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           IBM TECHNOLOGY
  The most popular microcomputers are made by IBM and imitators.

            How IBM arose
  IBM bases its entire marketing strategy on one word: react. IBM
never creates a new kind of computer; instead, IBM watches its
competitors' products, notices which ones sell well, and then
designs a product that meets the same needs better.
  Even IBM's own name is a reaction. IBM was started by Tom
Watson. He'd been a salesman for National Cash Register (NCR) but
was fired, so he took over a competing company (CTR) and vowed to
make it even bigger than National Cash Register. To be bigger
than ``National'', he called his company ``International''; to be
bigger than a ``Cash Register'' company, he bragged that his
company would sell all kinds of ``Business Machines''. That's how
the name ``International Business Machine Corp.'' ___ IBM ___ was
hatched. IBM quickly outgrew NCR.
  IBM sold lots of business machines, especially to the U.S.
Census Bureau. But in 1951, Remington Rand Corp. (which later
merged with Sperry) developed the Univac computer and convinced
the Census to use it instead of IBM's non-computerized equipment.
To react, IBM quickly invented its own computers, which were more
practical than the Univac. IBM quickly became the #1 computer
company ___ and Sperry's Univac dropped to #2.
  All of IBM's early computers were large. IBM ignored the whole
concept of microcomputers for many years. IBM's first
microcomputers, the IBM 5100 and IBM System 23, weren't taken
seriously ___ not even by IBM.

               IBM PC
  When lots of IBM's customers began buying Apple 2
microcomputers to do Visicalc spreadsheets, IBM reacted by
developing an improved microcomputer, called the IBM Personal
Computer (IBM PC), which did everything that Apple 2 computers
could do, but better.
  To invent the IBM PC, IBM created three secret research teams
who competed against each other. The winner was the research team
headed by Philip ``Don'' Estridge in Boca Raton, Florida. His
team examined everything created by the other microcomputer
companies (Apple, Radio Shack, Commodore, etc.) and combined
their best ideas, to produce a relatively low-cost computer
better than all competitors.
  Don's team developed the IBM PC secretly. IBM didn't announce
it to the public until August 12, 1981.
  The IBM PC was a smashing success: IBM quickly became the #1
microcomputer company ___ and Apple dropped to #2.
  The IBM PC became the best-selling microcomputer for business.
More high-quality business programs became available for the IBM
PC than for any other microcomputer. It became the standard
against which all other microcomputers were compared. Even today,
to use the best business programs you must buy an IBM PC or
clone.
                                         The IBM PC consists of
three parts: a system unit (which contains most of the
circuitry), a keyboard, and a monitor. Wires run from the
keyboard and monitor to the system unit.
                                         Keyboard The IBM PC's
keyboard contains 83 keys, as follows. . . .
                                         26 keys contain the
letters of the alphabet.
                                         10 keys (in the top row)
contain the digits.
                                         10 keys (on the
keyboard's right side) form a numeric keypad. It contains the
digits rearranged to imitate a calculator.
                                         13 keys contain symbols
for math and punctuation.
                                         14 keys give you
control. They let you edit your mistakes, create blank spaces and
capitals, etc.
                                         10 function keys
(labeled F1, F2, F3, F4, F5, F6, F7, F8, F9, and F10) can be
programmed to mean whatever you wish!
                                         The keyboard was
designed by Don Estridge personally. To fit all those keys on the
small keyboard, he had to make the RETURN and SHIFT keys smaller
than typists liked. Above the top row of keys, he put a shelf to
hold pencils; to make room for that shelf, he had to put the 10
function keys at the left side of the keyboard, even though it
would have been more natural to put the F1 key near the 1 key,
the F2 key near the 2 key, etc.
                                         System unit The IBM PC's
system unit contains a 63½-watt power supply (which transforms AC
current to DC) and a motherboard. On the motherboard, IBM puts
the CPU, RAM chips, ROM chips, and support chips.
                                         The motherboard also
includes 5 slots that hold printed-circuit cards. The
motherboard's 62 wires that run to and through the slots are
called the bus. 8 of those wires carry data; the other 54 wires
are ``bureaucratic overhead'' that helps control the flow. Since
just eight wires carry data, the bus is called an 8-bit data bus,
its slots are called 8-bit slots, and the printed-circuit cards
that you put into the slots are called 8-bit cards.
                                         The CPU, which is on the
motherboard, is an Intel 8088 running at a speed of 4.77 million
cycles per second (4.77 megahertz).
                                         In the original IBM PC,
the motherboard could hold 4 rows of 16K RAM chips. 1 row of
chips was included in the base price; the other 3 rows of chips
cost extra. If you paid the extra cost and got all 4 rows of
chips, you had a total of 64K.
                                         Later, IBM improved the
motherboard, so that it uses 64K chips instead of 16K chips. The
4 rows of 64K chips produce a grand total of 256K.
                                         To expand beyond 256K,
you must buy a memory card, which contains sockets for holding
extra RAM chips.
                                         The motherboard contains
five 8K ROM chips. One of them contains the BIOS; the other four
contain BASIC.
                                         The motherboard includes
a hookup to your home's cassette tape recorder, to make the tape
recorder imitate a slow disk drive. For faster speed, you must
buy a disk drive (which costs extra), and a controller card to
connect the disk drive to. The original IBM PC was limited to two
5¼-inch disk drives, and each disk held just 160K. Later, IBM
improved the disk system, so that each disk could hold 360K. (To
make the improvement, IBM switched to double-sided disks and
divided each track into 9 sectors instead of 8.)
  Monitor The IBM PC's base price doesn't include a monitor ___
or even a video card to attach the monitor to.
  When IBM announced the IBM PC, it announced two kinds of video
cards. One kind, the Monochrome Display Adapter (MDA), attaches
to a TTL monochrome monitor. The other kind, the Color/Graphics
Adapter (CGA), attaches to an RGB color monitor instead.
  Each of those cards gives you a hidden bonus. Hiding on the MDA
card is a printer port, so you can attach a printer. Hiding on
the CGA card is an RCA jack, so you can attach a composite color
monitor or a TV switch box.
  Why the IBM PC became popular To invent the IBM PC, IBM
combined all the best ideas that other computer companies had
invented previously. IBM did it all legally: IBM found the best
hardware and software companies and paid them manufacturing fees
and royalties. IBM listened well: IBM put into the IBM PC all the
inexpensive features that business users were begging computer
companies to provide.
  IBM had originally planned to charge a high price for the IBM
PC; but in August 1981, a week before IBM announced the IBM PC to
the world, IBM's top management decided to slash the prices by
25%. So the IBM PC was not only nice but also priced 25% less
than the rumor mill had expected. Customers were thrilled and
bought IBM PC's quickly.
  At first, very few programs were available for it, but IBM
turned that liability into a virtue: IBM ran ads telling
programmers that since IBM hadn't written enough programs for the
PC, programmers could get rich by writing their own. Because of
those ads, many programmers bought the PC and wrote thousands of
programs for it. All those programs eventually increased the
computer's popularity even further.

         IBM PC XT & clones
  In March 1983, IBM announced the IBM PC eXTended (IBM PC XT).
  It resembles the IBM PC but includes a larger power supply (135
watts instead of 63½) and more expansion slots (8 instead of 5).
The larger power supply allows the XT to handle a hard disk.
  When IBM began selling the XT, IBM included a floppy disk
drive, a 10-megabyte 85-millisecond hard disk, and serial port in
the base price, but IBM later made them optional.
  Many companies sell XT clones. The typical XT clone is better
than the original XT in several ways. . . .
  Keyboard Most clones have extra-large RETURN and SHIFT keys, so
your fingers can hit those keys more easily.
  Power supply In most clones, the power supply is extra-large
(150 watts instead of 135).
  CPU Instead of using an 8088 CPU, most clones use an 8088-1
CPU, which thinks twice as fast (10 megahertz instead of 4.77).
Clones using that double-speed CPU are called turbo XT clones.
  Memory DOS easily handles 640K of RAM and a 30-megabyte hard
disk. (To go beyond those limits, you must use tricks.) The
typical clone attains those limits: its motherboard contains 640K
of RAM, and its hard disk holds 30 megabytes. IBM's XT disk holds
only a third as much. Moreover, the typical clone's hard disk is
quicker: its average seek time is 65 milliseconds instead of 85.
  Monitor A company called Hercules invented a video card that
improves on IBM's MDA card.
                                         Like the MDA card, the
Hercules card produces pretty characters on a TTL monochrome
monitor and includes a parallel printer port. The Hercules card
has this advantage: it can generate graphics.
                                         Several companies make
video cards imitating the Hercules card. Those imitations are
called Hercules-compatible graphics cards.
                                         The typical XT clone
includes a TTL monochrome monitor attached to a
Hercules-compatible graphics card.

                                                IBM PC AT & clones
                                         In August 1984, IBM
announced the IBM PC with Advanced Technology (IBM PC AT). It
runs several times as fast as the XT because it contains a faster
CPU and disk drives. Other companies have developed AT clones
that go even faster.
                                         CPU The CPU is an Intel
80286, which beats the 8088 by performing more cycles per second
and also processing about 3 times as much information per cycle.
                                         In IBM's original
version of the AT, the 80286 CPU performed 6 million cycles per
second (6 megahertz). In 1986, IBM switched to a faster 80286
that runs at 8 megahertz. Clones go even faster: 12 megahertz!
                                         Bus The bus is 16-bit.
That bus is called the AT bus or the Industry Standard
Architecture bus (ISA bus). Into its 16-bit slots, you can put
16-bit cards or old XT-style 8-bit cards.
                                         Hard drives The AT
handles faster hard drives than the XT.
                                         IBM's original hard
drive for the AT had a 40-millisecond average seek time and held
20 megabytes. That drive, built for IBM by a company called CMI,
was unreliable. IBM eventually switched to a different supplier,
and CMI went bankrupt.
                                         Today's clones contain
reliable drives that go even faster (28 milliseconds) and hold
even more (40 megabytes and beyond).
                                         Floppy drives The AT's
floppy drive squeezes 1.2 megabytes onto high-density 5¼-inch
floppy disks. That drive can also read the 360K disks created by
XT computers, but it cannot reliably create a 360K disk to send
to an XT computer.
                                         The typical computerist
puts two floppy drives into the AT. The first drive deals mainly
with 1.2 megabyte disks. The other drive is an XT-style 360K
drive, which sits in the AT just to communicate to XT computers.
                                         Keyboard The AT's
original keyboard had 84 keys. Typists liked it better than the
PC and XT keyboards, because it had larger RETURN and SHIFT keys.
                                         In 1986, IBM switched to
a larger keyboard having 101 keys. Its function keys (F1, F2,
etc.) were in the top row (near the pencil ledge) instead of at
the left.
                                         Main power supply The
AT's main power supply is 192 watts. Clones use power supplies
that are slightly larger (200 watts).
                                         SETUP When you first buy
an AT, you (or your dealer) must run the SETUP program, which
comes on a disk or in a ROM chip. That program makes the AT ask
you how much RAM you bought, which monitor and disk drives you
bought, and whether you bought a math coprocessor. The AT copies
your answers into a CMOS RAM chip, powered by a battery sitting
in a holder just left of the main power supply.
  Even when you turn off the computer's main power switch, the
CMOS RAM chip keeps remembering your answers ___ until its
battery runs out after 4 years (or 1 year in some clones). Then
the computer displays the wrong date and time and won't let you
use the hard disk ___ until you run the SETUP program again,
preferably with a fresh battery.

      Improved graphics & PS/2
  In September 1984, IBM announced an improved color video
system. It consists of a video card called the Enhanced Graphics
Adapter (EGA) and a compatible color monitor (called an EGA
monitor). You can put an EGA card into the IBM PC, IBM PC XT, or
IBM PC AT.
  The EGA system is better than CGA, because EGA can display more
colors and finer resolution (more dots per inch), and EGA obeys
the computer's commands faster.
  At the same time, IBM announced an even fancier video system,
called the Professional Graphics Controller (PGC), but it was too
expensive to be popular.
  On April 2, 1987, IBM announced a whole new series of
computers, called the Personal System 2 (PS/2), which ran the
same programs as the PC but added better graphics. Shortly
afterwards, IBM stopped manufacturing its old classic computers
(the IBM PC, IBM PC XT, and IBM PC AT).
  The classic computers used 5¼-inch floppy disks. The PS/2
computers use 3½-inch floppy disks instead, which take up less
space on your desk, are sturdier, hold more bytes per square
inch, and consume less electricity.
  Different models The cheapest PS/2 computer is called the PS/2
model 25. The most expensive PS/2 computer is called the PS/2
model 95. Between those models ___ the 25 and the 95 ___ you can
choose many others.
  By June 1991, IBM had invented these models:
Models  CPU Bus Style Video Floppy
25, 30  8086XT  desktopMCGA  720K

25/286, 30/286286ATdesktopVGA1440K
50, 50Z 286 MCA desktopVGA  1440K
60      286 MCA tower VGA   1440K

35, 40  386SXAT desktopVGA  1440K
L40     386SXAT notebookVGA 1440K
55      386SXMCAdesktopVGA  1440K
57      386SXMCAdesktopVGA  2880K
65      386SXMCAtower VGA   1440K

70      386DXMCAdesktopVGA  1440K
P70     386DXMCAluggableVGA 1440K
80      386DXMCAtower VGA   1440K

P75     486 MCA luggableXGA 1440K
90      486 MCA desktopXGA  1440K
95      486 MCA tower XGA   1440K
  Towers of power The model 95 is a tower that gets erected on
the floor underneath your desk. It's one of IBM's biggest
erections. Its electrical juices surge through the cables that
run from the tower up to the monitor and keyboard. Since it can
service more add-on printed-circuit cards than the model 90
(which is a desktop), computerists call the model 95 an
expandable version of the model 90. Ooh, how you'll love the
expansion! That's why it's nicknamed the ``stud''.
  The model 80 is a tower version of the model 70. The model 60
is a tower version of the model 50. The 65 is a tower version of
the 55.
  Model 50Z The model 50Z contains faster RAM chips than the
model 50, so that the model 50Z's CPU never has to wait for the
RAM chips to catch up. The ``Z'' stands for ``zero wait states''.
                                         Floppy drive In models
containing an 8086 CPU, the 3½-inch floppy drive is
double-density (DD), so it puts 720K on a disk. In most other
models, the 3½-inch floppy drive is high-density (HD), so it puts
1440K on a disk. The model 57 contains an experimental 3½-inch
floppy drive that's extra-high density (ED), so it puts 2880K on
a disk.
                                         Bus The models
containing an 8086 CPU use the same 8-bit bus as the old IBM PC
and IBM PC XT. All other under-50 models use the IBM PC AT 16-bit
bus.
                                         Models 50 and up contain
a new style of bus, called the Micro Channel, using a technology
called Micro Channel Architecture (MCA). The Micro Channel
transmits data faster than the old bus. It includes 16-bit and
32-bit slots. Unfortunately, the Micro Channel's 16-bit slots are
a different size than the 16-bit slots in the IBM PC AT; you
cannot put an IBM PC, XT, or AT card into a Micro Channel slot.
                                         IBM holds a patent on
the Micro Channel bus. Clone companies that copy the Micro
Channel bus pay IBM a licensing fee. Other clone companies use
the AT bus (ISA bus) instead, or a new 32-bit version of it (the
Extended ISA bus, which is called the EISA bus, pronounced ``ees
uh bus''), or an even faster 32-bit version (the Video
Electronics Standards Association local bus, which is called the
VESA local bus or VL bus), or the fastest version (the Peripheral
Component Interconnect bus, which is called the PCI bus and used
mainly in computers containing a Pentium CPU).
                                         MCGA The models
containing an 8086 CPU also contain a chip called the Multi-Color
Graphics Array (MCGA), which produces nice graphics.
                                         According to the laws of
physics, all colors can be created by mixing red, green, and blue
light in various proportions. The MCGA lets you create your own
color by mixing an amount of red from 0 to 63, an amount of green
from 0 to 63, and an amount of blue from 0 to 63; so altogether,
the number of possible colors you can create is ``64 times 64
times 64'', which is 262,144.
                                         After you create your
favorite colors, the computer will let you display 256 of them on
the screen simultaneously. To position those colors on the
screen, you use a coordinate system permitting an X value from 0
to 319 and a Y value from 0 to 199.
                                         If you're willing to use
just 2 colors instead of 256, the computer will let you do
higher-resolution drawing, in which the X value goes from 0 to
639 (so you have 640 choices) and the Y value goes from 0 to 479
(so you have 480 choices). That's called 640-by-480 resolution.
                                         VGA The models
containing a 286 or 386 CPU contain a fancier graphics chip,
called the Video Graphics Array (VGA). Its 256-color mode is the
same as MCGA's, but its high-resolution mode permits 16 colors
instead of 2.
                                         IBM's competitors sell
clones whose graphics are even better than VGA! Besides giving
you VGA's high resolution of 640-by-480, they give you an even
higher resolution of 800-by-600 (called 800 VGA or VGA Plus) and
an even higher resolution of 1024-by-768 (called 1024 VGA or
Super VGA or SVGA). The fanciest clones give you a resolution of
1280-by-1024 (called 1280 VGA or sometimes Super-Duper VGA).
                                         Instead of giving you
262,144 colors, the fanciest clones give you 16,777,216 colors
(by letting the red, green, and blue each range up to 255 instead
of 63).
  Since 16,777,216 colors are even more than the human eye can
distinguish, clones that have 16,777,216 colors are said to have
true color. They're also said to have 24-bit color (because to
distinguish among 16,777,216 colors, the computer must store each
color as a 24-bit number).
  If you buy a clone containing one of those souped-up VGA
systems, make sure the VGA card contains 512K or 1M or 2M of
video RAM instead of just 256K. You need that extra RAM to get
lots of colors at the super-high resolutions:
Video RAMHow many colors you can see simultaneously
256K    256 colors at 640x400; 16 colors at  800x600; 2 colors at
1280x1024
512K    256 colors at 640x480; 16 colors at 1024x768; 2 colors at
1280x1024

1M      16,777,216 colors at 640x480; 65,536 at  800x600; 256 at
1024x768; 16 at 1280x1024
2M      16,777,216 colors at 800x600; 65,536 at 1024x768; 256 at
1280x1024
  Make sure the VGA card is 16-bit instead of 8-bit, so it can
accept 16 bits of information at once. Then it can handle all
those colors and dots quickly!
  If the video is 1024x768 or 1280x1024, make sure it's
non-interlaced (NI). If it's interlaced (I), it will flicker
annoyingly when used at high resolution.
  When buying a color monitor for VGA (or VGA Plus or Super VGA),
make sure the monitor's dot pitch (distance between adjacent
dots) is small: no bigger than .31 millimeters. If the dot pitch
is bigger than .31 millimeters, the image on the screen is too
blurry. Most monitors have a dot pitch of .28 millimeters, which
is good; bad monitors have a dot pitch of .39, .41, or .52
millimeters.
  Since VGA is so wonderful, practically everybody who buys an
IBM clone orders VGA. VGA's popularity led VGA monitors and cards
to be mass-produced on gigantic assembly lines, which dropped
VGA's price even lower than EGA's. Since VGA is now cheaper and
better than EGA, nobody buys EGA monitors or cards anymore
(except people repairing old EGA systems).
  XGA The PS/2 models having a 486 CPU contain a fancy graphics
chip called the eXtended Graphics Array (XGA). It resembles
1024-by-768 Super VGA.
  Price The price of each PS/2 depends on how much RAM you buy,
what size hard disk you buy, and what kind of monitor you buy.
(If you can't afford a color monitor, buy a gray-scale monitor
that shows shades of gray instead. The shades of gray crudely
imitate the color graphics you'd get from MCGA, VGA, or XGA.)
  If somebody offers you a ``complete PS/2 system'' cheaply,
check whether that ``complete'' price includes the monitor.
Usually it doesn't!

                Cheaper than PS/2
  The PS/2 computers were too expensive. In 1990, IBM invented a
cheaper series of computers, called the PS/1. In 1992, IBM
invented an even cheaper series, called the PS/Valuepoint (which
you can buy in stores or by phoning IBM directly at
800-IBM-2YOU).

                      Ambra
  In 1993, IBM invented an even cheaper series, called the Ambra,
which IBM sells just by mail. If you want to get it, phone the
Ambra Computer Corporation (owned by IBM) at 800-25-AMBRA.
(Canadians call 800-363-0066.)
  Here are some Ambra computers:
      Main
CPU   RAM Hard driveVideoBusExtras         Price
486SX-33 4M270M   14" 1MVESA               $1369
486DX2-66 4M270M  14" 1MVESA               $1519
486DX2-66 8M270M  15" 1MVESA               $1699
486DX2-66 8M420M  15" 1MVESA               $1959
486DX2-66 8M540M  15" 1MVESACD-ROM, sound, Borland Office$2499

Pentium-60 8M720M 15" 2MPCI CD-ROM         $2599
Pentium-90 8M720M 15" 2MPCI CD-ROM         $2999
Pentium-9016M720M 15" 2MPCI CD-ROM, Borland Office$3598
  Those were Ambra's prices when this book went to press in July,
1994. Since prices drop continually, you'll pay less. (Computer
prices drop about 3% per month, 30% per year.)
  Each price in that chart includes a desktop computer with
keyboard, RAM, 3½-inch high-density floppy drive (so it holds
1440K, which is 1.44M), hard drive, Super VGA color monitor,
MS-DOS, Windows, and mouse. The video card contains 1M of RAM for
486 computers, 2M for Pentium computers.
                                                     When that
chart says CD-ROM, you get a CD-ROM drive that's fast
(double-spin). When that chart says sound, you get a sound card
and a pair of stereo speakers. When that chart says Borland
Office, you get software that includes a word-processing program
(Word Perfect for Windows), a database program (Paradox for
Windows), and a spreadsheet program (Quattro Pro for Windows).
                                                     Service You
get a 30-day money-back guarantee. You get free technical help by
phone, around-the-clock (24 hours). You get 1 year of on-site
service: during the first year, if you need a repair, you don't
have to mail your computer to IBM; instead, one of IBM's 10,000
repairmen will come to your house and fix the computer, free!
                                                     Though IBM
generally has a good reputation, the Ambra division is new,
understaffed, and confused. Many Ambra customers complain of long
delays in receiving shipments and getting service.

                                                          IBM's flops
                                                     Some of your
friends might still own IBM's other microcomputers, which were
less successful.
                                                     IBM's PC
Junior was intended for schoolkids. It had pretty graphics and a
low price; but its add-ons were too expensive, its keyboard was
awkward, and its circuitry differed enough from the original PC
so the Junior refused to run some of the PC's programs.
                                                     IBM's PC
Portable was a luggable inspired by Compaq but didn't include
enough expansion slots.
                                                     After IBM
invented the 8-megahertz AT, IBM had too many 6-megahertz and XT
parts left in its warehouse. To use up those old parts, IBM
created the XT/286, which contained a 6-megahertz AT CPU attached
to an XT disk drive. The XT/286 was as unpopular as its parts.
                                                     IBM's
RS/6000 is a high-priced microcomputer that runs super-fast but
can't run standard IBM PC software.

                                                     What happened to Don?
                                                     Although Don
Estridge became popular for inventing the IBM PC and XT, his next
two projects disappointed IBM: the PC Junior didn't sell well,
and the AT's CMI hard drive was unreliable.
                                                     His bosses
kicked him out of the Boca Raton research office and hid him in
an obscure part of the company. A few months later, when he flew
on a Delta jet, the jet crashed and killed him.

              HOW CLONES ARE PRICED
  Instead of buying from IBM, save money! Buy a clone instead!
  Here's how most clones are priced. (I'll show you the prices
that were in effect when this book went to press in July, 1994.
Prices drop 3% per month, 30% per year.)
  $1000 gets you a ``standard'' clone. If you pay more than
$1000, you get a clone that's fancier; if you pay less than
$1000, you get a clone that's crummier.
  Here are the details. (I've rounded all prices to the nearest
$25.)

                       CPU
  The standard clone's CPU is a 486SX-33. If you want a faster
CPU instead, you must pay a surcharge:
CPU     Surcharge
486SX-33    $0
486DX-33  $125
486DX2-50 $150
486DX2-66 $200
486DX4-75 $300
486DX4-100$500
Pentium-60$600
Pentium-66$700
Pentium-90$900
  The 486SX-33 is okay. If you need a math coprocessor (because
you're doing heavy work in graphics or scientific calculations),
you must buy a DX, DX2, DX4, or Pentium. Since the DX4 and
Pentium are ridiculously expensive, few people buy them, and so
the 486DX2-66 is the fastest CPU that's reasonably priced.
  Deduct $25 if you're willing to accept a slower kind of chip,
such as a 486SX-25 or a Cyrix 486SLC-33.
  Certain chips don't make much sense anymore:
Don't buy a 486DX-33.Buy a 486DX2-50  instead, which is much
faster but costs just $25 more.
Don't buy a 486DX4-75.Buy a 486DX2-66  instead, which is almost
as fast but costs $100 less.
Don't buy a Pentium-66.Buy a Pentium-60 instead, which is almost
as fast but costs $100 less.
  If the CPU is a 486DX or 486DX2 or 486DX4, it should come with
at least 128K of static RAM cache, or else deduct $25 as a
penalty! If the CPU is a Pentium, it should come with at least
256K of static RAM cache (or else deduct $25).
  If the CPU is a Pentium, it should come with the PCI local bus
(or else deduct $75). If the CPU is a 486, it normally comes with
the VESA local bus: add $75 for PCI local bus; deduct $25 for a
bus that's neither VESA nor PCI.

                       RAM
  The standard clone's RAM is 4M. If you want 8M instead, add
$175. If you want 16M instead, add $525. (If you want just 2M,
deduct $75. If you want just 1M, deduct $125.)
  You need at least 4M to run Windows well. If you're not using
Windows, you can get by with less (2M or 1M).
  Up through the end of 1993, 4M was enough for most purposes;
that's what most folks bought. But at the beginning of 1994, the
world changed: the Windows programs popular since the beginning
of 1994 (such as Microsoft Word 6 and Word Perfect 6) are memory
hogs that require 8M to run well. So to run the newest Windows
programs well, buy 8M of RAM. Buy 16M just if your computer is
manipulating large, complex pictures and photos, or if your
computer is acting as a server (whose disk drive is being shared
by many other computers in a network).

                   Hard drive
  The standard clone's hard drive is 210M. Add $25 for 270M, $50
for 340M, $100 for 420M, $175 for 540M.
  If you're willing to use a hard drive that's just 170M, deduct
$25.
  Although 210M is enough for most purposes, you should get a
420M drive, since it costs just $100 more and holds twice as
much.
                                                         Floppy drives
                                                     The standard
clone includes a high-density floppy drive (3½-inch). If you want
a pair of high-density floppy drives (3½-inch and also 5¼-inch),
add $50.
                                                     Most new
software comes on 3½-inch floppies. Buy a 5¼-inch drive just if
you need to use old software or to exchange data with old
computers.

                                                             Video
                                                     The standard
clone includes a color monitor that's 14-inch. Add $100 for
15-inch, $400 for 17-inch.
                                                     Most people
buy 14-inch. 15-inch shows the same info but slightly magnified,
so you can read ``the fine print'' on the screen more easily.
17-inch is big enough to show an entire typewritten page on the
screen readably but costs more than most folks can afford.
                                                     If the color
monitor is 14-inch, its resolution should be at least 1024x768,
and it should be non-interlaced at that resolution (or deduct
$25). Its dot pitch should be no more than .28 millimeters (or
deduct $25).
                                                     The video
card should have at least 1M of RAM on it (or deduct $25). The
video card should be windows-accelerated or local-bus (or deduct
$25).

                                                             Case
                                                     The standard
clone comes in a desktop case. If you want a tower case instead,
add $50.
                                                     The tower
case has just two advantages: it can hold extra cards (but you
probably won't buy any!) and it can sit on the floor (so your
desk is uncluttered and your monitor sits low enough to be seen
without craning your neck up).

                                                        Other hardware
                                                     The standard
clone's price includes a keyboard and mouse. Add $150 for a
double-speed CD-ROM drive, $75 for a sound card, $25 for a pair
of stereo speakers, $50 for a slow fax/modem card (2400-baud
modem), $100 for a fast fax/modem card (14400-baud modem).

                                                           Software
                                                     The standard
clone includes MS-DOS and Windows, with manuals.
                                                     Deduct $50
if DOS or its manual is missing. Deduct $50 if Windows or its
manual is missing.
  Add $25 if the price includes Windows for Workgroups instead of
just Windows.
  Add $25 for Quicken, $50 for Microsoft Works, $50 for Microsoft
Encarta, $100 for Microsoft Word, $100 for Ami Pro.
  Those prices are what big clone makers add in for software that
comes with the computer. If instead you buy the software
separately later, you'll pay much more!

                   Guarantees
  The standard clone comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, a
1-year warranty, and lifetime toll-free tech support.
  Deduct $50 if the money-back guarantee is missing or shorter
than 30 days, or if you get charged a ``restocking fee'' for
returning the computer. Deduct $50 if the warranty is less than
1-year or if the tech support is not toll-free.
  Add $50 if the warranty is 3-year instead of 1-year.
  Add just $25 if the warranty is 3-year on most of the system
but just 1-year on the monitor. That's called a 3/1-year
warranty.

                 Kinds of clones
  You've seen that a standard clone costs just $1000. But a fancy
clone includes extras that raise the total cost to over $2000; a
luxury clone includes extras raising the total cost to nearly
$4000. Here's how:
        Standard
Feature   clone     Fancy clone        Luxury clone
CPU       486SX-33486DX2-66($200 extra)Pentium-90($900 extra)
RAM       4M    8M    ($175 extra)16M     ($525 extra)
hard drive  210M420M  ($100 extra)540M    ($175 extra)
floppy drives  3½-inch3½-inch(  $0 extra)3½-inch & 5¼( $50 extra)
monitor   14-inch15-inch($100 extra)17-inch($400 extra)
case      desktoptower( $50 extra)tower   ( $50 extra)
CD-ROM drive  noneone ($150 extra)one     ($150 extra)
sound card  noneone   ( $75 extra)one     ( $75 extra)
stereo speakers  noneone pair( $25 extra)one pair( $25 extra)
fax/modem  none 14400-baud($100 extra)14400-baud($100 extra)
applications  noneEncarta( $50 extra)Encarta&Word($150 extra)
warranty  1-year3/1-year( $25 extra)3-year( $50 extra)
TOTAL     $1000 $1000 + $1050 extra = $2050$1000+$2675extra
=$3650
  Those prices do not include a printer, which is priced
separately.

              Notebooks are pricey
  The first rule about buying a notebook (or laptop) computer is:
don't buy one unless you must! Try buying a desktop computer
instead!
  Though notebook computers are portable and cute, you pay a lot
for portable cuteness.
  For example, suppose you want a computer containing a 486SX-33
with 4M RAM, 210M hard drive, 1 floppy drive, color screen, DOS,
Windows, and mouse (or trackball). To get a desktop computer
containing all that, you pay about $1000; to get a notebook
computer containing all that, you must pay about $1900 instead.
  Suppose you're rich enough to afford $1900. Does that mean you
should buy a notebook computer? No! Here's what $1900 gets you. .
. .
$1900 notebook: 486SX-33, 4M RAM, 210M drive, 1 floppy,  640x480
color
$1900 desktop: 486DX2-66, 8M RAM, 420M drive, 1 floppy, 1024x768
color, CD-ROM, sound
Desktop computers give you much more equipment per dollar than
notebook computers.
  Here's what $1000 gets you. . . .
$1000 desktop:  486SX-33, 4M RAM, 210M hard drive, 1 floppy,
1024x768 color
$1000 notebook: 486SX-25, 4M RAM, 120M hard drive, 1 floppy,
640x480 gray-scale
  So don't buy a notebook unless you must.
  If you need to use a computer in two locations, don't buy a
notebook: buy two desktop computers instead! Buying two desktop
computers costs just slightly more than buying one notebook. Or
buy a desktop computer that's light enough to carry to your car
easily.
  Buy a notebook computer just if you need to travel to many
locations often, or if you're a student or researcher who needs
to take notes in a lecture or library.


                  FAMOUS CLONES
  Here's quick advice about which clone to buy:
Kind of computerCompany to buy fromPhone
cheap desktop (under $1900)VTech800-Bug-Expo or 708-540-8086
fancier desktop (over $1900)Quantex800-760-9001 or 908-563-4166

cheap notebook (under $1200)VTech800-Bug-Expo or 708-540-8086
fancier notebook (over $1200)Midwest Micro800-572-8844 or
513-368-2309
  I picked those companies (VTech, Quantex, and Midwest Micro)
because they make high-quality clones, sell them at low prices,
offer decent service & support, and most folks I've sent to those
companies have been thrilled. To make sure, I've spent my own
money on those computers and analyzed comments from other
reviewers.
  Though I recommended those companies when this book went to
press in July 1994, my advice changes weekly because the computer
industry continually changes: new technology gets invented,
prices fall, and company reputations bob up and down crazily as
old problems get fixed and new problems surface.
  Before buying, phone me at 617-666-2666 to get my newest
advice, free. (To have fun, phone me each week to see how my
advice keeps changing.) If you tell me your personal needs, I'll
try to suggest another company or computer that most closely
matches you. Before phoning me, become a knowledgeable consumer
by reading the following juicy details about famous clones. . . .

            Chinese mail-order giants
  Of all the companies that make clones, the ones I most
frequently recommend are Quantex and VTech. Both companies are
big, reputable, advertise mainly in Computer Shopper magazine,
and are owned by the Chinese, though the employees you'll talk to
are American.
  Who is Quantex? Quantex is owned secretly by Fountain, which is
based in Taiwan. Quantex buys its cases and motherboards from
Fountain.
  Fountain's American sales office is in New Jersey, and so is
Quantex. Quantex is at 2 Tower Center Boulevard (10th Floor),
East Brunswick NJ 08816 and is headed by Michael Polissky (the
Vice President of Direct Marketing).
  To reach Quantex, phone [phone] (or 908-563-4166). Sales
hours are Monday-Thursday 9AM-9PM, Friday 9AM-6PM, Eastern Time.
  Who is VTech? VTech is based in Hong Kong. It's huge, with
11,000 employees!
  VTech has also called itself Video Technology, Video Tech, Expo
Tech, Laser Computers, and Leading Technology but now calls
itself just Vtech again. It used to own a famous software
company, Central Point Software (which makes a program called PC
Tools), but VTech sold that software company to a competitor,
Symantec. Besides making computers, VTech also makes electronic
toys (Whiz Kid and Murduck) and digital cordless phones (Tropez).
  VTech's American sales office is in Illinois (at 800 Church
St., Lake Zurich IL 60047) and is headed by Rick Mazursky (the
President of VTech Computers).
  Phone 800-Bug-Expo (or 708-540-8086). Sales hours are weekdays
7AM-8:30PM, Saturday 9AM-6PM, Sunday 10AM-3PM, Central Time.
  When you phone, you encounter a voice-mail system. For best
results, ask for extension 7134 (such as by pressing ``7134'' on
your touch-tone phone). That gets you a very helpful salesman
named Tim Lilly. If he doesn't answer personally, leave a message
on his voice-mail system, and he'll call you back. If Tim gets
overloaded and you're impatient waiting for his callback, he
recommends calling his buddy Kirby Schneider at extension 7401.
  Prepare for battle The battle of Quantex versus VTech has
political overtones: it's a battle of Taiwan versus Hong Kong.
  For about $2000, Quantex and VTech will each sell you a
computer that includes a 486DX2-66 (with 128K cache), 8M RAM, big
hard drive, VESA local bus, 15-inch monitor, DOS, Windows, mouse,
double-spin CD-ROM drive, sound card, pair of stereo speakers,
14400-baud fax/modem, and 1-year on-site warranty.
  Exact prices Quantex charges $1995. VTech charges $1913 ($1799
plus $114 for the fax/modem).
                                                     How Quantex
beats VTech Quantex has these advantages over VTech. . . .
                                                     Quantex's
price includes a tower. VTech gives you just a desktop computer
unless you pay a $130 surcharge.
                                                     VTech's
price includes Windows. Quantex's price includes Windows for
Workgroups, which is fancier.
                                                     Quantex's
price includes a CD containing an encyclopedia (Microsoft
Encarta), a CD containing Borland Office (which includes Windows
versions of the Word Perfect word processor, Paradox database,
and Quattro Pro spreadsheet), a Kodak Photo CD, and floppy disks
containing a checkbook program (Microsoft Money) and games
(Microsoft Entertainment Pack). VTech's price includes no
application software at all, though for $59 extra VTech will sell
you a set of four CD's: Choose either the fun set (7th Guest and
other fun games), the outdoors set (San Diego Zoo Animals and
other information about animals, plants, and travel), or the home
set (Compton's Interactive Encyclopedia and other references &
educational games).
                                                     Quantex's
sound card is 16-bit. VTech's is slightly inferior (16-bit output
but just 8-bit input).
                                                     Quantex's
speakers contain knobs and buttons that let you adjust the sound,
though Quantex neglects to provide instructions about them.
VTech's speakers contain no knobs or buttons at all: to adjust
the volume, you must reach behind the entire computer and rotate
a knob on the back of the sound card.
                                                     Quantex
gives you a toll-free number to call whenever you have questions
about hardware or software. VTech's toll-free number is just for
questions about hardware; for software questions, VTech forces
you to call a different number that's not toll-free.
  How VTech beats Quantex Now let's look at the other side of the
coin, and see the ways in which VTech beats Quantex. . . .
  VTech's keyboard accepts a light touch. Quantex's keyboard
requires you to press harder.
  VTech's keyboard gives you audio feedback, by making a clicking
sound whenever you press a key. Quantex's keyboard has no click,
so you're never sure whether you've hit a key hard enough to
register.
  Though Quantex's CD-ROM drive is fast (a 320-millisecond Sony),
VTech's CD-ROM drive is even faster (a 250-millisecond Mitsumi).
  On weekends, VTech is open, but Quantex is closed.
  If you order from VTech, you'll typically wait 1½ weeks from
the time you place your order until the time you receive your
computer. If you order from Quantex, the salesman will tell you
``2 weeks'' but you'll typically have to wait 3 weeks instead ___
and get ticked off!
  Quantex is hard to reach on the phone, especially if you have a
tech-support or customer-service question. VTech is hard to reach
too, but not as hard as Quantex!
  VTech's manuals are written in correct English and are
complete. Some of Quantex's manuals are written in correct
English; other Quantex manuals are written in Chinese English
(for example, they say ``drive your floopies'' when they mean
``insert your floppies''); Quantex's sound-card manual is
missing.
  If you have a problem with VTech, call your salesman Tim Lilly
and he'll try to solve it promptly (because Tim knows he won't
get more orders from me if he doesn't!). No salesperson at
Quantex gets that personally involved in solving customer
problems.
  VTech's monitor plugs into the computer easily. To plug
Quantex's monitor into Quantex's computer, you need a
screwdriver.
  The front wall of VTech's case pops off easily, without
requiring a screwdriver; and the battery sits just behind that
front wall, so you can easily replace the battery if it runs
down. In Quantex's computer, the battery is harder to find and
get to: you need a screwdriver.
  Summary of the fight Most of those comments I made about
Quantex and VTech can be boiled down to this summary: Quantex
gives you a bigger case, fancier Windows, better and more CD's,
better sound card, and toll-free help even for software
questions; and in many situations, Quantex also gives a total
lower cost (after you include the cost of the fax/modem,
shipping, and tax); on the other hand, VTech gives you a better
mouse, better keyboard, better monitor, better CD-ROM drive,
better hours, faster service, better manuals, longer warranty,
and easier assembly & disassembly.
  Tax Quantex charges sales tax just if you're in New Jersey.
VTech charges sales tax just if you're in Illinois.
                                         Shipping Quantex usually
ships by Federal Express and charges slightly under $90. Quantex
charges just $45 to folks in the Northeast who say ``send by UPS
instead of by Federal Express''.
                                         VTech normally charges
$89 to most of the USA, $188 to Alaska & Hawaii & Puerto Rico.
You pay less if you're in Illinois, southern Wisconsin, or
western Indiana or you buy a stripped-down computer (an SX or
notebook computer). If you mention ``The Secret Guide to
Computers'' to Tim Lilly, he usually deducts $10 from your
shipping charges.
                                         Dishonesty Quantex and
VTech are almost honest ___ but not quite!
                                         Quantex tells you the
computer will get to you in just 2 weeks, but usually you must
wait 3 weeks instead. (In my own case, when I tried buying a
computer from Quantex, the salesman told me I'd get it in 10
days, but I actually had to wait 5 weeks! I was pretty steamed
___ especially since, every time I called, the salesman gave me
wrong information about when my computer would be delivered.
That's the main problem with Quantex: you get more equipment for
your money but also more heart attacks.)
                                         Quantex ads for fancy
systems brag that you get a 15-inch monitor, but Quantex's
15-inch monitor displays a smaller image than the typical 14-inch
monitor.
                                         Quantex ads brag that
the hard drive communicates with the computer very quickly by
using a 32-bit bus, but the 32-bit feature doesn't work. When you
turn the computer on, you get an error message instead! (What a
lousy way to begin your computer experience: with an error
message!) You'll get just 16-bit access instead.
                                         Quantex and VTech both
claim you get ``on-site service''; but if your computer breaks,
neither company will rush a repairman to your home. Instead, each
company will mail you a replacement part and try to explain to
you on the phone how to put it in.
                                         VTech ads used to brag
that you get a 3-year warranty, but the ads were lying: each
VTech computer came with a note saying that the warranty on the
monitor is just 1-year, not 3-year. In July 1994, VTech changed
to a different strategy: the new ads imply you get a 4-year
warranty, but actually you get just a straight 1-year warranty
unless you pay $189 for a service contract. This is progress? To
make matters worse, the service contract costs you $210 instead
of $189 if your computer is souped-up enough to be valued at over
$2000.
                                         VTech used to
fraudulently switch chips: if you ordered an SX-33, VTech sent
you an SX-25 chip instead, covered up by a sticker telling you
that if you peeked under the sticker you'd void the warranty! The
SX-25 chip was pushed to run at 33 megahertz instead, so that it
seemed to be an SX-33 chip; but there is a slight danger of
pushed chips overheating and becoming unreliable. Similarly, if
you ordered an SX-25, VTech sent you a pushed SX-20. That
chip-switching is why VTech is called the cover-up company. It's
the Nixon of the computer industry. After I found out about the
chip switching and complained, VTech stopped the practice ___
partly because of me, but mainly because VTech ran out of SX-20
and SX-25 chips!
  Stupidity The folks at Quantex and VTech both install DOS
incorrectly. To let your computer run faster, read my DOS and
repair chapters and then phone me at 617-666-2666; I'll help you
edit your CONFIG.SYS, AUTOEXEC.BAT, and CMOS setup files so your
computer will run faster and run a greater variety of software
without hassles!
  Improvements The heads of Quantex and VTech are both trying
hard to improve their companies.
  Quantex has established a new phone system to handle
tech-support calls. Quantex has sent newsletters to old customers
to keep them informed. Quantex has surveyed customers and asked
them how Quantex can improve.
  VTech's new president, Rick Mazursky, has been improving
VTech's corporate culture. He says he wants to turn VTech into
the ``honest Abe'' of the computer industry; and he's been
sending VTech's salespeople and tech-support specialists to
classes to beef up their knowledge and manners.
  Other models Besides the models I described that cost about
$2000, Quantex and VTech offer many other models also.
  Quantex offers these models:
CPU   RAM Hard driveMonitorExtra hardwareCasePrice
486SX-33  4M     340M  14-inchCD-ROM, sound, fax/modemdesktop$1395
486DX2-66  4M     340M  14-inchCD-ROM, sound, fax/modemdesktop$1595
486DX2-66  8M     420M  15-inch         tower$1675
486DX2-66  8M     340M  15-inchCD-ROM, sound, fax/modemtower$1895
486DX2-66  8M     420M  15-inchCD-ROM, sound, fax/modemtower$1995

Pentium-60  8M     420M  15-inch        tower$1995
Pentium-90  8M     420M  15-inch        tower$2295
Pentium-90  8M     540M  15-inchCD-ROM, sound, fax/modemtower$2695
Pentium-90 16M     540M  15-inchCD-ROM, fax/modemtower$2795
Each includes Windows for Workgroups. If the computer is a tower,
the fax/modem is fast (14400-baud); if the computer is a desktop,
the fax/modem is slow (9600-baud fax, 2400-baud modem). Different
models come with different software; for details, see Quantex's
ad or phone Quantex.
  VTech offers these models:
CPU   RAM Hard driveMonitorExtra hardwarePrice
486SX-33 4M     210M  14-inch         $999
486DX-33 4M     424M  14-inch        $1299
486DX2-66 4M     424M  14-inch       $1399
486DX2-66 8M     527M  15-inch  CD-ROM, sound $1799

Pentium-60 8M     424M  14-inch      $1849
Pentium-60 8M     527M  15-inch  CD-ROM $2099
Each is a desktop and includes Windows.
  Quantex and VTech will gladly custom-build a computer to your
own specifications: invent any combination of CPU, RAM, disk
drives, monitor, and extra cards. But custom-built systems take
about a week longer to build and deliver than the standard
systems listed above.
  Notebook computers Quantex doesn't sell notebook computers yet.
  VTech sells a cheap notebook computer. It costs just $999 (plus
$49 shipping, minus $10 if you mention ``The Secret Guide to
Computers'' to Tim Lilly).
  It includes a Cyrix 486SLC-33 CPU (which is slightly slower
than an Intel 486SX-33). It also includes a 4M RAM, 1.44M floppy
drive, 120M hard drive, DOS, Windows, and mouse. It weighs about
7 pounds.
  If you wish, you can add accessories. For example, $100 extra
gets you a fax/modem; unfortunately, it's somewhat slow
(9600-baud send fax, 4800-baud receive fax, 2400-baud modem).
$110 extra gets you 6M instead of 4M. $39 extra gets you a bag to
put the computer in. (Oops! I shouldn't call it a ``bag''.
Sophisticated folks call it a carrying case.)
  Though VTech has stopped advertising that notebook computer,
there are a few left, especially ones that have the $100
fax/modem installed. Phone VTech and ask!
  Now VTech advertises a notebook computer that's fancier. It
includes a faster CPU (486DX-33), a bigger hard drive (340M), a
trackball (instead of a mouse), and a longer-lasting battery
(nickel metal-hydride instead of nickel-cadmium). It still
includes 4M RAM, DOS, and Windows. It weighs 5½ pounds. It comes
in two versions: the $1499 version includes a monochrome screen,
the $2199 version includes a color screen.
                                                     Quantex's
sisters Quantex has a sister company: Micro Professionals. Like
Quantex, Micro Professionals is secretly owned by Fountain, uses
Fountain's motherboards and cases, and advertises in Computer
Shopper. Its prices are similar to Quantex's. Most systems from
Micro Professionals include a pair of floppy drives (3½-inch and
5¼-inch) but no fax/modem; the price includes more programs on
floppy disks but fewer programs on CD-ROM disks. Phone Micro
Professionals in Illinois at 800-800-8300 or 708-339-8398.
                                                     Quantex used
to have another sister company. Called Computer Sales
Professional, it was in the same town as Quantex and Fountain,
bought most of its parts from Fountain, was probably owned
indirectly by Fountain, and advertised in Computer Shopper. In
the summer of 1993, I recommended buying from Computer Sales
Professional. But at the end of 1993, Computer Sales Professional
got swamped with too many customers, couldn't handle them all
promptly, and advertised choices that customers found too
confusing. During the first half of 1994, Computer Sales
Professional stopped advertising, then merged into Quantex.
                  Midwest Micro
  Midwest Micro is a fine company from the midwest: Ohio! It
began by selling just printers, but now it sells complete
computer systems too. It was the first major computer company to
offer a true 3-year warranty on the entire desktop system,
including even the monitor! Phone Midwest Micro at 800-572-8844
or 513-368-2309.
  To keep prices down, Midwest Micro uses CPU chips manufactured
by AMD and Cyrix, which charge less than Intel.
  Desktop & tower computers Here are Midwest Micro's prices:
CPU       RAM Hard dr.Video Extra hardware Price
486SLC-33Cyrix 2M250M14" with 512K          $799
486SX-33Intel 4M340M14" with 1M9600 fax, 2400 modem$1199
486DX-33Cyrix 4M250M14" with 1M9600 fax, 2400 modem$1249

486DX2-50Cyrix 4M250M14" with 1M9600 fax, 2400 modem$1299
486DX2-50Cyrix 4M340M15" with 1M14400 fax/modem$1449

486DX2-66AMD 4M340M 14" with 1M            $1299
486DX2-66AMD 8M428M 14" with 1M            $1499
486DX2-66AMD 8M428M 15" with 1MCD-ROM      $1699
486DX2-66Intel 8M428M15" with 1MCD-ROM, 14400 fax/modem, sound$1999

Pentium-60Intel 8M428M15" with 1MCD-ROM    $1999
Pentium-60Intel 8M428M15" with 2MCD-ROM, 14400 fax/modem, sound$2399
Pentium-90Intel16M528M15" with 2MCD-ROM, 14400 fax/modem$2999
  Most of those systems are towers, but the $799 system is a
desktop. Most of those systems include Windows for Workgroups,
but the $799 system does not. Most of those systems have fine
monitors (whose dot pitch is .28mm), but the $799 system has a
blurry monitor (whose dot pitch is .39mm).
  The video column shows that the amount of RAM on the video card
varies from 512K to 2M.
  If you buy a system that includes sound, you also get 3
CD-ROMs: Microsoft Encarta (an encyclopedia), Microsoft Money
(which balances your checkbook and keep track of expenses), and
Microsoft Works (an integrated program that does a little bit of
everything: word processing, databases, spreadsheets, graphics,
and telecommunication).
  Notebook computers For notebook computers with big hard disks,
Midwest Micro offers the best prices in the computer industry!
Here they are:
CPU   RAM   Disk drivesVideo  Extras       Price
486SX-254M260M, external 1.44Mpassive mono $1299
486SX-254M340M, external 1.44Mpassive monofax/modem$1499

486SX-334M340M, external 1.44Mdual-scan colorWindows$1999

486DX2-504M340M, internal 1.44Mdual-scan colorWindows, sound$2299

486DX2-664M520M, internal 1.44Mdual-scan colorWindows, sound$2499

486DX4-1008M520M, internal 1.44Mdual-scan colorWindows, sound$2999
486DX4-1008M520M, internal 1.44Mactive colorWindows, sound,
fax/modem                                  $3999
  Each of those notebook computers includes an Intel CPU, DOS, a
trackball, a carrying case, and the kind of battery that lasts
the longest: nickel metal hydride (NiMH).
  In that chart, ``Windows'' means the best version of Windows
(Windows for Workgroups); ``sound'' means built-in sound
circuitry and a microphone; ``fax/modem'' means a 9600-baud fax
with a 2400-baud modem.
  When the chart says the 1.44M floppy drive is ``internal'',
that drive is built into the notebook, and the notebook weighs
about 7 pounds.
  When the chart says the 1.44M floppy drive is ``external'',
that drive is in a separate case than the rest of the notebook; a
cable runs from one case to the other. Disadvantage: if you want
to take the external floppy drive with you, you must carry two
cases (the notebook and the external floppy drive). Advantage: if
you don't need the floppy drive, you can take just the notebook
itself, which weighs just 4 pounds.
  The chart shows that Midwest Micro notebooks offers three kinds
of video.
Passive-matrix monochrome (passive mono) works slowly and can't
display colors.

Dual-scan color works faster (by handling the top & bottom halves
of the screen simultaneously) and can display colors, but the
colors look somewhat dull and washed out.

Active-matrix color (active color) works even faster and displays
colors more brightly.
  Add $219 for 4M of extra RAM.
                                                            Gateway
                                                     Gateway
sells more computers by mail than any other company. Here's how
Gateway became the mail-order king.
                                                     How Gateway
arose Gateway began because of cows. In the 1800's, George Waitt
began a cattle company. According to legend, he got his first
herd by grabbing cattle that jumped off barges into the Missouri
River on the way to the stockyards. His cattle business passed to
his descendants and eventually into the hands of his
great-grandson, Norm, who built the Waitt Cattle Company into one
of the biggest cattle firms in the Midwest. The company is on the
Missouri River, in Sioux City, Iowa, which is the city where Iowa
meets South Dakota and Nebraska.
                                                     Norm's sons
___ Norm Junior and Ted ___ were more interested in computers
than cows, so in 1985 they started the ``Gateway 2000'' company
in their dad's office. They pointed out that computers are easier
to ship to customers than cows, since computers can withstand a
long journey without needing to be fed and without making a mess
in their boxes. 22-year-old Ted was the engineer and called
himself ``president''; Norm Junior was the businessman and called
himself ``vice president''. At first, they sold just parts for
the Texas Instruments Professional Computer. Soon they began
building their own computers. By the end of 1985, they'd sold 50
systems.
                                                     In 1986,
they moved to a larger office in the Sioux City Livestock
Exchange Building. They sold 300 systems that year.
                                                     In 1987,
they sold 500 systems.
                                                     In 1988, Ted
began a national marketing campaign by designing his own ads and
running them in Computer Shopper magazine. His most famous ad
showed a gigantic two-page photo of his family's cattle farm and
the headline, ``Computers from Iowa?'' The computer industry was
stunned ___ cowed ___ by the ad's huge size and by the IBM clones
it offered at such low prices. In the ad, Ted emphasized that
Gateway was run by hard-working, honest midwesterners who gave
honest value. (At that time, most clones came from California or
Texas; but Californians had a reputation for being ``flaky'', and
Texans had a reputation for being ``lawless''). Though cynics
called Gateway ``the cow computer'', it was a success. The
company moved a few miles south to a larger plant in Sergeant
Bluff, Iowa. Gateway's operations there began with 28 employees.
Sales continued to rise: in 1988, Gateway sold 4,000 computers,
for which customers paid a total of 12 million dollars.
  In 1989, Gateway sold 25,000 computers, for which customers
paid 80 million dollars.
  In the summer of 1989, Gateway had grown to 150 employees, so
Gateway began building a larger plant. To get tax breaks and
business grants, they built the plant upriver at North Sioux
City, South Dakota. They moved there in January 1990. During
1990, Gateway became much more professional. In 1989, the
``instruction manual'' was 2 pages; in 1990, it was 2 books. In
1989, the ``tech support staff'' (which answers technical
questions from customers) consisted of just 1 person, and you had
to wait 2 days for him to return your call; in 1990, the tech
support staff consisted of 35 people, and you could get through
in 2 minutes. Gateway also switched to superior hard drives and
monitors. Altogether, in 1990 Gateway sold about 100,000
computers, for which customers paid 275 million dollars,
generating a net profit of $25 million.
  Sales continued to climb. In 1991, Gateway sold 225,000
computers, for which customers paid 627 million dollars.
  By early 1992, Gateway was selling nearly 2,000 computers per
day and had 1,300 employees, including over 100 salespeople and
200 tech-support specialists to answer technical questions. By
the end of 1992, Gateway had 1,876 employees. Total sales for
1992 were 1.1 billion dollars.
  Not bad, for a company whose president was just 30! Since
Gateway was owned by just Norm Junior and Ted, those two boys
became quite rich! And at the end of 1993, Gateway went public,
so now you can buy Gateway stock and own part of that dreamy
company.
  Gateway's become a rapidly growing cash cow: moo-lah, moo-lah!
  But Gateway hasn't lost its sense of humor. When you buy a
Gateway computer, it comes in a box painted to look like a dairy
cow: white with black spots.
  Each Gateway ad begins with gigantic photographs. In early ads,
the photos showed individuals in beautiful landscapes. In newer
ads, the photos show hoards of Gateway employees dressed as Robin
Hood's men in Sherwood Forest, top-hatted performers in Vegas
cabarets, teenagers in a nostalgic 1950's diner bathed in neon
glow, or movie directors applauding a ship full of pirates.
  The eye-popping photos, which seem to have nothing to do with
computers, grab your attention. (Gateway's diner ad includes the
only photo I've ever seen that makes meat loaf look romantic!)
Then you get headlines and florid prose that try to relate the
scene to Gateway's computers. Finally, after all that multi-page
image-building nonsense, you get to the ad's finale, which
reveals Gateway's great technical specifications (specs), great
service policies, and low prices.
  That way of building an ad ___ fluff followed by stuff ___ has
worked wonders for Gateway! The idiots admire the photos, the
techies admire the specs, and everybody buys!
  Gateway was the first big mail-order manufacturer to give
honest pricing: the advertised price includes everything except
shipping. The price even includes a color monitor. And since the
specs of all the components are great, a Gateway system is a
dream system. When accompanied by dreamy ads and offered at a
ridiculously low price, how can you not buy?
  The company's official name is ``Gateway 2000''. Phone
800-LAD-2000 or 605-232-2000. The address is 610 Gateway Drive,
North Sioux City, South Dakota 57049.
  Prices Here are Gateway's prices:
CPU   RAM Hard dr.VideoExtras   Programs   Price
486SX-33 4M340M 14" 1M          Microsoft Works$1299
486SX-33 4M340M 14" 1Msound, fax/modemMicrosoft Works + more$1499

486DX2-66 4M340M14" 1M          Microsoft Works$1599
486DX2-66 8M340M14" 1Msound, fax/modemMicrosoft Works + more$1999
486DX2-66 8M540M15" 1M PCI      Microsoft Office Pro$2299

Pentium-60 8M540M15" 1M PCI     Microsoft Office Pro$2499

Pentium-90 8M540M15" 2M PCI     Microsoft Office Pro$2999
Pentium-9016M540M17" 2M PCIsoundMicrosoft Office Pro$3999
Each system includes a 1.44M floppy drive, CD-ROM drive, DOS,
Windows for Workgroups, and mouse. The $3999 system is a tower;
the cheaper systems are desktops.
  In that chart, Microsoft Office Pro is a software collection
that includes a word processor (Microsoft Word), database
(Access), spreadsheet (Excel), and presentation-graphics program
(Powerpoint). The ``+ more'' is a software collection that
includes a general encyclopedia (Encarta), an encyclopedia of
baseball lore (Microsoft Baseball), a golf game to play
(Microsoft Golf), a checkbook program (Microsoft Money), and some
computerized photographs (Corel Photo CD).
                                                     Shipping If
you order a computer, you must typically wait 3 weeks to receive
it. That's because Gateway is swamped with orders and won't ship
your order until nearly 3 weeks after you order; then Gateway
will ship the computer by 2-day air and charge you $95 for
shipping.
                                                     Dropping
prices Those prices went into effect in July of 1994. By the time
you read this book, Gateway's prices might be even lower.
                                                     When you
phone Gateway to check a price, Gateway's salespeople often quote
you a lower price than advertised. That's because Gateway's
prices drop often, and the ads aren't as up-to-date as what the
salespeople say. Moreover, Gateway likes to fool competitors by
pretending to have high prices while actually offering prices so
low that you can't say no, so competitors can't figure out why
everybody's buying from Gateway.
                                                     Support
Inspired by competition from Midwest Micro, Gateway now offers a
3-year warranty on the entire system, including even the monitor.
Gateway also gives you a 30-day money-back guarantee, lifetime
toll-free tech support, 3-year on-site service (from Dow Jones,
if you're within 100 miles of a Dow Jones service center), and
free shipping of replacement parts by overnight air.
                                                     Exception:
for notebook and subnotebook computers, the warranty and on-site
service is just 1-year instead of 3-year.
                                                     Delays Up
through 1992, Gateway's popularity grew rapidly, and Gateway
acquired many customers ___ too many for Gateway to handle!
Gateway was understaffed. Customers complained about getting busy
signals, shipping delays, and incompetent tech-support staff. The
delays got worse and worse, until they reached a crisis point in
January of 1993. By then, many of Gateway's former customers got
disgusted and switched to other vendors instead, and complained
to me and other journalists. Infoworld, The Wall Street Journal,
and I wrote articles saying how bad Gateway had become.
                                                     That was
enough of a ``kick in the pants'' to make Gateway clean up its
act. After January of 1993, Gateway gradually improved the
quantity and quality of its staff, so by August of 1993 Gateway's
service and support had become no worse than the industry
average.
  But in September of 1993, Gateway started to get overloaded
again; and by the Christmas of 1993, Gateway was so overloaded
that customers began to complain. By January of 1994, Gateway was
back in a stage of full-blown crisis again ___ just like a year
before! Throughout the first half of 1994, Gateway's delays were
intolerable: about 5 weeks to get a computer, and
next-to-impossible to get through to the technical-service
department.
  I hope Gateway improves again!
  Keyboard Gateway's keyboard is manufactured by Maxiswitch and
completely programmable: you can program any key to perform any
function. For example, if you don't like the SHIFT key's
location, you can program a different key to act as the SHIFT
key.
  Unfortunately, that feature is too fancy: many beginners
accidentally hit the ``Program macro'' button, which then
reprograms the keys so no key works as expected! Beginners have
trouble finding the instructions that explain how to reset the
keyboard to act normally again.
  Modems Gateway charges $129 for a 14400-baud fax/modem.
  Giant monitors If your system is advertised as having a 15-inch
monitor, you can switch to a 17-inch monitor by adding $335. If
your system is advertised as having just a 14-inch monitor, you
can switch to a 17-inch monitor by adding $395.
  Notebooks and subnotebooks Gateway sells notebook computers
having color screens. Gateway calls them Colorbooks. Each Gateway
Colorbook weighs about 6 pounds. Here are the details:
CPU   RAM Fax/modem   Programs Price
486SX-334M            Microsoft Works$2199
486DX2-404M9600 fax, 2400 modemMicrosoft Works$2699
486DX2-508M9600 fax, 2400 modemMicrosoft Office Pro$3199
486DX4-758M14400 fax, 14400 modemMicrosoft Office Pro$3699
Each Colorbook is 11.7 inches wide, 8.5 inches deep, and 1.77
inches thick. The screen is 10.3 inches and dual-scan. The
keyboard has 85 keys and includes a trackball, a built-in 1.44M
drive, a removable 250M hard drive, and the best kind of battery
(NiMH).
  Gateway also sells computers that are even smaller:
subnotebooks! Gateway calls them Handbooks. They're built for
Gateway by Texas Instruments. Each Gateway Handbook has a
7.9-inch monochrome screen and weighs just 3 pounds. Here are the
details:
CPU   RAM HardFax/modem ProgramsPrice
486SX-254M 80M9600/2400 Microsoft Works$1895
486DX2-408M130M14400/14400Microsoft Works$2295
486DX2-508M250M14400/14400Micr. Office Pro$2999
Each Handbook is 9.75 inches wide, 5.9 inches deep, and 1.6
inches thick. The keyboard has 78 keys and includes a joystick
(instead of a trackball). One reason why the computer weighs so
little is that it does not contain the floppy-disk drive, which
is separate and external. The price includes the computer itself,
the external 1.44M floppy-disk drive, 2 NiMH batteries, and a
cable to transfer data to & from a desktop computer.
  Each Colorbook and Handbook also comes with an AC/DC converter,
a carrying case, DOS, and Windows for Workgroups.
                                         Should you buy from
Gateway? Since Gateway usually charges more than competitors such
as Quantex, VTech, and Midwest Micro, and since Gateway usually
subjects you to longer delays in shipping and in getting through
to technical support, I normally recommend buying from those
competitors instead. But some folks prefer to buy from Gateway
anyway, since Gateway includes more software, charges less for
upgrades, and is a more stable company.

                                                   Packard Bell
                                         Packard Bell tries to
sell computers to the average American, who is curious about
computers but doesn't understand them and doesn't want to spend
much. Since the average American doesn't visit computer stores
and is scared to buy a computer by mail-order, Packard Bell sells
cheap clones through discount department stores (such as Sears,
Walmart, Sam's Club, Lechmere, Fredder, Price Club, Costco,
Staples, and Office Max). The typical Packard Bell computer sells
for about $1000, though Packard Bell also makes fancier models
that sell for about $2000.
                                         Packard Bell computers
are popular because they typically come with about 15 easy-to-use
programs that are loaded already on the hard disk, so you can
start using the computer immediately. The programs include games,
tutorials, educational experiences, and simple productivity tools
(such as Microsoft Works, which includes a word processor,
database, spreadsheet, etc.).
                                         To keep the advertised
price low, it typically includes a poor monitor (.39mm dot pitch,
interlaced) or doesn't include any monitor at all.
                                         The programs are on the
hard disk but not on floppy disks. If you accidentally erase the
hard disk, you've lost the programs! When you buy the computer,
you're supposed to also buy a big stack of blank floppy disks and
copy all the programs from the hard disk to floppy disks; but
many consumers forget to do that.
                                         What if it breaks? Most
stores have a 30-day money-back guarantee. If your computer
breaks during that 30-day period, your best bet is to return it
to the store and ask for your money back.
                                         If the computer breaks
after the 30-day period, don't bother returning it to the store:
the store won't give you your money back, and the store won't be
able to fix the computer. Instead, you must phone Packard Bell.
                                         During the early 1990's,
getting a Packard Bell computer repaired was tough. For example,
I wrote this comment in the 1990 edition of The Secret Guide to
Computers:
Warning: getting a Packard Bell computer repaired is tough.
Dealers complain that Packard Bell doesn't provide replacement
parts; customers complain that dealers say to phone Packard Bell,
which rarely answers the phone. When it DOES answer, it says to
leave your phone number for a call back. Then it either neglects
to call you or tells you to phone a service company that tells
you to get lost.
                                         By 1993, Packard Bell
improved slightly, but then Packard Bell's phone-support center
got wrecked by the earthquake in Northridge & Los Angeles in
January 1994. Customers who called after that got just
circuit-busy messages.
                                         In July 1994, Packard
Bell moved its support center to Utah, which has fewer
earthquakes. The support center's in the town of Magna, a suburb
of Salt Lake City. But if you try phoning Packard Bell's support
center (at 800-733-4411), you still usually get a recorded
message saying that all lines are busy and you should try writing
a letter or sending electronic mail instead. Of course, sending
``electronic mail'' is difficult if your computer is broken!
  In spite of its questionable repair record, Packard Bell has
grown rapidly and become one of the biggest computer companies in
the USA. That's because Packard Bell has the right formula: good
distribution (you can find Packard Bell computers at most
department stores across the USA), good price (amazingly cheap),
good easy-to-use programs (though they're the cheap kind that
don't cost Packard Bell much), repairs handled directly by
Packard Bell (so the department stores don't need any computer
technicians on their staff), and a good-sounding name (``Packard
Bell'').
  The name ``Packard Bell'' sounds good because it reminds
consumers of the Bell Telephone companies, and consumers think
``Packard Bell'' might be somehow related to ``Pacific Bell'' or
some other well-respected phone company ___ perhaps a merger
between Hewlett-Packard and Ma Bell? To encourage that
misconception, Packard Bell's slogan is ``America grew up
listening to us.'' But actually, Packard Bell is a completely
independent company that never had anything to do with any phone
company. Back in the 1950's, there was an unrelated company
called ``Packard Bell'', which built radios; the Packard Bell
computer company bought the name ``Packard Bell'' from the radio
company, just so that the computer company would sound like it
was related to a phone company. Some states require Packard Bell
computers to be sold with a disclaimer warning the consumer that
Packard Bell computers are ``not affiliated with any Bell System
entity''.
  In surveys of customer satisfaction done by PC Magazine and PC
World, customers who have bought computers from Packard Bell
computers are much less happy than customers who have bought
other brands. But that's probably because the customers who were
surveyed just outgrew their Packard Bell computers and longed for
computers that were fancier ___ and that had a better record of
handling repairs.

         Cheapest computers
  If you browse through the ads in Computer Shopper magazine,
you'll find companies that charge even less than Quantex and
VTech. Many folks have asked me about the following advertisers,
whose prices are about $100 cheaper than VTech and Quantex:
Cybermax
133 North 5th St.
Allentown PA 18017
phone [phone]

ABS Computer Technologies
13455 Brooks Dr. #A
Baldwin Park CA 91706
phone [phone] or 818-337-3883
  To save money, Cybermax uses CPU chips by AMD instead of by
Intel. ABS uses Intel chips in some computers, AMD chips in
others.
  I don't have feedback yet about those companies; I don't know
yet whether their customers are happy or sad. Probably the
companies are fine, but proceed at your own risk. Whenever you
want to swap data with me about those companies, phone me at
617-666-2666.
  Cybermax has a 45-day money-back guarantee. ABS has a 30-day
money-back guarantee.
  But if you want to get your money back from Cybermax, ABS, or
any other company, remember that ``money-back guarantee'' does
not mean ``hassle-free''. Every computer company, from IBM on
down, gives you these headaches: shipping charges aren't
refundable; to get a refund, you must return the original
packaging; before returning the computer, you must phone to get a
return-merchandise authorization
number (RMA number); the employees who can give you an RMA number
might be hard to reach; if you return a computer, you don't know
how long the vendor will stall before giving you a refund; and
the whole process might waste so much of your time and give you
such an upset tummy that you'll think ``computers'' should be
spelled ``come pukers''.
                                         People who fish for
rock-bottom prices (by phoning unknown vendors such as Cybermax
and ABS) are called bottom fishers. If you decide to go bottom
fishing, I hope your fishing expedition succeeds and you catch a
good fish. Good luck!

                                                     Comp USA
                                         The most popular chain
of computer superstores is Comp USA. It's based in Dallas but has
stores in many other big cities nationwide.
                                         Comp USA sells many
computer brands (such as Dell, Compaq, and Toshiba). In 1991,
Comp USA began building its own computers, called Compudyne.
                                         In previous editions of
this Guide, I recommended Compudyne computers. But lately,
Compudyne prices have been too high to be competitive. I hope
they go back down!
                                         To find out more about
Compudyne computers, visit your local Comp USA store or phone
Comp USA's headquarters at 800-COMP-USA (or 214-702-0055).

                                                      Compaq
                                         The first company that
made high-quality IBM clones was Compaq. (Before Compaq, the only
IBM clones available were crummy.)
                                         How Compaq began It all
began on a napkin. Sitting in a restaurant, two engineers drew on
a napkin their picture of what the ideal IBM clone would look
like. Instead of being a desktop computer, it would be a luggable
having a 9-inch built-in screen and a handle, the whole computer
system being small enough so you could pick it up with one hand.
Then they built it! Since it was compact, they called it the
Compaq Portable Computer and called the company Compaq Computer
Corporation.
                                         They began selling it in
1983. They charged about the same for it as IBM charged for the
IBM PC.
                                         They sold it just to
dealers who'd been approved by IBM to sell the IBM PC. That way,
they knew all their dealers were reliable ___ and they competed
directly against IBM, in the same stores.
                                         They succeeded
fantastically. That first year, sales totalled 100 million
dollars.
                                         In 1984, they inserted a
hard drive into the computer and called that souped-up luggable
the Compaq Plus. They also built a desktop computer called the
Deskpro. Like Compaq's portable computers, the Deskpro was priced
about the same as IBM's computers, was sold just through IBM
dealers, and was built well ___ a marvel of engineering, better
than IBM's.
                                         Later, Compaq expanded:
it built IBM clones in many sizes, from towers down to
subnotebooks. Compaq computers have all gotten the highest praise
___ and the highest prices. Because of their high prices, they're
not cost-effective.
                                         New leadership Compaq
was founded by Rod Canion. He was Compaq's chief executive until
1991, when his board of directors fired him and replaced him by
Eckhard Pfeiffer, who lowered Compaq's astronomical prices
somewhat and began selling through a greater variety of dealers
and also through mail-order.
  In 1994, Compaq became popular enough to catch up to IBM and
Apple. Which company sells the most computers in the whole world?
The answer is a three-way tie among Compaq, IBM, and Apple.
  Compaq's new, cheaper computers are called Pro Linea computers,
and Compaq makes even cheaper ones called Presario computers.
Though cheaper than Compaq's older computers, they still cost
much more than IBM clones from competitors such as Quantex,
VTech, Midwest Micro, Gateway, and Packard Bell. Though Compaq
has dropped prices several times, each drop started a price war
where Compaq's competitors replied by dropping their prices too,
so Compaq computers are still a bit overpriced in relation to
competitors.
  Though Compaq's prices remain high enough to prevent me from
buying a Compaq, I'm grateful to Compaq for starting the price
wars that let me pay less to Compaq's competitors!
  Aero Compaq's subnotebook computer called the Aero because it's
almost lighter than air: it weighs just 3½ pounds. At 7½"x10¼",
it's smaller than a sheet of paper; and it's just 1½" thick.
Discount dealers sell it for just $949. That price includes a
486SX-25 CPU, 4M RAM, 84M hard drive, 8" gray-scale screen,
trackball, DOS, Windows, and a program that helps you organize
your time & work (Lotus Organizer). Since it does not include a
floppy drive, there are two practical ways to feed it popular
programs. . . .
Method 1: buy an external floppy drive.

Method 2: run a cable from a desktop computer to the Aero, and
transfer programs to the Aero through the cable.
  Phone Compaq's in Houston at 800-888-8196.

                Dell
  Although Compaq was the first company that made good IBM
clones, its clones were expensive. The first company that sold
fast IBM clones cheaply was PC's Limited, founded in 1984 by a
19-year-old kid, Michael Dell. He operated out of the bedroom of
his condo apartment, near the University of Texas in Austin.
  At first, his prices were low ___ and so were his quality and
service. Many of the computers he shipped didn't work: they were
dead on arrival (DOA). When his customers tried to return the
defective computer equipment to him for repair or a refund, his
company ignored the customer altogether. By 1986, many upset
customers considered him a con artist and wrote bitter letters
about him to computer magazines. He responded by saying that his
multi-million-dollar company was growing faster than expected and
couldn't keep up with the demand for after-sale service. (Hmm . .
. sounds like Gateway!) People called him a ``ding-dong'', and he
became known as ``Ding-Dong Dell''. (The story of Dell versus
Gateway has become known as ``Ding-Dong Dell & The Farmer Doing
Well''.)
  In 1987, Dell raised his quality and service ___ and his
prices. In 1988, he changed the company's name to Dell Computer
Corporation.
  Now he charges almost as much as IBM and Compaq. His quality
and service are top-notch and set the standard for the rest of
the mail-order industry. In speed and quality contests, his
computers often beat IBM and Compaq. His ads bash Compaq for
having higher prices than Dell and worse policies about getting
repairs ___ since Dell offers on-site service and Compaq doesn't.
                                         For example, in 1991
Dell ran an ad calling Dell's notebook computer a ``road
warrior'' and Compaq's a ``road worrier''. It showed the Dell
screen saying, ``With next day on-site service in 50 states,
nothing's going to stop you.'' It showed the Compaq screen
saying, ``Just pray you don't need any service while you're on
the road, or you're dead meat.''
                                         His ads are misleading.
Although his prices are much lower than Compaq's list price, his
prices are just slightly less than the discount price at which
Compaq computers are normally sold. Although Compaq doesn't
provide free on-site service, you can sometimes get your Compaq
repaired fast by driving to a nearby Compaq dealer.
                                         Like IBM and Compaq,
Dell has recently dropped its prices, though they're still higher
than Gateway's. Dell has even started selling through
discount-store chains such as Comp USA, Staples, and Price Club.
To pay less for a Dell computer, buy from a discount dealer such
as Price Club instead of directly from Dell.
                                         Most Dell computers come
with this guarantee: if Dell doesn't answer your tech-support
call within 5 minutes, Dell will give you $25!
                                         Dell's newest attempt to
generate excitement is a Pentium for just $1999. That price
includes a Pentium-60 CPU, 8M RAM, 340M hard drive, 15-inch
monitor, DOS, Windows, and mouse. Dell also sells a fancier
version for $2599, which includes an even faster CPU
(Pentium-90), bigger hard drive (540M), and a CD-ROM drive.
                                         To get a free Dell
catalog or chat with a Dell sales rep, phone 800-BUY-DELL.

                                                    The A-Team
                                         The ``A-Team'' consists
of two manufacturers in Irvine, California: ALR and AST.
                                         ALR stands for
``Advanced Logic Research''.
                                         AST stands for the names
of its founders, ``Albert, Safi, and Tom''. Albert and Tom have
left AST, which is now headed by Safi. (Computer-trivia question:
what's Safi's last name, and how do you spell it? Answer:
Qureshey.)
                                         ALR and AST build
powerful, well-engineered computers, sold through computer
stores, and priced lower than computers from IBM & Compaq, though
higher than mail-order computers.
                                         ALR and AST are friendly
rivals ___ and like to crash each other's parties. For example,
when AST employees celebrated the company's tenth anniversary by
taking a twilight cruise, a pirate ship appeared below them,
manned by buccaneering engineers shouting, ``ALR! ALR!''
                                         When PC Magazine and PC
World did surveys of customer satisfaction, AST's customers said
they were slightly happier than ALR's, because AST's computers
needed somewhat fewer repairs and were also fixed faster.
                                         In 1993, Tandy (which
owns Radio Shack) decided to stop manufacturing computers, and
Tandy sold all its factories to AST. So now AST makes all Tandy
and Radio Shack computers. Those extra factories have turned AST
into one of the world's 7 most popular computer manufacturers.
(The ``7 popular computer manufacturers'', which make more
computers than any other companies, are IBM, Compaq, Apple, Dell,
Gateway, Packard Bell, and AST.)
                                         AST also manufactures
Dell's newest notebook computers. So if you try to buy a Tandy
computer, Radio Shack computer, or Dell notebook computer, you're
really buying a computer built by AST.
     Minnesota twins
  Back in the 1980's, the four biggest mail-order manufacturers
were Gateway, Dell, Zeos, and Northgate. Zeos and Northgate are
both in Minnesota and called the Minnesota twins. Zeos is in
Saint Paul; Northgate is 15 miles away, in Eden Prairie.
  In 1991, Zeos and Northgate both faced crises. Zeos's quality
dipped, and several reviewers received Zeos computers that were
defective. Northgate suffered severe financial problems and lost
its president.
  Zeos is still fully in business, though it's been operating at
a loss. Zeos's quality has improved, and in 1994 Zeos won many
awards for building the best and fastest Pentium computers. Zeos
tends to charge more than Gateway but less than Dell. Unlike
Gateway, Zeos ships promptly.
  Northgate has shrunk and no longer advertises to the general
public, though it still accepts orders from government agencies,
schools, and big corporations.
  Owls Zeos and Northgate are called the owls, because they've
been the only major computer companies offering toll-free
technical support around-the-clock, 24 hours. Even at 3AM, you
can get help from them ___ or buy their computers.
  Gateway and Dell accept calls just during daylight hours and
early evening. If you have a problem in the middle of the night,
Gateway and Dell don't give a hoot. The 24-hour service provided
by Zeos and Northgate has been very wise.
  How Zeos arose Zeos was founded by Greg Herrick in 1986. He
wanted to name the company ``Eos'' (which is the Greek word for
``dawn''). He paid a designer $3,000 to design the ``Eos'' logo
and stationery but then discovered that the name ``Eos'' was
already being used by an architectural firm. He had to invent a
new name quickly, and he hoped to shortcut the redesign process
by just adding a letter in front of ``Eos''. He went through the
whole alphabet ___ ``Aeos'', ``Beos'', ``Ceos'' ___ but they all
sounded wrong, until he got to ``Zeos''. That became the company
name!
  Years later, a colleague told him that in an early 1980's
episode of the ``Dr. Who'' sci-fi series, Dr. Who encountered a
planet named Zeos, whose sole resident was a computer, and the
expedition to Zeos was led by a guy named Herrick. Just
coincidence? Greg Herrick said he'd never heard of Dr. Who.
  Zeos grew very quickly ___ almost as quickly as Gateway. Zeos's
1987 sales
were 513 thousand dollars, 1988 sales were 10 million dollars,
1989 sales were 35 million dollars, and 1990 sales were about 120
million dollars. (Those are the figures for each fiscal year,
which ends after December.)
                             Occidental Are Zeos's prices too
high? To find out, Zeos started a company called Occidental
Systems, which offered computers at lower prices.
                             After The Wall Street Journal
discovered Occidental was secretly owned by Zeos and was selling
computers built by Zeos, some Zeos customers stopped buying from
Zeos and bought from Occidental instead. So Zeos shut down
Occidental.
                             Phone them Phone Zeos at
800-554-7172 or 612-633-6131. Phone Northgate at 800-453-0178.

                                                 Acer
                             The biggest source of Chinese
computers is Acer. It's a consortium of Taiwanese computer
companies. It has 20 factories, sells computers in 90 countries,
and has annual sales of about 3 billion dollars. Acer computers
are particularly popular in Southeast Asia and Latin America.
                             Acer makes Acer computers and Acros
computers. They're sold mainly through computer stores and
department stores.
                             Acer also supplies parts for other
brands of computers. For example, some Compudyne computers
contain motherboards made by Acer.
                             Recently, Acer's begun selling by
mail-order at 800-230-ACER. But instead of buying from Acer, try
Quantex and VTech, which charge less and are more helpful about
repairs.

                                             Alternatives
                             Some discount department stores sell
bargain-brand computers. Those computers cost so little because
they're crummy. Check the specs! Often you'll discover that the
CPU is a 386 or the slowest kind of 486 (a 486SX-20), and the
rest of their technical specifications are poor also.
Topic                                      Good computer   Crummy
computer
main RAM                                   4M, 8M, or 16M  2M or
1M
hard drive's capacity                      210M, 340M, 420M, or
540M                                                       170M,
120M, 80M, 65M, or 40M
hard drive's average seek time             13, 12, 11, or 10
milliseconds                                               15,
18, 28, 40, or 65 milliseconds
monitor's resolution                       800-by-600 or
1024-by-768
640-by-480 or 640-by-400
monitor's dot pitch (sharpness)            .31, .28, or .26
millimeters                                                .39,
.41, or .51 millimeters
RAM on VGA card                            1M or 2M        512K
or 256K
DOS                                        MS-DOS 5, 6, 6.2,
6.21, or 6.22                                              MS-DOS
4.01 or DR-DOS 6
Windows                                    Windows 3.1
Windows 3.0 or no Windows
mouse                                      manufactured by
Microsoft
off-brand Microsoft-compatible
                             Here's another reason why those
computers cost so little: when you ask the dealer for help
(because you're confused or the computer is broken), the dealer
will typically say ``I don't know. Phone the manufacturer.'' But
when you try phoning the manufacturer, you'll find that the
manufacturer's phone number is almost always busy, and you can't
get through.
                             Before buying such a computer, try
this experiment: ask the dealer what phone number you'd call if
you need repairs or technical assistance, then try phoning that
number and see whether anybody answers!
                             Local heroes In many towns across
the USA and around the world, entrepreneurs sell computers at
ridiculously low prices. You'll find those entrepreneurs at
computer shows and in the tiny stores they run.
                             Before buying a computer, check the
computer's technical specifications and the dealer's reputation.
                             If the dealer offers you software,
make sure the dealer also gives you an official manual from the
software's publisher, with a warranty/registration card.
Otherwise, the software might be an illegal hot copy.
                             Used computers You'll pay even less
if you get a computer whose CPU is slow ___ an 8088. A used
computer containing an 8088 CPU typically costs about $175. That
price includes even the hard disk and monitor.
                             Buy it from a friend, relative, or
neighbor who is moving up to a fancier computer; or phone a
used-computer broker such as the National Computer Exchange
(phone 800-NACOMEX).
                             Phone me For further advice about
which computer to buy, phone me anytime at 617-666-2666.