here's Walter F. Mossberg's Spring recipe for buying a personal computer.

kelly 


   [The Wall Street Journal Interactive Edition] [Personal Technology]
   
   April 15, 1999
   
   
Buying a Personal Computer
Is Truly All About Memory

by Walter Mossberg 

   THE PERSONAL computer is in the process of turning into a zero-cost
   commodity item distributed mostly to generate commerce on the Web, a
   razor whose underlying purpose is to sell blades.
   
   Personal Technology 

In a couple of years, anybody who pays a
   significant price for a very basic PC, or any price at all, may be
   considered nuts. Even now, the prices keep dropping and the
   capabilities of low-priced PCs continue to be more than adequate for
   mainstream purposes. The industry is offering a bunch of attractive
   name-brand models in the $600 to $1,200 range and an even cheaper tier
   of choices from more-obscure brands at $600 or less.
   
   So here's my annual spring guide to shopping for a desktop PC. This
   guide concentrates on Windows PCs, because buying a Macintosh for home
   is much simpler: just pay $1,199 for an iMac. Your main decision will
   be the color.
   
   Processor: The differences between processor brands and speeds in the
   mainstream PC market are among the least important issues in buying a
   computer today. Yet they are the key specs the industry pushes.
   
   If you set up a pair of otherwise identical PCs and put a 300-MHz
   processor from AMD in one and a 400-MHz processor from Intel in
   another, most people couldn't tell the difference when surfing the
   Web, or using e-mail, word-processing and most other common software.
   
   So my strong advice is to avoid the highest chip speeds, unless you
   are a very heavy-duty game player. Celeron, Pentium II, AMD K-6 and
   Cyrix processors are all OK. Just get one that runs at 300 MHz or
   faster.
   
   WHAT ABOUT Intel's new Pentium III? Well, for hundreds of dollars
   extra, it offers a small amount of added horsepower, and some
   significant performance gains when using the few software titles and
   Web sites that have been specially modified for the new chip. Still,
   it doesn't make sense to buy one unless you are a big-time game player
   or do a great deal of video creation and editing.
   
   Memory: This is the most important choice you'll make. Get at least 64
   megabytes, and 96 or 128 megabytes if possible. It will make all the
   difference in the speediness of your PC.
   
   L2 Cache: This is a dedicated memory bank that the processor uses to
   speed up its operations. It's a must. On a Pentium II or AMD chip, it
   should be 512 kilobytes. On a Celeron, which uses a more efficient
   design, 128 kilobytes is enough. Hard Disk: Try for at least a
   six-gigabyte size, but you can settle for four gigabytes if your
   budget is tight.
   
   Internet: Make sure the PC is well set up for the Internet. Almost all
   now have at least a 56K phone modem and built-in Web browsers with
   offers of Internet access. If you plan to use a cable modem, try to
   buy a PC with a built-in Ethernet networking connection, because cable
   modems typically use such hookups.
   
   Video System: Don't be confused by all the video terminology. Just
   look for at least four megabytes of video memory, which is usually
   separate from the PC's main memory. You'll want more if you're a
   gamer.
   
   Monitor: Eyesight matters. So get at least a 17-inch model, for maybe
   $350 to $450. For $800 to $1,100, you can get a 15-inch flat-panel
   monitor -- an LCD, like the screens in laptops -- that is sharp and
   bright.
   
   Mass Storage: Most PCs have a CD-ROM drive, but some boast a DVD drive
   that can play both CD-ROMs and DVD-ROMs, which have a much higher
   storage capacity. I still think there's not enough software on DVD to
   justify the extra cost. I do, however, like Zip drives, which for
   little added cost let you save and transport large files.
   
   Ports: In addition to the usual serial and parallel ports, look for
   two USB connectors. This is a very important new kind of junction for
   add-on hardware. If you're planning to transfer a lot of video to and
   from the PC, look for an even faster new port called either 1394,
   Firewire or I-link.
   
   Brands and Models: All PCs are similar, but unless you're a techie, I
   advise sticking with name brands like Compaq, Hewlett-Packard and IBM.
   In this group, the low end is Compaq's Presario 2286, a $599 machine
   with basic specs. Even though its memory is a bit low, at 32
   megabytes, it's great for running America Online and doing schoolwork
   and basic games.
   [illustration]
   
   Moving up a bit, HP has a new Pavilion model, the 4455, with 64
   megabytes of memory, a six-gigabyte hard disk and a 400-MHz Celeron
   processor, for $899. Compaq's Presario 5280, at $1,199, has 96
   megabytes of memory, a whopping 12-gigabyte hard disk, a Zip drive,
   Ethernet for cable modems and a 433-MHz Celeron processor.
   
   A small outfit called Microworkz has caused a stir by announcing a
   $299 PC called Webzter Jr. But this machine has no CD-ROM or floppy
   drive, and suboptimal memory and hard-disk capacities.
   
   To get close to what you need, you have to move up to the model called
   just Webzter, at $499, and there are other costs. The machines aren't
   sold in stores, and shipping adds $75. Free phone support is offered
   for only two weeks.
   
   Tear out or print out this column and take it to the store, or have it
   next to you when ordering from a Web site. Don't buy more PC than you
   need.

   Copyright © 1999 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved.


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