A Buyer's Guide To Personal Business Computers

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The following 14 personal business computers can handle a variety of useful business applications. Yet they involve no more setup than a component stereo system and require no more than a few hours of self-instruction to become productive. All the systems cost less than $5,000 for all of the hardware and enough software to get you started.

At a minimum, each system includes a computer with a standard typewriter keyboard; at least 32,000 bytes (32K in computerese) of working memory; one floppy-disk drive or computer-controlled tape drive; a black-and-white video monitor (we use the term B/W even if the standard monitor is green phosphorus); and an inexpensive printer. If the manufacturer doesn't have some of the peripherals available (usually the printer or video monitor), we've added the cost of an inexpensive, commonly available brand. Under each listing, we've detailed what software is available for the system and made other comments about each system.

APPLE COMPUTER INC.,

10260 Bandley Dr.,

Cupertino, CA 95014,

(408) 996-1010

1. Computer Apple II Plus $1,530

2. Working memory 48K Included

3. Mass storage 143K/disk 645

4. Video display 12-inch B/W (24 rows, 320

40 characters)

5. Printer Silentype (thermal) 395

6. Operating system Apple DOS Included

SYSTEM TOTAL $2,890

SOFTWARE: While the Apple doesn't use the CP/M operating system, the company and independent publishers have developed extensive software for the Apple II Plus. VisiCalc, for instance, was first written for the Apple, and is widely credited with pushing Apple Computer Inc. into first place in dollar sales in the personal computer market.

OTHER COMMENTS: With 2,500 independent dealers around the world selling Apples, the machine is easy to get serviced. It is also expandable in ways its designers never dreamed of, and can create good color graphics with the appropriate peripherals. (The Apple III system, which is slightly more expensive than our $5,000 limit, offers color graphics standard and is more powerful than the II Plus).

ATARI, COMPUTER DIVISION,

Box 427,

Sunnyvale, CA 94086,

(800) 538-8547

1. Computer Atari 800 $1,080

2. Working memory 48K (with memory modules) 200

3. Mass storage 88K/disk 600

4. Video display 12-inch B/W (25 rows, 200

80 characters)

5. Printer Atari 825 (dot matrix) 1,000

6. Operating system Atari DOS Included

SYSTEM TOTAL $3,080

SOFTWARE: The selection is limited for Atari, although VisiCalc is available. Rumor has it that a soon-to-be-announced module will adapt the Atari to run on Apple software, which would be a real plus if it happens.

OTHER COMMENTS: Many microcomputer purists regard the Atari 800 as a toy, but nothing could be further from the truth. It's a capable machine that suffers from a lack of good software, which Atari is working to solve with ASAP (Atari's Software Acquisition Program).

COMMODORE BUSINESS MACHINES,

950 Rittenhouse Rd.,

Norristown, PA 19401,

(215) 337-7100

1. Computer Commodore CBM $1,495

2. Working memory 32K Included

3. Mass storage 487K/disk 1,795

4. Video display 12-inch B/W (25 rows, Included

80 characters)

5. Printer Model 4022 (dot matrix) 795

6. Operating system DOS 2.0 Included

SYSTEM TOTAL $4,085

SOFTWARE: The selection of software is fairly good, though not extensive. VisiCalc is available.

OTHER COMMENTS: The CBM is the best-selling personal computer in Europe, but Commodore's marketing left it in the dust in the Unied States until recently. It is a reliable, well-made machine.

HEWLETT-PACKARD,

1000 N.E. Circle Blvd.,

Corvallis, OR 97330,

(800) 547-3400

1. Computer HP-85A $3,250

2. Working memory 32K (with module) 295

3. Mass storage 210K/tape Included

4. Video display 5-inch B/W (16 rows, Included

32 characters)

5. Printer dot matrix Included

6. Operating system BASIC Included

SYSTEM TOTAL $3,545

SOFTWARE: The selection for the HP-85A is good, including VisiCalc and statistics programs.

OTHER COMMENTS: The HP-85A is very compact, and has everything built into the machine. It is the only tape-driven computer in this collection.

IBM,

Entry Systems Business,

Box 1328,

Boca Raton, FL 33432,

(305) 998-6007

1. Computer IBM Personal Computer $1,268

2. Working memory 64K (with expansion 415

modules)

3. Mass storage 160K/disk (with interface) 790

4. Video display 11 1/2-inch B/W (with interface, 680

25 rows, 80 characters)

5. Printer dot matrix (with interface) 755

6. Operating system IBM DOS 40

SYSTEM TOTAL $3,948

SOFTWARE: Good selection available now, including VisiCalc and word processing, and IBM is working on developing an extensive selection.

OTHER COMMENTS: The IBM Personal Computer is a competitively priced unit backed by IBM's extensive service network. It is the only computer in this collection built around a 16-bit microprocessor, which allows it to process information with the speed of a minicomputer. It is available with color graphics plus the cost of a color TV monitor.

INTERTEC DATA SYSTEMS,

2300 Broad River Rd.,

Columbia, SC 29210,

(803) 798-9100

1. Computer Superbrain $3.495

2. Working memory 64K Included

3. Mass storage 285K/disk Included

4. Video display 12-inch B/W (25 rows, Included

80 characters)

5. Printer user supplied 500

6. Operating system CP/M Included

SYSTEM TOTAL $3,995

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