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So Many PCs and Nothing to Ware

When it comes to buying computers, some women get all helpless. This is silly. On the scale of shopping trauma, selecting a computer falls somewhere between finding nice earrings and buying a house. It is my sacred belief that we women, often justifiably proud of our prowess with shopping, can apply many of the principles we use in assembling a wardrobe to fashion a computing collection. So let's clean out our PC closets and see how we can bring our hardware/software wardrobes up to date -- complete with accessories!

First, follow the styles. Computers go up and down just like hemlines -- except in computing, the power goes up while the price comes down. This is fashion we can live with! Plus, now that the PC has become an off-the-rack commodity, there are as many little beige boxes as there are little black dresses. All you have to do is find one that suits you and your pocketbook.

Study your requirements from head to toe. To avoid the bitter aftermath of a spree at PC Maxx, you simply must research what you need. That way you'll be sure to have the right formal and sporty pieces to carry you through every important computing occasion.

How much can you spend on your PC and its programs and accessories? This purchase will set you back two to four thousand dollars, so it pays to shop around. Scan the flyers that come with your Sunday paper to learn how retailers price basic "bundles" of computers and programs. Check mail-order catalogs and the ads in computing magazines. Computers are expensive (until you factor in the income boost for knowing how to use them); this is why your PC must not be an impulse buy.

When will you use your PC-and where? Are you using it for work, play or a little of both? Will your kids use it? What kind of space do you have for it-on the floor and on your desktop? Will you need special furniture? That's going to add to the price tag-much in the manner of costly alterations to a dress you get on sale.

Next, list what you want to do with your computer. Write letters? Keep financial records? Run a business? Pay bills through the phone line? Compose E-mail-or music? Use the Internet to look up news, stock prices and travel tips? With this list, you can research what kinds of programs, or software, you'll need to store on your computer to make these "applications" possible. Add up what kinds of "memory" space they require. The numbers will guide you in purchasing memory. Softwar -- read the boxe -- also will guide you on processing speeds (of the central chip that runs the machine) and also on the size it needs in "RAM," an acronym that represents the area in which your programs run.

Add extra memory beyond what you need today; the PC is your child and you must add room for growth. However, you might not need the fastest available processor. For example, my simple writing and business tools don't require a top-of-the-line Pentium chip. But, if I ran a good-sized database, used desktop publishing, or edited live-action film clips, I'd want some serious speed. By assessing your needs in advance, you'll learn to balance speed, storage and memory to "configure" a computer in your price range. Sometimes, it's worth it to buy an expensive program if you'll use it every day-good cost-per-wear. For low-impact items, you'll seek a bargain.

While it's hard to say where fashion will lead, computing is more rational. Computing power and multimedia (video and sound) capabilities advance so rapidly that today's racy system will be "ho hum" in two to three years. That doesn't mean you'll need to trash it -- only that you'll start installing "upgrades" (more memory, for one) to extend its useful life. Start saving for that flashy new model. On the bright side, technology's fast track means that when you buy today, you are not making a lifetime decision. It's easier to choose a PC than, say, a wedding gown. Or a mate.

Finally, factor in the costly "extras" that will polish your look. Will you need a printer? A modem for linking to the Internet? An extra "drive" for storing safe copies of your files on tape? Surge suppressers and an "uninterrupted power supply," an absolutely fabulous battery that can carry the load in a blackout so you can shut down safely? Service contracts that save you from emergency trips to the "cleaners"?

Design your digital wardrobe around your specific needs, and you'll knock their silicon socks off. The keys are versatility and the ability to upgrade. Users who mix Ôn' match separates make some of the best computer systems. So get out there and shop until you drop!

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