Picking a PC that will last to graduation

Computer Life column for 5/3/97 by
Richard Gordon

Last Saturday, I got e-mail from a woman asking about the computer her daughter will take with her to college.

On Sunday, I got into a conversation with two other fathers about when to buy a new computer for a college-bound son or daughter.

A computer is an excellent grad gift for a college-bound student.

When to buy

Waiting until the summer before your student enrolls in college is often best. You can usually get more computer for your money if you are patient. But, as I've written before, something better or cheaper will come out in a couple of months. Just steel yourself and buy when it suits your family.

In our Sunday conversation, we three dads discussed a different strategy: buy as much computer as you can afford during your student's senior year in high school so that it's a familiar tool by the time college rolls around.

Of course, then you have to shop even more carefully, with an eye cast further into the future.

Factors to consider

What to buy depends on the college and field of study your student selects. However, here are my personal guidelines for a new computer.

RAM (memory):

Get at least 16M of memory, and make sure your salesperson explains how to upgrade to 32M or 64M. If the salesman says, "Aw, you'll never need 64M," don't believe him. You want a system that will last four or five years. The salesman won't mind if you buy a new one in two.

Processor Speed:

What will your student decide to study? Disciplines such as Art, Engineering, Computer Science and Math will require the fastest processor you can afford. Shoot for a 200Mhz PentiumPro (Windows) or 200-250Mhz PowerPC (Macintosh) system. But try to get something with a speed rating of at least 166Mhz.

A 100-133Mhz system will probably not last your student's entire college career. A better alternative is to send your student to school with an old computer (75-100Mhz processor, 16M of memory) and trade up later.

Software:

Find out what software your student will need to use. Then buy it. Don't send your student to college with bootleg copies of software from your home or office.

Operating System:

I use and like both Windows 95 and Macintosh systems. Check with the college your student plans to attend, or with his or her probable major department, to see which is preferred.

Future Expansion:

Make sure the computer has an upgrade path. Are there slots for additional devices? Can more memory be added?

Disk Drives:

Get at least 1G (1,024M) of disk space for your student's computer. Make sure it also has a CD-ROM drive and a diskette drive.

Monitor:

14 inches is usually too small for long work sessions; 19-21 inches is usually overkill. 15 inches is usually sufficient.

Extras:

Things like printers, modems, network cards, and fancy graphics cards can be added later. Prioritize them with input from your student's future college. Most important: make sure your student can connect to the Net and ask if your student needs to bring his or her own printer.

Portable or Desktop:

Laptops are ideal for students whose study requires portability, perhaps for field or lab work; however, that mobility can be expensive.

Will your student want to write 20-page papers with a laptop's smaller screen and keyboard? Is the school he or she will attend "laptop-friendly," with extra power outlets in the classrooms, network outlets in the library and other commons areas, and a campus network that supports mobile computing?

I love using laptop computers. But I'm glad I have solid desktop systems for most of my computing needs.

If you decide that a computer will be your commencement gift, first think what the computer will be used for, then what software those tasks require, and, finally, what computer will run that software...
For the next four years.

Copyright © 1997, The News Journal Company

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