Change biggest constant in world of computers

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One thing users can count on with computers is change. Not so long ago, personal computers had 5 1/4-inch floppy drives, tiny hard drives, slow processor speeds and massive footprints. Now, a decade or so later, PCs can have 3 1/2-inch floppy drives, Zip drives, compact disc drives, CD/RW-ROM drives, digital videodisc drives, roomy 50 GB hard drives, super-fast processor speeds of 1 GHz and much smaller footprints.|ret||ret||tab|

In terms of processor speeds, Mike Green, president of Aztec Computer Outfitters, pointed out that systems have gone from 286 to 386 to 486 to Pentium, Pentium II, Pentium III and now Pentium IV chips. In addition, he said, Intel used to be the leader with its chips, but AMD, which came out with the Althon Thunderbird chip, costing less and running faster, has put Intel into second place.|ret||ret||tab|

The rivalry between chip makers is good for consumers. "One thing I've always noticed," Green said, "is that whenever Intel issued a chip and it hit the market at $1,200, it would almost immediately drop to $800 and then work its way down as soon as a competitor had released a similar processing chip. Now that competitors are issuing larger processor chips before Intel does, Intel isn't able to command the process any more, and processor chips cost half that."|ret||ret||tab|

"Apple Computer just announced their new Desktop G4s, which have been sped up tremendously," said Jeff Baird, president of Database Systems. He added, "Speed seems to be the main factor these days as new machines are introduced, and the G4 processor is twice as fast as a Pentium III with comparable clock speed."|ret||ret||tab|

Size is important, too. Apple's new titanium Powerbook G4 has an "outside enclosure made of titanium and is very light at 5.3 pounds, has a 15.2-inch diagonal screen and when closed is only one inch thick," Baird said. |ret||ret||tab|

With Apple's iMacs (now available with CD burners as well as a faster processor speed), "the whole computer is the size of a 15-inch monitor; it is a real space saver and a neat design. It has been one of the best-selling personal computers for the last three years, and it comes in different colored cases," he said.|ret||ret||tab|

In terms of size, laptops now have almost everything a "big" desktop computer offers, plus portability. Greg Lund, manager of consumer initiatives at Gateway Computers Inc., said, "I used to have a desktop PC at work and a notebook computer. Three years ago I did away with the desktop and went solely with the notebook. My notebook (a Gateway 9300) is designed as a desktop replacement and is light enough to carry around. I have everything with me all the time."|ret||ret||tab|

Lund said information storage and retrieval has changed. From the 5 1/4-inch disks of 10 or more years ago, disks went to 3 1/2-inch, which is still common, as is storing data on CDs. CD/RW ROM drives are popular. |ret||ret||tab|

The ability to record on CDs is a point of interest for computer buyers who want to create their own music CDs or store photos. It is also useful for backing up computer systems. |ret||ret||tab|

Some desktops and laptops have DVD drives. Green said, "One of my standard questions that I ask people is, Do you picture yourself watching a two-hour movie in front of your computer screen?' The only reason they started selling DVDs with computers is that it looks good. But it's not practical. The exception is with laptops if you will be spending a long time on them." He added that DVD drives are usually a combo that can do CDs as well as DVDs, but consumers should double-check to make sure.|ret||ret||tab|

Monitors have better resolution and there are more options in size and type. For example, "the flat-panel screens are the up-and-coming thing. The price is what is preventing them from becoming a standard so far. Right now they're about $650 on the low end for a 15-inch screen," said Greg Clift of PC Net.|ret||ret||tab|

An alternate point of view was offered by Green: "My experience is that the flat-panel screens cost more and have lower resolutions than the traditional screen. The advantage is they do take up less space."|ret||ret||tab|

Customizing is becoming more popular. For example, Apple's Power Mac G4 towers can be ordered in custom configurations, and Compaq has build-to-order PCs through such stores as Staples.|ret||ret||tab|

Aztec Computer Outfitters custom builds systems, and Green said customization is due to buyers becoming more discriminating and better educated about computers and being more affluent. "They've gotten the first round with a budget system and now they are looking for something a little more high-performance."|ret||ret||tab|

Gateway Country also customizes systems. "We're becoming more solution-based. We want to offer solutions to clients, not throw technology at them. Tell us what you want to do with the computer and we'll configure it, build it and put bundles with it so you can get done what you want to get done," Lund said.|ret||ret||tab|

Price is another change. "Computer technology is growing exponentially every year, yet the price to purchase new equipment continues to drop," Clift said.|ret||ret||tab|

"What you get for your money these days is substantially different than two or three years ago. Prices have come down to a tremendous value for the consumer in the computer industry," Lund said. |ret||ret||tab|

"You can get a machine today that has a processor speed of almost 1 gigahertz for under $1,000, where an equivalent machine three years ago we didn't even have that processor speed then would have been just under $4,000," he added.|ret||ret||tab|

According to local dealers, software, printers and other peripherals have all evolved. Microsoft has Windows Millennium and the Windows 2000 Server. Color laser printers are affordable. Printer ribbon is out and printer cartridges are in. Digital cameras bypass photo-processing and scanning time, making it easy to get photos into computer form.|ret||ret||tab|

As for the future, "wireless is something that Gateway is looking at. Everything so far has to be tethered to a phone line. In our notebook line you can get wireless networks for our business laptops; a card with an antenna slips into the computer and transmits data to another computer with the same type of card. You'll see wireless home networks where you won't need the phone line," Lund said.|ret||ret||tab|

Computer users already can sign legal electronic signatures over the Internet and have handheld personal digital assistants that feed information to their PCs it shouldn't be surprising that someone has developed a method to deliver smells, too. Sandeep Jaidka of India received a U.S. Patent in May, 1999 for a device to generate scents to accompany music, ads or movies on television, audio systems and computers. Perhaps it is the scent of things to come.[[In-content Ad]]