|
|
|
Byting Off What
You Can Chew
Shopping for Value in an Office Computer System
|
Business New Haven
9/8/1997
By: Stephanie Philips
|
Buying an office computer system is like filing a tax return: With patience, you can do it yourself.
Just set aside the time and money, decide what you want, and do enough comparison shopping to get the best deal - which is not necessarily the lowest price.
Approach the process as you would buying a car. First, establish an overall budget. Then figure out what's essential and what options are “toys,” or luxuries.
Laptops, while versatile, cost 30- to 40-percent more than comparably equipped desktop or tower models - and that's before adding external monitor and keyboard.
Must-haves in any configuration include the fastest processor you can afford, plus at least 24 MB (megabytes) of RAM and 1.5 GB (gigabytes) of hard drive space - preferably more on both counts. You'll also need a CD-ROM drive, if only to install software - even if you enjoy swapping floppy disks for hours, fewer and fewer manufacturers supply them.
Leave room in your budget for your software needs, a backup unit (tape, Zip, etc.), and some kind of device to protect your system against power surges and brownouts. Also figure in a few hundred dollars for service contracts (more on that below).
Take time to research what's out there now. Mass-market publications such as Consumer Reports have a difficult time keeping up with the ever-changing technology. Start by reading several issues of PC Magazine or Macworld (depending on your preferred platform), including their latest buying guides. Then hit magazines like Home Office Computing and Small Business Computing for reviews tailored to a business audience.
If you have Internet access, continue your research online. Yahoo!, a popular search engine, offers a whole directory at http://www.yahoo.com/Computers_and_Internet/Information_and_Documentation/Product_Reviews.
You also must decide where to shop. The choices include ordering direct from the manufacturer, as well as buying from a computer superstore, a local computer retailer or a mail-order house. Although prices may vary somewhat between these channels, the service differences are far more critical.
Ask anyone you can buttonhole about their experiences with different brands and outlets. r service?
Most systems require repair at least once in the three years (maximum!) before they become obsolete; manufacturers' warranties typically cover only the first year. You will probably want to buy an extended service contract to cover parts and labor on the pieces that are most costly to repair or replace: your hard drive, CD-ROM drive and monitor.
To get the best deal over the life of your system, examine service contracts and warranties closely. What parts and services are covered? Who provides the services, and where? You should always be able to send equipment back to the manufacturer for warranteed repair, but it's far more convenient to be able to take it back where you bought it or.
Will you be able to get a loaner or rental in the meantime? What's the usual turnaround time? Will paying extra guarantee you rush service?
You'll also need tech support for any applications that come bundled with your system. Some software companies make you pay for the call and/or the support; others keep customers on hold for hours.
Once you have a basic feel for what you want, write up a simple spec sheet or RFQ (request for quotes) and submit it to the places you'd most like to buy from.
If the quotes come in under budget, spend your extra money wherever it will give you the biggest productivity boosts. Depending on your needs, that may mean extra RAM, a larger monitor, a laser printer or color inkjet, more software or a faster modem.
But don't wait. Buy the newest, fastest, largest, best-equipped system that fits your budget. Now. Because every day you hold out for a better deal, you're paying the true price in opportunity costs. BNH
Stephanie Philips owns SoftLink Resources, a full-service computer consulting firm in Stratford.
|
Go FirstGo PreviousGo
NextGo LastGo
to Index
|
|
