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Step 1: Is your computer OK? |
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| If you want to access the internet and have your own
web site, some of the older computers (for example, the 386) are just not worth the
hassle. They are out-of-date and would need disk space and memory upgrades. Nor do they have
processor cards, graphics cards or the physical slots required |
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| I have a friend who has a 486 and accesses the
internet OK (she doesn't have a web site), BUT Helen had a 486 and experienced so many
difficulties when the family decided to go on the internet, they went out and bought a new
computer |
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| If you want a business web site, I feel you need
quality tools and it's worth paying the money in the long run |
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| Four years ago, I walked out (very dramatic!) on a
well-paid job. I decided that I wanted to work for myself and the first step was to buy a home
computer. I found the process of buying a computer very INTIMIDATING! I felt so stupid in the
store when the salesman talked about megabytes, ram, bits, etc, I nearly ran out the door!
I didn't have a clue! |
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| The first decision I faced was whether to buy a
brand name or a non-brand name computer. I met someone who built computers as a hobby. He
said that he had to rely on others for quite a few components. He went on to say that he could
guarantee the quality of his work, but NOT the quality of the other components. Based on this,
I decided to buy a brand name computer |
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| This decision was easy compared to the ones that
followed. How much memory, video memory, hard disk space did I want? What cards did I want?
It went on and on. Oh and, by the way, you do know your computer will probably be
obsolete in a year or so. My head was reeling |
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| When I buy anything, I always think of the number
of times I will use it and, if I am going to use it a lot, I buy quality. I applied this
principle to buying a computer. Hey, this was going to be my bread and butter in the future
(fingers crossed)! |
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| SO I cut through all the decisions and simply bought
the second-best Hewlett Packard computer on the market at that time (the top Hewlett Packard had
a built-in scanner and I figured I didn't need that). I have been thrilled with it from
day 1. Their instruction booklet on setting it up was so easy, even I could do it, ie, this
green bit goes into this green bit, etc. It was actually fun |
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| Whew, decisions over! NO, one more! Accessories!
What "Windows" upgrade did I want? Here we go again. Most computers come with basic
Windows and you need to buy an upgrade. I went for Microsoft Office at the time, which included
Word, Powerpoint, Excell, Encyclopaedia Encarta and lots of games |
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| I bought my computer/accessories on 7 August, 1996 for Aust.$4,864
(around US$3,040). The computer cost Aust.$4,395 and the "Microsoft Office" package
cost Aust.$469. Hewlett Packard had a special on HP 7122 computers, which included a
HP 600 deskjet colour/color printer and they threw in a colour/color cartridge and printer cable |
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| But the GOOD news is that the price of computers has
almost HALVED. Helen bought the equivalent Hewlett
Packard computer to mine for the whole family to use earlier this year and she paid around HALF what
I did AND she has the latest "bells and whistles" |
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| Below I list the specifications of my computer and
Helen's. If the salesman says "THIS particular computer has so much RAM", you can
check it against my specifications and KNOW that I set up this web site (and adding to it all
the time) and my new US web site (which I co-own with Helen) using the below computer specifications |
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HP Pavilion 7122 - 1996 |
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HP Pavilion 6308 - 1999 |
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$4864, including Microsoft Office |
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$2899, including Microsoft Office |
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Intel 133 MHz Pentium microprocessor |
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300MHz AMD-K6-2 |
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| 16 MB EDO RAM |
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48 MB SD RAM memory |
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| 1620 MB hard drive |
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Extra large 6 GB hard drive |
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| 6 x CD-ROM drive |
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32 x max. speed CD-ROM drive |
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3.5" 1.44 MB built-in floppy drive |
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Ultra expandable and upgradable with 3 free bays and 4 free slots |
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MMX enhanced processor with 3Dnow! technology |
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Realistic 3D graphics with up to 4MB SMA video memory |
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2USB (Universal Serial Bus) Ports for easy plug and play |
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Accelerated 64-bit PCI local bus video |
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IMB video RAM for high resolution graphics |
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MPEG for full screen, full-motion video |
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Industry standard 16-bit sound |
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3-D Spatializer sound |
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Crystal clear 3D stereo sound |
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28.8 Kbps fax/data modem |
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K56 Flex Data/Fax Modem (V.90 Upgradable) |
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Telephone answering machine/voicemail |
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Telephone answering machine/voicemail |
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HP/Altac Lansing stereo speakers |
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Polk Audio stereo speakers |
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Windows 95 keyboard |
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One-touch enhanced keyboard |
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2-button mouse |
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2-button mouse |
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Toll-free hardware support |
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Toll-free hardware support |
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1-year warranty |
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1-year limited hardware warranty |
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Passed HP's 1,000 point quality inspection |
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| Now, where to buy your computer |
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| It's best to buy
from a store that has been recommended to you by family/friends for their support after you
buy just in case you need help. Otherwise, go to the computer department of a large emporium with
a reputation they want to protect. You will pay more, but you will have peace of mind |
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34 Tucker Avenue, Port Melbourne, VIC 3207, Australia, Phone: 61 3 9646 9511;
email: georgie@nailitnow.com.au |
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