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Summary This document provides purchase recommendations for new Windows and Macintosh computers.

With the advent of "no-haggle" car dealerships and pre-approved mortgages, buying a personal computer may now be the most dreaded transaction many of us contemplate-but it doesn't have to be. Most health care reform organizations have similar computing needs that can be addressed by fairly standard configurations of equipment. Use our recommendations as a starting point in order make the best decision for you and your organization.

Windows Machines:

Processor
Minimum:  Celeron 466 MHz
Current Standard:  Pentium III-800 MHz

If you're buying a used or refurbished machine, we recommend buying a machine based on the Pentium II--400 or faster; these machines still have a reasonable lifetime ahead of them.

Memory
Minimum:  64 Megabytes (MB) of RAM
Current Standard:  128 MB

Most new machines now ship with 64 MB of RAM--plenty to run multiple applications under Windows.  64 MB is the minimum needed to run Windows 98 and Office 2000 well on a Pentium machine.  If you run multiple applications at the same time, you'll notice a significant speed boost from 128 MB of RAM.

Hard Disk
Minimum:  6 Gigabytes (GB)
Current Standard:  10 GB

Popular software packages require a great deal of disk space, so buy at least a 6.4 GB hard drive. Hard disk space is now very inexpensive; most new machines now come with 10 GB or larger hard disks.  We don't see much reason for ordinary users to go beyond 20 GB at this point in time.

CD-ROM
Minimum:  12X
Current Standard:  20-40X

Built-in CD-ROM drives are now standard on new machines. Most software is distributed primarily or only on CD, which makes for easy installation. There are thousands of information and entertainment software packages available only on CD. Finally, you can play music CDs on your computer while you work (don't underestimate how nice this is!).  That said, you needn't spend lots of money on a CD ROM as you will rarely use its primary function--software installation.

You may have noticed some configurations that include either a DVD or CD-RW drive.  While a DVD for your computer is fairly useless, you may want to consider a CD-RW.  These devices actually allow you to record data (or music) onto CDs.  The 650MB capacity of a CD allows for the storage of large and/or many files, making them particularly handy for archiving a photo library or distributing information.  However, we do not recommend using CD-RW drives as your primary backup tool.

Sound Card/Speakers
Minimum:  whatever comes with your system, just make sure to get a soundcard and external speakers.

Sound cards and speakers are now becoming standard components on computers, and add well under $100 to the total cost of your system. Audio is becoming an important part of Internet communications, and there are practical applications for this in health care reform work.  Music may even help you to keep your sanity (if you've still got it!)

Monitor
Minimum:  15", but really 17" is where you need to be
Current Standard:  17" SVGA color

(For in-depth coverage of monitors, see our article at http://www.onenw.org/toolkit/monitors.html. )

Monitors are one of the most important components of your computer system. If you have any doubts ask yourself what other thing is this world do you stare at more. Unless you say the back of your eyelids, the answer is probably nothing. 

A good monitor can help you work more productively by improving visual access to your work and perhaps more importantly, by improving visual and even physical comfort. It's also a very good investment. Unlike most other computer components, the monitor will likely last a number of years without becoming obsolete. Thus, it's usually worth spending a few extra dollars to get a quality monitor. 

Specifically, we recommend a 17� monitor with a dot pitch of .27 or less and a refresh rate (at 1024x768 resolution) of 75MHz or higher.  

Graphics Memory/Video Card
Minimum:  4MB video RAM
Current Standard:  same

Your monitor performance and overall image quality is dependent on the video card.  Because you need at least 4MB of Video RAM in order to display high-resolution, full color images, you should be wary of buying systems that cut this corner.

Where to buy:

Although every corner store seems to be selling PCs these days, the best way to purchase a high-quality machine from a reputable dealer at a good price is through mail order. Two of the leading mail-order PC companies are Dell (1-800-WWW-DELL) and Gateway 2000 (1-800-846-4208). If you have access to the World Wide Web (or have a friend who does), Gateway and Dell's Web sites will allow you to configure, price and order your machine online. Gateway and Dell also offer excellent customer support.  For $99, Gateway and Dell will extend their one-year warranty to three years, and, more importantly, provide you with an 800 number for priority access to technical support. U. S. Health Care Reform strongly recommends this option.

Gateway and Dell offer excellent deals on refurbished machines through their "Factory Outlets."  These machines are excellent for typical desktop use, are fully-warranteed, and are very competitively priced.  Availability ebbs and flows; you should check in with the store when you're ready to buy.   Gateway's Factory Outlet can be reached at 1-800-846-4510, and Dell's Refurbished Online Outlet can be reached at 1-888-798-7561 or on the Web at http://www.dell.com/outlet/ .   In recent weeks, Dell's Factory Outlet has had an excellent selection of ~$1000 desktop machines as well as a good selection of laptops.

Macintosh Machines:

The current crop of Macintosh computers are not highly configurable, but include the basics required by the typical small office.  Below are the most pertinent options and considerations when buying a new Mac.

Processor
Minimum:  G3
Current Standard:  G3 or G4

All current Macs are based on the new G3 or G4 processors.  They're fast, powerful and pretty much your only choice.   It is important to note that the Macintosh architecture is fundamentally different from Intel based machines, thus a 400MHz G4 is not the same as a 400MHz Pentium III.  With standard configurations the G4 will outperform the Intel pretty significantly (which partially explains why Mac's are more expensive).

Memory
Minimum:  64MB
Current Standard:  64MB

For new Macs, particularly those running Microsoft Office or graphics applications, we recommend 128MB of RAM.  It is especially important to think about this when buying an iMac, which has a somewhat limited ability to upgrade.   

Hard Disk
Minimum:  7GB
Current Standard:  10GB

Most small offices, particularly those using a file server, will never require more than the 7GB drive that comes on the lowest end iMac.  However, if you are a heavy graphics or multimedia user, you may want to think hard about bumping it up a notch.

Monitor
Minimum:  15"
Current Standard:  17"

While we strongly believe in the value of a quality 17" display, this is just not possible with the Apple iMac.  It may not be reason enough to bite the bullet for the more expensive PowerMac G4 Tower (or Cube), but it should be a strong consideration.  But if you do skip the iMac...

(For in-depth coverage of monitors, see our article at http://www.onenw.org/toolkit/monitors.html. )

Monitors are one of the most important components of your computer system. If you have any doubts ask yourself what other thing is this world do you stare at more. Unless you say the back of your eyelids, the answer is probably nothing. 

A good monitor can help you work more productively by improving visual access to your work and perhaps more importantly, by improving visual and even physical comfort. It's also a very good investment. Unlike most other computer components, the monitor will likely last a number of years without becoming obsolete. Thus, it's usually worth spending a few extra dollars to get a quality monitor. 

Specifically, we recommend a 17� monitor with a dot pitch of .27 or less and a refresh rate (at 1024x768 resolution) of 75MHz or higher.  

Input Devices and Peripherals
When buying a new Mac it is very important to consider the input devices and peripherals that you plan on using with the system.  Apple's new machines are not "legacy friendly," meaning they do not play very well with older equipment.  Their peripheral ports are USB and FireWire (most of your peripherals are something else) and they have a limited number of them.  It is also important to note that the iMac requires the additional purchase of an external floppy drive.

In addition to the aforementioned limitations, the standard keyboard and mouse on new Macs are widely considered to be ergonomic nightmares.  You may want to consider replacing them with more conventional full sized models.

Where to buy:

Because Apple controls the retail channel rather tightly, there are fewer "deals" on new Macs.   We've been buying machines from Outpost.com of late; this Web retailer has offered good prices, good service and free overnight shipping.  MacWarehouse is another standby for mail-order Mac users.