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More Hardware Buying Tips

Make a Smart Monitor Choice: Since your monitor is the part of the computer system you interact with the most, it makes sense to get a good one. Plus, you'll still be able to use that same monitor years from now, even after replacing your computer.

The minimum size is 15" (diagonally). The maximum "practical" resolution for a 15" monitor is 832x624. (Any higher than that and the screen images will be too small. That can cause eye strain.) The next size up is a 17" monitor, usually displaying a resolution of 1024x768. The largest monitors (most often seen in professional publishing systems) are 19-21" and display a resolution of 1152x870 or higher. (For an explanation of "Screen Resolution," refer to the computer glossary later in this section, or visit the "How It Works" area of our Help Desk section.)

We recommend a 17" monitor. It gives you more room to spread things out on screen, and you'll spend less time scrolling around to see different parts of your documents - the most common productivity killer!

More Monitor Buying Tips:

You want the lowest "dot pitch" possible. 0.25 mm is best, 0.28 mm is the average. 0.31 mm monitors are cheaper, but hard on your eyes.

Take a few moments to look at the screen while you try out the computer. Is the image clear and focused. Does the screen flicker or wobble? Eventually those things can give you quite a headache.

Monitors with an "aperture grill" mask produce a slightly crisper image than those with a "shadow mask," but you'll pay extra for it.

PC monitors are often less expensive than Mac monitors. Recently, however, PC monitor manufacturers have started selling to Mac buyers by including a simple adapter that allows the PC-style monitor cable to attach to the Mac's monitor port. This is an easy way to get more monitor for your money.

Don't Forget VRAM: VRAM (Video RAM) is another area where people often skimp, and regret it later. More than half of our clients' complaints about computers being "slow" are not really caused by slow computers. They are caused by having too little VRAM, which slows down the monitor display.

The amount of VRAM you need depends on your monitor's screen resolution and the number of colors being displayed. (See "Bit Depth" in the glossary.) Typical home machines have 2 MB of VRAM. For larger monitors you should consider an upgrade to 4 MB or 6 MB.

If your Mac can't accept more VRAM, or if you want a really fast display, consider a "graphics accelerator" that installs in one of the PCI slots inside your computer. Most have 4 MB or 8 MB of VRAM, and some include a 3D accelerator. (Which helps if you play 3D games.) Another advantage of installing a graphics accelerator is that you can connect TWO monitors to your Mac. (Be sure to visit the "Practical Mac" and "How It Works" areas of our Help Desk section for more details about creating a dual monitor system.)

All About Modems: Everyone wants to be "on the web" these days, and a modem is your ticket. That's why many new Macs already have a modem installed inside. If your Mac doesn't have an internal modem (or you have an older Mac with a slower internal modem), you can buy a new external modem. Modem specs are too confusing to explain briefly, but it's hard to miss if you buy a high-quality, Mac-compatible modem rated as 56K, v.90 compliant. We've had good luck with Global Village, Supra and US Robotics modems. Of the three, we prefer Global Village's superior fax software. (WARNING: Bargain modems are RARELY a bargain. It's worth spending a little more for one of these good brands!)

All About Printers: There are basically three types of printers: Color Ink Jet, Black and White Postscript Laser, and Color Postscript Laser. Of the three, color ink jets are usually the least expensive. Recent technological advances, however, allow them to produce remarkably clear images that are very accurate in color reproduction. The best names are Epson and Hewlett-Packard. Prices range from under $200, to more than $2,000 for a professional-quality ink jet printer.

Next on the list are Postscript Laser Printers. The first difference you'll see with a laser printer is a higher price, because laser printers have their own "computer" inside. This makes them several times faster than ink jet printers, and allows them to produce black and white images that are far more crisp and clear than you'll find on even the best ink jet. Prices range from around $800, to more than $4,000 for workgroup and oversize printers. Hewlett-Packard (HP) is the biggest name in laser printers.

At the top of the line are Color Postscript Laser Printers. Most home users can't afford these ($3,000 and up), but they are common in offices. If color accuracy is important, however, you might want to consider a high-end ink jet instead. Although color laser printers are faster than ink jets, only the best and most expensive models print colors accurately. Color variations may be acceptable for basic office and business use, but it won't do for graphics professionals.

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Resources: 3 of 10
More Hardware Buying Tips Make a Smart Monitor Choice: Since your monitor is the part of the computer system you interact with the most, it makes sense to get a good one. Plus, you'll still be able to use that same monitor years from now, even after replacing your computer. The minimum size is 15" (diagonally). The maximum "practical" resolution for a 15" monitor is 832x624. (Any higher than that and the screen images will be too small. That can cause eye strain.) The next size up is a 17" monitor, usually displaying a resolution of 1024x768. The largest monitors (most often seen in professional publishing systems) are 19-21" and display a resolution of 1152x870 or higher. (For an explanation of "Screen Resolution," refer to the computer glossary later in this section, or visit the "How It Works" area of our Help Desk section.) We recommend a 17" monitor. It gives you more room to spread things out on screen, and you'll spend less time scrolling around to see different parts of your documents - the most common productivity killer! More Monitor Buying Tips: You want the lowest "dot pitch" possible. 0.25 mm is best, 0.28 mm is the average. 0.31 mm monitors are cheaper, but hard on your eyes. Take a few moments to look at the screen while you try out the computer. Is the image clear and focused. Does the screen flicker or wobble? Eventually those things can give you quite a headache. Monitors with an "aperture grill" mask produce a slightly crisper image than those with a "shadow mask," but you'll pay extra for it. PC monitors are often less expensive than Mac monitors. Recently, however, PC monitor manufacturers have started selling to Mac buyers by including a simple adapter that allows the PC-style monitor cable to attach to the Mac's monitor port. This is an easy way to get more monitor for your money. Don't Forget VRAM: VRAM (Video RAM) is another area where people often skimp, and regret it later. More than half of our clients' complaints about computers being "slow" are not really caused by slow computers. They are caused by having too little VRAM, which slows down the monitor display. The amount of VRAM you need depends on your monitor's screen resolution and the number of colors being displayed. (See "Bit Depth" in the glossary.) Typical home machines have 2 MB of VRAM. For larger monitors you should consider an upgrade to 4 MB or 6 MB. If your Mac can't accept more VRAM, or if you want a really fast display, consider a "graphics accelerator" that installs in one of the PCI slots inside your computer. Most have 4 MB or 8 MB of VRAM, and some include a 3D accelerator. (Which helps if you play 3D games.) Another advantage of installing a graphics accelerator is that you can connect TWO monitors to your Mac. (Be sure to visit the "Practical Mac" and "How It Works" areas of our Help Desk section for more details about creating a dual monitor system.) All About Modems: Everyone wants to be "on the web" these days, and a modem is your ticket. That's why many new Macs already have a modem installed inside. If your Mac doesn't have an internal modem (or you have an older Mac with a slower internal modem), you can buy a new external modem. Modem specs are too confusing to explain briefly, but it's hard to miss if you buy a high-quality, Mac-compatible modem rated as 56K, v.90 compliant. We've had good luck with Global Village, Supra and US Robotics modems. Of the three, we prefer Global Village's superior fax software. (WARNING: Bargain modems are RARELY a bargain. It's worth spending a little more for one of these good brands!) All About Printers: There are basically three types of printers: Color Ink Jet, Black and White Postscript Laser, and Color Postscript Laser. Of the three, color ink jets are usually the least expensive. Recent technological advances, however, allow them to produce remarkably clear images that are very accurate in color reproduction. The best names are Epson and Hewlett-Packard. Prices range from under $200, to more than $2,000 for a professional-quality ink jet printer. Next on the list are Postscript Laser Printers. The first difference you'll see with a laser printer is a higher price, because laser printers have their own "computer" inside. This makes them several times faster than ink jet printers, and allows them to produce black and white images that are far more crisp and clear than you'll find on even the best ink jet. Prices range from around $800, to more than $4,000 for workgroup and oversize printers. Hewlett-Packard (HP) is the biggest name in laser printers. At the top of the line are Color Postscript Laser Printers. Most home users can't afford these ($3,000 and up), but they are common in offices. If color accuracy is important, however, you might want to consider a high-end ink jet instead. Although color laser printers are faster than ink jets, only the best and most expensive models print colors accurately. Color variations may be acceptable for basic office and business use, but it won't do for graphics professionals.
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HOME . SERVICES . HELP DESK . RESOURCES . WHY MAC . CREDENTIALS
Copyright 1998, 5-Minute Mac Consulting, Wampum, Pennsylvania, USA