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From: smith@umn-cs.UUCP (Richard Smith)
Newsgroups: net.micro
Subject: Re: Buying your first home computer - (nf)
Message-ID: <365@umn-cs.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 21-Nov-83 21:02:40 EST
Article-I.D.: umn-cs.365
Posted: Mon Nov 21 21:02:40 1983
Date-Received: Sat, 26-Nov-83 04:30:01 EST
Sender: notes@umn-cs.UUCP
Organization: Computer Science Dept., U of Minn, Mpls, MN
Lines: 33

#R:sri-arpa:-1361600:umn-cs:6900020:000:1388
umn-cs!smith    Nov 21 10:36:00 1983

  Rather than generate flames of the form 'Computer {x} is better than
computer {y}' I'll just say a few things I've found:

1. Don't waste time/money on casettes for data storage.  I use my home
   machine to do my checkbook, maybe the simplest of all 'real' home
   applications; the speed of the floppy drive makes this worthwhile.
   Otherwise I'd spend most of my time waiting for tapes to spin.

2. Plan on getting a decent printer eventually if not immediately.  Look
   at sample printer output (hopefully from a beaten up demo model) before
   you decide.  Ask yourself what YOU would think if someone sent you
   a letter (or maybe a resume) typed on that printer.

3. Be sure you can get an RS232 interface.  Most interesting peripherals
   (except mass storage) can be attached through RS232 interfaces.

4. Look at the software you want to get and be certain that it will run on
   the machine you plan to buy.  If the machine is '{x} compatible', remember
   that some (or most) software for {x} may not run on the 'compatible'
   machine.  Try before you buy.

   If the computer you're looking at doesn't have these things, DON'T BUY IT
until the manufacturer provides them.  If the manufacturer doesn't have these
features availible, don't assume that they'll be in business long enough to
develop the features.

Rick.
[smith.umn-cs@CSNet-Relay]
 [...ihnp4!umn-cs!smith]