Spring Break
Computer buying guide
Mac versus PCs?
Evan Hill
Issue date: 8/26/04 Section: The Verge
It is not possible for an Eastern student to graduate without at least the occasional encounter with computers. While it's not necessary to own a computer to graduate, it can make life a bit easier and more fun.
Buying a computer is not rocket science, but it can seem like it sometimes, especially with so many options and so much jargon in the computer market.
This guide will explain the particulars of and ideas to keep in mind when shopping for a new computer.
Price
Prices range from refurbished systems on Tiger direct for less than $300 up to some of the monster performance machines with all the trimmings from Alienware going for more than $4,000. That leaves a lot of latitude. Unfortunately, quality varies even more than price. Paying more for a computer does not guarantee a proportional increase in quality.
Several years ago, a company called e-Machines released a line of scaled down computers for a fraction of the cost of most other desktops. However, one of the major drawbacks to the e-Machines was their lack of media drives (CD/DVD, floppy, zip). Users were expected to ride the wave of the Internet revolution and get all the software they needed by downloading it from the Internet. In addition to the lack of flexibility, the e-Machines came with plenty of persuasive and pervasive advertising software. Although e-Machines now come with more options, make sure you know what you want and what you are buying. The best advice is to be a responsible consumer. Shop around and do your homework.
Also, keep in mind your unique position as a college student. Many large computer companies including Dell and Apple offer discounts to students and educators as incentives. Software companies are also jumping in with discount and stripped down "educational" versions of their product.
Laptop or desktop?
While owning a laptop is convenient and is becoming a fashion accessory in classrooms and boardrooms around the world, there are drawbacks to consider.
First, portability has a price. Laptops will generally cost several hundred dollars more than a desktop with similar specifications. In addition, carrying around $2,000 in cash might make some people nervous, so shouldn't carrying around $2,000 worth of electronics make them nervous too?
Laptops are touchy and fragile, but if cared for properly they can spend a long life serving your digital needs. Just make sure you get a well-padded carrying bag and watch where you leave it. You do not want anyone stealing your investment or sitting on it either.
There are some advantages to owning a desktop though. Usually they come with larger monitors, which comes in handy after staring at the same term paper for six hours. There is also no need to charge a desktop, unlike laptops.
When making this decision, ask yourself what your needs are first and then consider your wants. If portability is essential, then think about a laptop; otherwise stick with the desktops.
Power
Although outwardly different, computer geeks and car geeks have one thing in common: it's all about what's under the hood. Computers and cars are no different. If you're buying a car you don't need to drop $50,000 on an Escalade if you're commuting to work by yourself. Similarly, a NASCAR driver will not often win driving a Geo Metro.
For general computer use, such as word processing and e-mail, the two components affecting your performance the most are the processor and RAM. Saving money in these areas is not wise unless you are willing to sacrifice a bit of performance. Fortunately, RAM is one of the easiest, cheapest and most effective ways to improve your computer. The prices of RAM chips have dropped recently so much they are on the verge of being found in cereal boxes. If you have any options in configuring your computer before you buy it, the first component you should upgrade, if any, is the RAM. Computers on the market today come with anywhere between 256 to 1 gigabyte (1,000 megabytes) of RAM.
If you're not sure of how much you need, check the system requirements for the software you plan on running. Beware though, just because your computer meets minimum system requirements, doesn't mean the program will run well enough to be productive. To be safe, at least aim for the recommended system requirements. It is recommended for a reason.
Compatibility
The feud between Windows PCs and Macintosh is nearly old enough to drink, but is showing signs of improvement. Most floppy disks and burned CDs will read and transfer back and forth between Windows and OS X without software, which was needed until recently.
So if a computer will primarily be used for word processing or as a media center, compatibility is not much of an issue. However, gaming and some more specialized programs, such as graphic design or programming environments, is where the Windows/Mac divide can be a problem.
Although there are video games and gaming hardware for Macs, Windows is still the undisputed leader in the gaming world. Very few games are developed exclusively for Mac, and only the most commercially successful Windows titles ever see Mac versions. In addition to software options, most hardware companies follow the software trends and tend to focus more of their product development on Windows based machines.
The basic rule of thumb is Macs best for publishing, film, photography and graphic design, while Windows machines are better for gaming and business applications, such as the dominant Microsoft Office suite.
However, Microsoft Office does have a Mac OS version and Windows machines are not devoid of publishing and graphics programs. So unless you plan on using a specific program only available on one platform, compatibility is not much of an issue.
Upgradability
Which brings us to our next topic, "We have the technology, but can we rebuild him?" Unless you or your close relative is Paris Hilton, chances are you don't have money to replace your entire computer every product cycle.
There are a few things to look for in how easy it is to upgrade a computer. If you can look at the case, check to see if the drives (CD/DVD, floppy, zip) are easy to remove and replace. Most standard mid-tower cases are fairly easy to manipulate with a phillips screwdriver, but beware of compact and oddly shaped towers as they can be difficult to upgrade.
The other thing to look for is how easy you can access the RAM. As mentioned earlier, RAM is the cheapest and easiest way to upgrade most computers and it does not require a degree in CIS to do. Most computer companies have instructions on installing additional RAM available, and in most cases, a phillips screwdriver is the only tool required.
Storage
Do you really need a CD/DVD burner? Be advised, the electronics industry has not decided on a standard for DVD burners and you don't want to get stuck with a beta max. Just in the last week, a new format called DVD -R9/+R9 has emerged.
Also, think about how much storage you really need and how portable it should be. If you're in graphic design and are frequently needing several gigabytes of mobile storage, then a DVD burner might be right.
If you need storage for backing up file, a DVD burner or an external hard drive might be the way to go. But if you just need to move files back and forth from computers, USB Jump Drives are a good bet. They are small and easy to transport, widely compatible on anything with a USB port, sport capacity rivaling CDRs and are rapidly coming down in price.
Network connections
While wireless networking is a technology still in its infancy, it is becoming prevalent in workplaces, coffee shops and schools including Eastern.
While a wireless card can be purchased separately and easily installed (via USB), it will not be useful with a desktop computer unless there is a nearby wireless hotspot. However, upgrading to wireless on a laptop would offer more opportunities to use it.
Size does matter
Veterans of Eastern's residence halls will tell you, space is an issue when you live in the dorms. If you decide to go with a Mac, the eMac and iMac models save space by combining the computer tower with the monitor. However, there are several Windows machines with a similar design and a recent trend in personal computers is presenting the computer as a home theater and media center instead of just a plain old computer. While media centers rely mostly on existing technology, the computers are designed to be more compact and often resemble a bloated DVD player more than a computer. ART OF CUBE
Style points
Ford Motorcars lost its edge in the budding automotive industry by initially refusing to give consumers the bells and whistles they wanted. The computer industry is no different. Who wants to show off a hunk of gray plastic to their friends?
Case mods are a new form of expression, which again parallels the car world. What started as some harmless spray-painting has evolved into a new outlet for creative expression and engineering prowess. Cases now sport transparent panels with internal neon lights to show off electronics and innovative shapes and structures are beginning to emerge.
Buying a computer is not rocket science, but it can seem like it sometimes, especially with so many options and so much jargon in the computer market.
This guide will explain the particulars of and ideas to keep in mind when shopping for a new computer.
Price
Prices range from refurbished systems on Tiger direct for less than $300 up to some of the monster performance machines with all the trimmings from Alienware going for more than $4,000. That leaves a lot of latitude. Unfortunately, quality varies even more than price. Paying more for a computer does not guarantee a proportional increase in quality.
Several years ago, a company called e-Machines released a line of scaled down computers for a fraction of the cost of most other desktops. However, one of the major drawbacks to the e-Machines was their lack of media drives (CD/DVD, floppy, zip). Users were expected to ride the wave of the Internet revolution and get all the software they needed by downloading it from the Internet. In addition to the lack of flexibility, the e-Machines came with plenty of persuasive and pervasive advertising software. Although e-Machines now come with more options, make sure you know what you want and what you are buying. The best advice is to be a responsible consumer. Shop around and do your homework.
Also, keep in mind your unique position as a college student. Many large computer companies including Dell and Apple offer discounts to students and educators as incentives. Software companies are also jumping in with discount and stripped down "educational" versions of their product.
Laptop or desktop?
While owning a laptop is convenient and is becoming a fashion accessory in classrooms and boardrooms around the world, there are drawbacks to consider.
First, portability has a price. Laptops will generally cost several hundred dollars more than a desktop with similar specifications. In addition, carrying around $2,000 in cash might make some people nervous, so shouldn't carrying around $2,000 worth of electronics make them nervous too?
Laptops are touchy and fragile, but if cared for properly they can spend a long life serving your digital needs. Just make sure you get a well-padded carrying bag and watch where you leave it. You do not want anyone stealing your investment or sitting on it either.
There are some advantages to owning a desktop though. Usually they come with larger monitors, which comes in handy after staring at the same term paper for six hours. There is also no need to charge a desktop, unlike laptops.
When making this decision, ask yourself what your needs are first and then consider your wants. If portability is essential, then think about a laptop; otherwise stick with the desktops.
Power
Although outwardly different, computer geeks and car geeks have one thing in common: it's all about what's under the hood. Computers and cars are no different. If you're buying a car you don't need to drop $50,000 on an Escalade if you're commuting to work by yourself. Similarly, a NASCAR driver will not often win driving a Geo Metro.
For general computer use, such as word processing and e-mail, the two components affecting your performance the most are the processor and RAM. Saving money in these areas is not wise unless you are willing to sacrifice a bit of performance. Fortunately, RAM is one of the easiest, cheapest and most effective ways to improve your computer. The prices of RAM chips have dropped recently so much they are on the verge of being found in cereal boxes. If you have any options in configuring your computer before you buy it, the first component you should upgrade, if any, is the RAM. Computers on the market today come with anywhere between 256 to 1 gigabyte (1,000 megabytes) of RAM.
If you're not sure of how much you need, check the system requirements for the software you plan on running. Beware though, just because your computer meets minimum system requirements, doesn't mean the program will run well enough to be productive. To be safe, at least aim for the recommended system requirements. It is recommended for a reason.
Compatibility
The feud between Windows PCs and Macintosh is nearly old enough to drink, but is showing signs of improvement. Most floppy disks and burned CDs will read and transfer back and forth between Windows and OS X without software, which was needed until recently.
So if a computer will primarily be used for word processing or as a media center, compatibility is not much of an issue. However, gaming and some more specialized programs, such as graphic design or programming environments, is where the Windows/Mac divide can be a problem.
Although there are video games and gaming hardware for Macs, Windows is still the undisputed leader in the gaming world. Very few games are developed exclusively for Mac, and only the most commercially successful Windows titles ever see Mac versions. In addition to software options, most hardware companies follow the software trends and tend to focus more of their product development on Windows based machines.
The basic rule of thumb is Macs best for publishing, film, photography and graphic design, while Windows machines are better for gaming and business applications, such as the dominant Microsoft Office suite.
However, Microsoft Office does have a Mac OS version and Windows machines are not devoid of publishing and graphics programs. So unless you plan on using a specific program only available on one platform, compatibility is not much of an issue.
Upgradability
Which brings us to our next topic, "We have the technology, but can we rebuild him?" Unless you or your close relative is Paris Hilton, chances are you don't have money to replace your entire computer every product cycle.
There are a few things to look for in how easy it is to upgrade a computer. If you can look at the case, check to see if the drives (CD/DVD, floppy, zip) are easy to remove and replace. Most standard mid-tower cases are fairly easy to manipulate with a phillips screwdriver, but beware of compact and oddly shaped towers as they can be difficult to upgrade.
The other thing to look for is how easy you can access the RAM. As mentioned earlier, RAM is the cheapest and easiest way to upgrade most computers and it does not require a degree in CIS to do. Most computer companies have instructions on installing additional RAM available, and in most cases, a phillips screwdriver is the only tool required.
Storage
Do you really need a CD/DVD burner? Be advised, the electronics industry has not decided on a standard for DVD burners and you don't want to get stuck with a beta max. Just in the last week, a new format called DVD -R9/+R9 has emerged.
Also, think about how much storage you really need and how portable it should be. If you're in graphic design and are frequently needing several gigabytes of mobile storage, then a DVD burner might be right.
If you need storage for backing up file, a DVD burner or an external hard drive might be the way to go. But if you just need to move files back and forth from computers, USB Jump Drives are a good bet. They are small and easy to transport, widely compatible on anything with a USB port, sport capacity rivaling CDRs and are rapidly coming down in price.
Network connections
While wireless networking is a technology still in its infancy, it is becoming prevalent in workplaces, coffee shops and schools including Eastern.
While a wireless card can be purchased separately and easily installed (via USB), it will not be useful with a desktop computer unless there is a nearby wireless hotspot. However, upgrading to wireless on a laptop would offer more opportunities to use it.
Size does matter
Veterans of Eastern's residence halls will tell you, space is an issue when you live in the dorms. If you decide to go with a Mac, the eMac and iMac models save space by combining the computer tower with the monitor. However, there are several Windows machines with a similar design and a recent trend in personal computers is presenting the computer as a home theater and media center instead of just a plain old computer. While media centers rely mostly on existing technology, the computers are designed to be more compact and often resemble a bloated DVD player more than a computer. ART OF CUBE
Style points
Ford Motorcars lost its edge in the budding automotive industry by initially refusing to give consumers the bells and whistles they wanted. The computer industry is no different. Who wants to show off a hunk of gray plastic to their friends?
Case mods are a new form of expression, which again parallels the car world. What started as some harmless spray-painting has evolved into a new outlet for creative expression and engineering prowess. Cases now sport transparent panels with internal neon lights to show off electronics and innovative shapes and structures are beginning to emerge.
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