What do I need??




The first computer is the most difficult to buy unless you know exactly what you want to do with it, or unless you can just say give me the most expensive of everything. A really nice hardware/software package can be had for $1500 set up on your desktop and with a three year warranty. Like anything else shopping for a computer is a series of compromises, the opinions expressed here are my own as of May 2004.

Software

Operating System: Most people are going to choose Windows. If you're one of those people, and I am, the extra $100 for XP pro over XP home is well worth it unless you never plan to connect to a LAN or to the internet. Linux is not for the faint of heart but I assume if you purchase it pre-packaged on a computer from the likes of Dell, IBM or HP it should work OK and you may save a few bucks since Linux comes packaged with OpenOffice. Linux has a lot of capabilities that XP doesn't, but they're mostly server capabilities.

Productivity (office) Software: This is where you can save some money at home. Microsoft Works suite has the full version of Microsoft word and enough other functionality to be useful at home. Star Office is selling for $80 because it's trying to get a foothold, and OpenOffice (which StarOffice is based on) is free if you download it, although you should contribute something to the development team.

Anti Virus: You just have to have it now. There are so many ways for virii to attack your computer it is no longer if but when you'll get infected. A quick look at the BBR security forum should be enough to convince anyone of that. Luckily AVG and Avast are both free anti-virus packages for home use.

Software Firewalls: Also a modern day necessity. I know one man that won't use them and had to reformat his computer in 2003 because of the MSBLAST worm and again in spring 2004 because of the SASSER worm, and he's on a dial up modem. Zone alarm, Kerio, and Sygate are all competent and free personal firewalls.

Other security products: Look at the BBR security forum FAQ for more info on security products. This FAQ is my favorite for preventive software, use this one if you think your computer has been infected.

HARDWARE FOR TYPICAL HOME/HOME OFFICE USE
The hardware below was selected from Dell's web site today. I chose them because their web site is easy to use. The home computer was about $1250 with a surge suppressor, the other computers will all be slightly more. The actual equipment choices were made because that's what Dell offered today. HP and IBM will offer similar solutions although the actual components may change. The price also includes a 3 year warranty ($169) that may or may not be important to you.



Component Business Workstation Home Computer Game Player Video/Photo Editing
Memory 512 MB 512MB 768MB 1GB
Hard Drive 80GB 80GB 80GB 160GB
Optical CD/RW CD/RW + DVD CD/RW + DVD DVD+RW
Monitor 19" CRT 19" CRT 19" CRT 19" CRT
Video Card Integrated 128MB Nvidia 128MB ATI Radeon 9800Pro 128MB Nvidia
Sound Card Integrated Integrated Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Sound Blaster Audigy 2
Network Card Integrated Integrated Integrated Integrated
Modem Yes Yes Yes Yes
OS XP Pro XP Pro XP Pro XP Pro
Productivity Software Microsoft Office Small Business Microsoft Works Microsoft Works Microsoft Works