Electronic Tutors: Some High-Tech Tips on Buying a Home Computer
Computers are becoming almost as common in homes as microwave ovens.
And for good reason: Using educational software at home is a great way for children of all ages to practice academic skills and receive one-on-one electronic tutoring.
In addition, there are thousands of educational software programs to choose from, in subjects from astronomy to zoology.
Now is a great time to buy a home computer for your child. Prices are lower than ever; they’ve dropped nearly 40% in the last year or so. And venturing into the blossoming used-computer market can make ownership even easier.
To make some recommendations on how to find the right hardware at the right price, I sought the advice of Peter Silton, owner of Education Through Computers in Santa Monica and author of “How to Educate Your Child Using the Computer.†He has about 20 years of experience in training computer users.
There are basically two types of home computers: Macintosh, made by Apple Computer Inc., and IBM and IBM compatibles.
Macintosh claims that its computers are easiest to use because all the software uses similar procedures. And even the lower-end Macs provide excellent graphics--sharp pictures and clear text--unavailable on some IBMs and compatibles.
Among drawbacks: Macs cost more than their IBM equivalents. The IBMs and compatibles, however, offer greater software choice. About 65% of new educational software is being written for them.
Now that desktop computers are no longer new, there’s a modest market in refurbished (used) machines. This is making computer ownership possible for many families who can’t afford new machines.
But, as with buying a used car, you don’t know for sure how good a used computer is. It’s a good idea, Silton said, to buy from a store, because many of them offer 90-day warranties; private sellers generally do not.
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A refurbished IBM XT or compatible costs between $220 and $250 and runs most educational software. More advanced machines--IBM ATs or 286 compatibles (machines based on Intel’s 80286 microprocessor)--cost $350 to $400. IBM and compatible 386 machines go for just under $1,000.
An important tip: Make sure any home computer you buy includes a hard disk (built-in storage) because many educational programs use three or more floppy disks.
Speaking of floppy disks, there are different kinds. Mac disks won’t work in IBM machines. There are two sizes--3 1/2 inch and 5 1/4 inch--both of which can be double density (twice the storage capacity of the previous model) or the next step up, high density. Older disk drives can’t read high density, but the newer drives can read both kinds.
You may want to enhance your new home computer with some common accessories, and Silton has a few shopping pointers for those too.
Expect to pay at least $250 for a new color monitor, and avoid the CGA type, which has poor resolution. The EGA or VGA are acceptable, although EGA is an obsolete standard.
Sound is another upgrade worth considering, and is quite a hit with young kids. The sound component should cost about $80 and the speakers $25. Silton recommends “Sound Blaster,†one of the hottest-selling computer sound systems.
A mouse should be included with nearly any computer. If not, consider buying one because most educational software runs better with a mouse. They can range in price from $40 to $90, but Silton says there is very little difference between them.
Finally, the most useful partner for your home computer is a printer. Without it, the machine is useless for your children’s homework and papers.
There are three major types of printers: dot matrix, ink jet and laser.
Dot matrix printers are the least expensive. They use small pins that strike the page and produce dots to form letters--hence the name.
A new nine-pin (nine dots per vertical line) dot matrix printer costs about $125, while a 24-pin model (24 smaller dots per line) costs about $210.
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Some brands to look for in dot matrix printers are Epson, Panasonic and Okidata.
Ink jet printers produce a much more polished look, but they’re more expensive (about $350 to start, or $600 for color printing). Hewlett-Packard and Canon brands are probably your best bets in ink jet printers, Silton said.
Laser printers cost $750 and more; higher price usually reflects better resolution and more pages printed per minute.
