Who needs a 386? People who do desktop publishing or maintain a database with tens of thousands of listings. For more routine work, a fast 386 is nice but not necessary. Fully configured 386 models sell for $1,300 to $4,500 with a color monitor.
The equivalent Mac to the slower 386 models is the Mac IIsi, which with keyboard and monitor costs $3,000 to $4,000, depending on the size of the RAM and the hard disk. The more powerful Mac IIci, which costs $4,000 to $5,000, can keep up with the fastest 386 models. Mac prices include more standard equipment than PCs, so the prices are not directly comparable.
* 80486 or 486 microprocessors: The 486 is the fastest PC available today. Unfortunately, 486 models cost much more than 386 ones. They go for as little as $2,400 with a color monitor to as much as $8,000.
The 486 machines incorporate a math coprocessor, a special chip that speeds mathematical computations. The coprocessor, which is a $300 accessory for a 386 machine, is useful only with certain software. For word processing and most databases, a coprocessor is of no use; for spreadsheets, a coprocessor helps if you are calculating many exponential functions. For computer-aided design (CAD), in which thousands of lines and curves must be calculated over and over again, as when an architect lays out the plans for a building, a coprocessor can speed up the program two to four times -- a major improvement.
The Mac IIfx has power comparable with 486 models and sells in the range of $5,500 to $6,000. Both the Mac IIci and IIfx include a math coprocessor.
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Disk Drives: These are the mechanisms into which you insert diskettes, those fragile pieces of magnetic memory that store programs and data. Diskettes are used to load programs and data into the computer. Every computer comes with at least one disk drive.
Your choice involves the size of the disk drive that comes with your machine. There are two sizes, 5.25 inch and 3.5 inch. The 3.5-inch drives are standard on laptops and portable PCs and a growing proportion of desktop models; all Macs use the 3.5-inch drives.
Because the 3.5-inch format is much less fragile, easier to handle, and is now becoming standard, you should insist that your computers come with them. To retain flexibility in case a customer or other business contact gives you records on a 5.25-inch disk, you should buy at least one computer with both disk formats.
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Expansion Slots: Your computer may meet all your needs today, but next year you may want to add additional circuit boards that expand its capabilities. Expansion slots are connectors inside the computer that accept circuit boards for particular tasks, such as linking your machine to a network of computers.
Many PCs use expansion slots for basic functions such as connecting to a hard disk drive or a video display, so the sheer number of expansion slots is less important than the number of open slots after basic functions have been installed. Few people need more than one or two open expansion slots. All Macs come with network and hard disk connections built in, so expansion slots are much less important than for PCs.
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Monitors: A video display consists of a monitor, which looks like a television tube, and a video display adapter, a circuit card inside the CPU. The adapter takes information generated by the computer and translates it into a form for display on the monitor. Some computers, especially the smaller models, have the display adapter built in. In many units they are priced separately.
For DOS software, such as Lotus 1-2-3, a monochrome monitor is fine. For these programs all you need is a Hercules-compatible (monographics) display board with a monochrome monitor, which together should cost less than $100.
Software based on Windows or OS/2, however, needs more flexible video displays. VGA (video graphics array) displays can be color or monochrome and support 8 or more levels of brightness or 16 to 256 colors. For normal business applications, VGA is the minimum quality you should buy. Standard VGA shows an image 640 pixels horizontally by 480 pixels vertically; a pixel is a single dot in the image, and theoretically at least, more pixels bring better clarity to the image.
Many computer manufacturers tout two enhanced modes, SuperVGA with 800 by 600 pixels, and another format with 1024 by 768 pixels. But beware: Not all software takes advantage of these. They produce squashed images on the common 12-inch to 14-inch video monitors ($350 to $650 in color). For a decent image, SuperVGA requires a 16-inch screen ($700 to $1,000) and the 1,024 by 768 mode requires a 19-inch screen ($2,000 to $3,000). Your software must be modified for these modes; otherwise, you will see a standard VGA image, even if it is projected on a large screen. If you can afford it, Super- VGA is great for desktop publishing and computer-aided design applications. Otherwise, stick to standard VGA.
Many buyers are unaware of two problems with VGA. The original VGA specification calls for monitors that refresh ("repaint") the image on the screen 60 times a second, or 60 Hz. But 60 Hz appears to flicker in many office situations and can cause eye fatigue. Newer VGA monitors and adapter cards produce a 72-Hz image free of flicker. Insist on it.
The second problem applies to color VGA monitors. The pitch of a monitor is the size of the smallest color element. Low-cost VGA color monitors have a pitch of 0.39 millimeters or larger. These are too coarse for regular work; insist on 0.31 millimeters or finer.
Video on the Mac is simpler because all monitors work with all software; pitch and flicker are not problems.
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Cary Lu is the author of The Apple- Macintosh Book.
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SMART TIPS . . .
Involve employees in your buying decision. Insist that they try out different models. They'll appreciate the opportunity to be involved - and you'll probably make a better choice because of it.
