Buyer Beware

Buyer Beware
By: Scott Hendison � Published: November 1998

There's no denying that the huge price drops in computers over the past two years have made technology much more accessible to the masses. It was not that long ago that you had to plop down at least $2500 for any kind of decent system. This Christmas, you can expect to see computers under $500 hitting the newspaper ads.

We all know that our PC's will be obsolete some day and there is no way to avoid that. I have always been an advocate for staying a step or two behind the latest technology available. It really doesn't make sense though, to buy a brand new computer that is already obsolete and is not upgradeable, no matter how cheap it is.

Undeniably, some of these deals are going to seem too good to pass up and people will be buying these "bargain" computers in record numbers this holiday season.

Since I can't get them all into my store, here are a few tips to share with your less enlightened friends . . .

First, take a walk down the software aisles. Make believe money is no object. Pick up all of the programs or games that interest you. Look for the "minimum system requirements". These are the bare minimums and never seem to be quite enough. Notice that in many cases there are also "recommended system requirements". Don't buy a new computer that does not exceed the recommended system requirements of a program or game that you may want. Within three months there will be a few dozen more programs that you can't buy and within a year, a few hundred.

A few questions to ask the salesperson when you're considering one of these, or any system . . .

Up to how fast can the CPU be upgraded in this motherboard?

It does you little good to buy a brand new machine that can never be made to go any faster without having to buy a new motherboard too. This is the case in many of the current "bargains" out there.
Is the case a standard design case that will accept normal motherboards?

If not, that means you would have to buy a new case and power supply if you ever want to upgrade beyond the capabilities of that motherboard. Most of these bargain systems have the sound and video integrated into the motherboard. While this in itself is not always a bad thing, the ability to replace them is important should one fail, or if your motherboard goes bad.
Can you show me which games will NOT run on this machine?

Even if you never want to play games, this is important. Games help to drive the newest technology. The answer to this question will really tell you just how far behind the times this "new" machine is. If the salesperson says, "It will run anything" or if he/she doesn't know, find another salesperson. Very few machines will run anything, but you should not be able to find more than two or three games that it will not run. You don't want to have a brand new computer sitting under your tree this year that is already obsolete. That will happen to it soon enough anyway.