Date: Sat, 13 Aug 1994 14:18:40 -0600 (MDT) From: "Rob Slade, Ed. DECrypt & ComNet, VARUG rep, 604-984-4067" Subject: "Personal Computer Buying Guide" by Pearson BKPCBYGD.RVW 940518 Consumer Reports Books 101 Truman Avenue Yonkers, NY 10703-1057 914-378-2000 fax: 914-378-2903 "Personal Computer Buying Guide", Pearson, 1990, 0-89043-622-3, U$14.95/C$19.99 Consumer Reports, the visible arm of Consumer's Union, is the definitive word in consumer protection and information. Computers, however, are a very specialized and complicated field of consumer goods. A book from Consumer Reports on the purchase of computers is worth careful consideration. This book, unfortunately, has very little to offer the first-time computer buyer. The book starts out with a list of seven basic steps for the purchase of a computer. Step one is to become computer literate. This is rather a Catch-22 situation: you can't buy a computer until you become literate, and you won't become literate until you actually have a computer. The book recommends rental software a few times--too bad it doesn't recommend renting the whole system for a while. The introduction states an aversion for recommending any specific computer, but the book seems to avoid being locked into any area, or age, of technology. Many references, such as 300 bps, modems, Apple graphics characteristics, and discussion of "plug" compatibility, are quite dated. Some material is positively misleading, such as the microprocessor comparison chart which lists only the "on chip" data width, making SX processors the equal of DX, or the "power conditioners" that start at prices as low as $15. Others are plainly wrong, such as the statement of an 80286 as a "scaled down" 8088, or a suggested AUTOEXEC.BAT file, with four out of six commands invalid. (Mac devotees need not feel left out: they apparently can't find peripherals or software.) There tends to be some germ of truth in many of these statements, but newcomers to the scene will not have the background to discern it. In terms of advice on the actual purchase, it tends to be limited to, "You get what you pay for." In the computer world, of course, this simply isn't true. The book also suggests sticking with brand names, which is questionable advice in the PC commodity market. Magazines are recommended as a good source of reviews. (Well, what else do you expect from a book which lists only one online service--PRODIGY.) There is some good advice here. Steps three to five of the plan are what I always recommend: assess your needs first, *then* choose software, and only *then* choose hardware to support the software. However, the good points are relatively buried in a mass of dross. This, regrettably, is not one of CR's better efforts. (Consumer Reports seems to be aware of their limitations--aside from this book, they have done only one computer related item, a comparison of printers.) copyright Robert M. Slade, 1994 BKPCBYGD.RVW 940518 ====================== DECUS Canada Communications, Desktop, Education and Security group newsletters Editor and/or reviewer ROBERTS@decus.ca, RSlade@sfu.ca, Rob Slade at 1:153/733 DECUS Symposium '95, Toronto, ON, February 13-17, 1995, contact: rulag@decus.ca