Checklists for Life

17

Your Computer

Most of us work with computers every day, but this constant exposure doesn’t necessarily make us feel confident about using them. If you’re bewildered by mentions of megabytes, puzzled by debates over system upgrades, and intimidated by technology in general, you’re in good company. But even the world of technology can be tamed with a few checklists. Once you know what to do and what to ask, you can find a computer that works just right for you—and keep it working that way.

 Computer Shopping Tips

Shopping for a computer is a little like ordering food in a foreign country: you may have a general idea of what you want, but you aren’t sure how to ask for it. Because innovations occur so rapidly, no book can give specifics about which machines to consider. But these shopping tips will offer good basic advice even as technology changes.

1.	Determine your needs. Computers are not “one-size-fits-all” technology. Before you decide what to purchase, evaluate how you will be using your computer: writing letters, keeping financial records, playing games, tutoring your children, sending and receiving e-mail, and so forth. If you plan to bring work home from the office, make sure you have software that can run your office files, or that you have the ability to connect remotely to your office network. If you have a computer gamer in your house, you might need speakers, video, and multimedia capability to make the computer games soar. Plan on building your own Web site? You’ll need a system that’s Internet friendly.
2.	Do your homework. You may be surprised how interesting computer magazines become when you’re thinking of buying a new computer. Scoop up a handful at a local newsstand (a few to look for: PC Magazine, PC World, Mac World, Home Office Computing, Small Business Computing). Read the computer column in your local newspaper. Familiarize yourself with what’s available in the way of features (see “Computer Lingo,” p. 265).
3.	Create your budget. The computer itself is only part of your purchase. If you fail to budget for the various add-ons (sometimes called peripherals), you will find yourself with either a system that disappoints you or a bill that surprises you. Some of the items you will want to include in your budget:
	• Computer
	• Monitor
	• Printer
	• Software
	• Keyboard and mouse or trackball
	• Drive for backing up your data (like a tape drive or Zip)
	• Additional memory
	• Modem
	• Speakers
	• Power protection
	• Scanner or digital camera
	• Internet connection
4.	Get the most computer you can for your budget. Computer technology changes quickly, but the amount you will need to spend to get an adequate computer system remains fairly constant. Instead of setting your sights on a specific computer and waiting for the price to hit your budget, set your budget first, then get the fastest computer you can for your money.
5.	Macintosh or Windows? There’s little difference in price between these two computing platforms, and most common computer applications, like word processing, personal finance, and Internet software, are readily available for both. Conventional wisdom is that Macs are easier to set up and use and are tops in graphics. Windows PCs, on the other hand, dominate the market and have a broader software selection. Make your decision based on what you’re most comfortable with; whether you need a computer that’s compatible with what you have at the office; and what software you need to use.
6.	Desktop or laptop? If you plan to take your computer on the road, or if desk space is extremely limited, consider using a laptop (or notebook) as your primary computer. But be warned that portables are just as powerful as their desktop counterparts, but they are more expensive and less expandable. Laptops also have smaller screens that can be harder to read, and smaller keyboards that are not as responsive. If you do decide to buy a laptop, you might want to consider combining it with a docking station—an attachment that lets you add a full-size monitor and keyboard.
7.	Buy from the right source. There are a plethora of places you can buy a computer—your local computer store, a computer superstore, a consumer electronics store, an office supply store, or mail order. Buy from a place where you feel comfortable. Make sure the salesperson takes the time to explain everything to you so you understand it. Ask about service and support options: Will the store help you set up the computer? What will they do if it doesn’t work? What is the return policy? You might want to consider paying extra for additional support just for peace of mind. If you don’t need much hand holding, you might want to consider mail order, which can be less expensive and highly reliable. If you do buy mail order, pay by credit card so you have recourse if you run into problems.
8.	Choose a brand name. If you’re new to computers, stick with a name you know. A “house” brand or a computer built by your cousin might be cheaper, but you could find yourself in a pickle should it suddenly start to malfunction.
9.	Don’t forget about training. If you’re a novice, be sure to sign up for some computer classes. The money invested will pay off in the long run in a more compelling computer experience.
10.	Look for bundles. Many computer stores now sell “bundled” systems that contain all the hardware and software you need. These can make shopping easier and save you money. Be sure to buy the right bundle—a “family” package that contains home entertainment and educational software won’t do the trick if you plan to use your computer to run a home-based business.

 Computer Lingo

Like any foreign territory, the world of computers has its own language. Master a few key terms and you’ll find the natives much friendlier.

1.	Processor. The processor chip is the “brain” of your computer. Windows computers use Intel chips like the Pentium, or Intel clones like those made by AMD or Cyrix. Macintosh computers use a processor called the PowerPC. Processors are rated by speed, which is measured in megahertz (MHz)—this is like the horsepower rating of a car engine.
2.	Operating system. This is the software that tells your computer how to work. Windows is the operating system for most computers. Macintosh computers use their own, separate operating system. The operating system comes with your computer.
3.	Memory (RAM). The amount of memory, or RAM (random access memory), affects how quickly your computer works with your software. For most users, the amount of RAM you have will have more of an effect on your computer’s performance than will your processor speed.
4.	Hard disk drive. Think of your hard drive as your computer’s filing cabinet. It stores all the software and data. Hard drive capacity is measured in gigabytes (GB) or billions of bytes.
5.	Floppy disk. This is the little 3 1⁄2-inch square disk that slips into the front of some computers. Floppies used to be the primary way software was loaded into your computer, or data was taken out of your computer. That’s no longer the case—most software now comes on CD-ROMs.
6.	CD-ROM drive. A CD-ROM drive operates a disk that looks just like the one that goes in your home CD player, but it holds software instead of music. Most software today comes packaged on CD-ROMs, which hold much more data than floppies. CD-ROM drives are rated in terms of how fast they retrieve the information from the disk: a 32x drive does it 32 times faster than an original 1x drive.
7.	Modem. The modem (which, if you’re interested, stands for “modulator/demodulator”) is what allows your computer to communicate with the Internet over your phone line. The faster your modem is, the faster your computer will be able to load and send information through the Internet.
8.	Monitor. This is the computer display screen. Like televisions, monitors are sized by measuring diagonally from the top corner to the opposite bottom corner. The screen’s resolution is measured in pixels, and sharpness is measured by “dot pitch” in millimeters.
9.	Video RAM (VRAM). This is specialized memory that lets your video monitor work with your computer. The more VRAM you have, the faster your graphics will load and run. This is especially important for multimedia software like games and certain Internet applications.
10.	Keyboard and mouse. Your computer comes with a keyboard and mouse, but make sure they’re ones you feel comfortable with. The keyboard should have some cushioning to reduce the impact on your fingers, wrists, and body. A mouse should feel responsive. Watch out for flimsy keyboards and mice—you’ll end up paying for them with aching fingers and wrists.
11.	Software. Software is what lets your computer accomplish certain tasks. You need different software packages to do word processing, use the Internet, or keep track of your household finances. Most computers now come with many of these software “applications.” Some basic software to look for:
	• An office suite that contains a word processor, spreadsheet, and database.
	• A Web browser for accessing the Internet and sending and receiving e-mail.
	• Personal finance software for keeping your household accounts.
	• Virus protection to protect your computer from assorted mischief makers.

BUYING FOR THE FUTURE

To make sure the computer you buy today is the computer you’ll be happy with a year from now, keep these ideas in mind as you shop:

•	When choosing a monitor, look for one with a resolution of 768 × 1024. Sharpness is measured by “dot pitch” in millimeters—smaller is better. Most PC users will want a dot pitch of .28 or lower.
•	Double your RAM, and you’ll extend the useful life of your computer significantly. In general, computers tend to come with the minimum amount of RAM necessary to run the latest software. But newer, more sophisticated software, requiring ever more RAM, comes along all the time. If you buy twice the RAM your computer comes with at the time you make the purchase, you won’t have to upgrade RAM when you want to run the newest applications.
•	Don’t get carried away with elaborate software packages you may never use. You will need different software to do word processing, use the Internet, or keep track of your household finances; but evaluate the package based on your current needs. Unlike RAM, software is easy to add later.

 How to Be Friends with Your Computer

This ten-point checklist tells you what you need to know and what you must do to coexist peacefully and productively with that inscrutable constant companion, your computer.

1.	Make backups. Any data that you create yourself is vulnerable to disasters, from power surges and viruses to equipment failure and human error. But the best disaster insurance in the world is free: Back up everything you create onto a diskette, so you will have a copy of your work separate from your hard drive. Save your work every fifteen minutes or so and save it onto a diskette at the same time. The process only takes a few seconds, and the habit could save you hours or weeks of time and grief.
2.	If it works, don’t upgrade it. As the old saying goes: If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. If Windows 95 is doing a good job for you, don’t rush out to get Windows 98 just because it’s there. Any time you change operating systems, you risk losing data and you’re more prone to battling bugs that haven’t been worked out by the manufacturer. Don’t be Bill Gates’s free beta tester.
3.	Upgrade with more RAM. You need a minimum of 32 MG of RAM (random access memory) to efficiently run many of today’s programs. You’ll get more for your money by upgrading the amount of RAM on your computer instead of buying a whole new computer. There is, however, one major caveat: don’t upgrade a platform less than a 586 (Pentium). For example, if you’re starting with a 486, first spend your money for the more advanced platform, then upgrade further by increasing its work capacity with more RAM.
4.	Buy a second hard drive instead of replacing a small with a larger one. When you add a second hard drive you save yourself the trouble of transferring data to a new one. And when you think of all the bookmarks, e-mail addresses, and programs you use, you begin to realize just what a blessing that can be.
5.	Buy antivirus software and keep current with the updates. See “Protecting Your Computer from Viruses” on page 273.
6.	Beware of strangers. Always download files to a floppy disk and run your virus check software before you open a file or execute a program from an unknown source. Remember that you can only get a virus from opening a program on your hard drive.
7.	Buy a good surge protector. Avoid the inexpensive ones (around $10) which use a metal oxide varistor (MOV) suppression system that can fail in areas with frequent surges. Especially if you live in an area with frequent surges, spend about $100 to get one that won’t fail.
8.	Keep at least 100 MB free on your hard drive. Today’s software uses part of the hard drive in addition to RAM. If you don’t have enough room on your hard drive, your applications won’t run smoothly. To check your hard drive in Windows 95, open Explore and select the Hard Drive window; that will tell you how much space is free. In DOS, type CHKDSK, then hit enter and it will give you the information.
9.	Purchase the right modem. Don’t believe everything you hear about the value of 56K modems. By federal law, you can’t get anything faster than 53K and in reality you’ll be lucky to get 44K. To work efficiently on-line and send and receive files and e-mail, you need a minimum of 28K. The old 1440 speed is completely inadequate for today’s technology.
10.	Keep all documentation that comes with your system and any software you purchase separately. This will help with resale, upgrades, and calling the company in the event you need technical assistance.

 E-mail Etiquette

E-mail has created a new frontier in communication. It’s faster and cheaper than sending paper-and-stamp letters, and the sheer ease of sending of e-mail encourages a certain informality. It’s now possible to dash off a note to pretty much anyone we choose—from the president of the company to your long-lost cousin Betty. This opens up exciting new territory, but it’s wise to learn a few rules of the road before rushing in.

1.	Don’t shout. Typing with ALL CAPS in e-mail is the electronic equivalent of shouting and is considered bad manners.
2.	Be brief. Keep your e-mail as brief as possible. Your message will be clear—and more welcome—if you say what you mean in the fewest possible words. Lengthy messages that flow through screen after screen are less likely to be read by busy people.
3.	Write clear headlines. The subject line of an e-mail form is intended to let the recipient know at a glance what the e-mail is about. Subject lines such as “a question” or “hi” are unhelpful and can be downright annoying to those who prefer to sort and prioritize e-mails before opening them. A descriptive subject line is a big help to the reader.
4.	Cool off. Never give in to the temptation to fire off an angry or sarcastic message. A tap of the “send” button makes this easy to do, but making amends afterward may be more difficult. Use your “save draft” file to hold messages until you are calm enough to reread before sending.
5.	Forward selectively. A joke that’s new and hilarious to you might not be to someone who’s already seen it or to someone who’s so busy that extra e-mail is a nuisance. Don’t get in the habit of routinely forwarding jokes and various other e-mails to everyone on your address list; send them only to those you’re certain will appreciate receiving them.
6.	Reply sparingly. Not every e-mail requires a reply and some need only a word or two. If you want to let the sender know you received something, a brief “Got it, thanks” is perfectly fine.
7.	Use good judgment. If you’re writing messages at work, be careful. Company e-mail can be retrieved and read and should not be considered private.

 Protecting Your Computer from Viruses

A computer virus is a software program that gets into your computer like a germ and infects your system. The most innocuous viruses may set off a few noises or some pop-up graphics, but the most serious can cripple your computer and erase your data. If you use a computer, chances are pretty good that you will encounter a virus at some point. You can limit its impact by following these basic guidelines.

1.	Get your shots. The only way to inoculate your computer is to install and use an antivirus software program. The most popular are Norton Anti-Virus (Symantec), VirusScan (McAfee/Network Associates), and Dr. Solomon’s Anti-Virus or Virex (Dr. Solomon’s/ Network Associates). All do essentially the same thing: they scan disks or data for known viruses and then eradicate any they find. This software is easy to set up and use. Configure it to scan a disk automatically when you insert it in your machine and to scan your hard drive each time you start up the computer for extra safety.
2.	Don’t forget your boosters. Something like six new computer viruses are discovered every day. Merely installing antivirus software won’t do the trick. It is necessary to update your software frequently—every couple of months at least—to scan for these newly detected viruses. The major virus protection software publishers make these updates available for free from their websites. Remember to scan your disk for these new viruses every time you update.
3.	Never download from people you don’t know. This should be second nature, much like looking both ways before crossing the street and not talking to strangers. People who write and spread viruses are sly—they try to disguise them in ways that catch you unaware so you’ll slip an infected disk into your computer or download an e-mail attachment. Be very wary of offers like “free software!” that sound too good to be true. Be skeptical about e-mail that contains attachments you didn’t request.
4.	Scan every disk you put in your computer. Even shrink-wrapped software has the potential to contain a virus. Also, close the little plastic window in the top right corner of any disk before scanning it. This will “write-protect” the disk, meaning that your computer can read the disk but cannot write to it, thus keeping a virus from spreading.
5.	Back up your data. Should a virus strike your computer, you will want to have a complete backup of your data and software to help you reconstitute your files. Copy all your files from your hard drive to a tape drive, Jazz or Zip disk, or other high-capacity removable drive. (Don’t even consider floppies anymore for this purpose; they don’t hold enough data.) Make these backups frequently—weekly if you use your computer daily. Another word of warning: if you’ve contracted a computer virus, be sure to scan and disinfect any recent backup files too. Otherwise, you risk reinfection.
6.	Don’t panic. If you do get a virus, don’t worry. First, run a clean copy of your virus protection software to identify and remove the virus. In most cases, following the software’s instructions will get you back up and running with no difficulties. If, however, you do experience problems, avoid drastic measures like reformatting your hard drive. Instead, contact your local computer professional for help. Most data can be recovered from even the most infected machine.
7.	Watch out for virus hoaxes. While there are thousands of genuine viruses, there are also some that only exist in people’s imaginations. You may receive an e-mail informing you of a new virus and asking you to forward the message to everyone you know. Experts recommend that you ignore these messages, which are almost always hoaxes, and do not pass them on.
8.	Ask the experts. Virus-tracking websites like Symantec’s Anti-Virus Research Center post information on viruses, including what’s real and what’s not. Look at one of these sites before you panic. See the “Resources” section for a list of URLs.