster and more efficient when running several applications at once -- for example, when you're working on a couple of graphics programs and a word-processing program simultaneously. Even the Internet seems to run faster in a Windows environment than on a Mac.
Price: Windows-based computers cost less than Macs because several companies make them, and only Apple makes Macs. And because several companies make Windows-based computers, replacement parts for them are easier to get.
Reliability: Machines using Windows crash less often than Macs. That's because Windows uses a system called "preemptive multitasking," while Macs use "cooperative multitasking." What that means in English is that in a crash, Windows limits any damage to the programs that you were working on at the time of the crash, whereas a Mac can create random havoc throughout the system. On the other hand, hardware and software incompatibility, the cause of all sorts of problems, will always be an issue with Windows because Microsoft makes the operating system and other companies make the hardware. With Mac, it's one company ships all -- Apple makes both the operating system and the hardware.
Ease of operation: In a study of users who worked with both types of machines, two-thirds said that Macs were easier to troubleshoot, three-quarters said that it was easier to connect peripheral devices to a Mac, and nearly that many said that Macs were generally easier to set up and install. In another study, people who used both machines said that Mac maintenance required less time, less knowledge of computers, and less tech support.
Availability of software: Although major programs are available for both operating systems, and you can probably get anything you need for a Mac format, it's largely a Windows world. Many of the newest programs are being made for Windows only.
Compatibility: If you want to have the least amount of trouble exchanging disks and information, you're better off with Macs. Macs can read disks from PCs, but PCs cannot automatically read from a Mac.
Bottom line: All things considered, and even if Macs lead in more categories, we believe that Windows has the edge. But anyone who is heavily invested in Macs should stick with them, and so should anyone who just happens to prefer them. Being able to say "I like it better" is the most valid reason for choosing a particular system. Because, hey, you're the one who's living with it.
Buying a Used Computer
In general, we recommend against buying a used computer. The price differential between new and used isn't that great, and with a new one, you get all the bells and whistles, and the machine is covered by a warranty.
Two exceptions: A used computer is fine as a backup machine and as a machine for the kids to play games on. (Under no circumstances consider sharing a computer with any child who is not old enough to vote: when Junior plays the latest shoot-'em-up intergalactic laser-blaster game he's downloaded from the Internet and blasts the bad guys into oblivion, he may send your financial files along with them.)
If you do consider buying a used computer, remember that it is not like buying a used car. There are only two moving parts to a computer -- the fan and the hard drive -- and they need only occasional maintenance and servicing, so wear and tear is not the issue. A FOR SALE sign on a computer is not usually code for "I'm trying to unload this clunker," but an indication that the owner has probably used it for two or three years and is now ready for something more sophisticated and faster. What's obsolete for somebody else may be just fine for you.
One dog year equals seven human years. One computer year is like twenty-five human years. The lesson here is, don't buy a used machine that is more than three years old. Most hard drives and power supplies begin to fail after three to four years.
Companies that are updating their computer equipment are a great source of used machines. So are used computer stores, and unlike an individual (and probably unlike a company), a store will probably give you a warranty, though it may cover you for only one year, or three at most. If you have the chance to take or continue an existing service plan, do it. For a $500 computer, extending the plan might set you back $50 to $70 per year. That's a bargain when you consider that a repair shop would charge you between $100 and $200 an hour-more if the technician has to make a house call,
There's not much you can check out when buying a used machine, but there are at least a couple of questions you should ask: First, can it take you to the Internet? Just about all of the newer machines can. And second, does it come with a warranty? Most warranties are transferable.
Often, computer manufacturers will preinstall software, including the operating system. When you buy the machine, ownership of the software is included. Get backup copies of the original installation disks or CD, because when the machine has a problem, reinstalling the system is often an easy cure. If you don't have the system software, you can't do that. A retailer who can't give you the software at the moment of purchase should at least agree to send it to you. The fee and shipping together should be under $20.
Desktop Vs. Laptop
Desktop computers, the kind that have the computer sitting under