You probably don't need a souped-up PC. But what if you just want one? Here's how you might place your order -- and then write a check for $6,000 to $8,000 or so.
Pentium or PowerPC system. It's a well-known rule of thumb in computerdom: The PC you really want always costs roughly $5,000. And sure enough, that's about the price of a computer with today's fastest chips. Insight Direct's $4,800 PCI P90 MM, a 90-megahertz Pentium PC with 16 megabytes of memory and a 1 gigabyte hard disk, is actually a bargain. The speediest PowerMac, the 8100/110, has a 110MHz PowerPC chip, sells for about $6,400 and comes with a 2GB hard disk.
17-inch monitor. The 2-inch gain over the usual 15-inch screen yields a 28 percent larger picture, so you won't strain your eyes when several windows are open at the same time. At a street price of $1,050 -- about twice as much as for a 15-inch monitor -- the Nokia Multigraph 447X offers a bright, clear image.
Deluxe multimedia. For today's near-ultimate in CD-ROM and audio, start with a quadruple-speed CD-ROM drive -- the NEC MultiSpin 4Xe, street-priced at under $525. Add a high-end sound card from Turtle Beach Systems, the MultiSound, at $425. And plug in Altec Lansing ASC300 speakers, a three-way system with subwoofer, for $250.
High-end laser printer. A superfast black and white model, like Lexmark International's IBM LaserPrinter 4039 12R Plus, delivers superb output at 12 pages per minute for about $1,400. A color laser would be nice, but would cost $7,000 or more. Save it for your next fantasy. -- M.K.F.
