I'm sometimes asked to give advice on buying a new computer. Rather than giving specific suggestions about a certain brand or model, I usually offer some general "rules" that I've developed based on personal experience: my five "don'ts" for computer buyers.

1. Don't procrastinate. PC technology is evolving so rapidly that it's easy to think, "If I buy now, the best I can get is a 200-MHz CPU. But I've heard that 240-MHz models will be released in another four months. And prices will probably come down, so if I wait...." Well, if you do wait, you'll find yourself in the same situation. "Hmmm, they say 270-MHz models will hit the market within another three months, so if I wait...." If a new system can increase your productivity or offers enhancements you need in your work, then buy it - now! If not, you don't really "need" a new computer; you just "want" a new toy.

2. Don't buy at the top. Sure, that top-of-the line model looks inviting, but you'll pay a premium price. Mid-level systems almost always offer the best value. (And besides, today's top-of the-line system will be mid-level within six months.) The bottleneck to faster computing is usually user input; if you're doing word processing or creating a new spreadsheet, you're not likely to see any difference between a 166-MHz and a 200-MHz CPU.

3. Don't be an explorer. Blazing a new trail through the IT frontier might be fun, but it's probably not the quickest way to reach your destination. Make a wrong turn, and the technological cutting edge can quickly become the bleeding edge. Stick with mainstream, tested hardware and applications.

4. Don't be afraid to say "no." Can your bank balance weather a JPY400,000 hit just now? Do you have the time (and the disks) to reinstall all your favorite applications, or to learn the new applications/OS bundled with the system? Will buying a new computer contribute to your bottom line (be it increased productivity, or just the satisfaction of ownership)? If you can't answer "yes" to these three questions, then you probably should resist the temptation of a new computer right now.

5. Don't buy based on the first piece of advice you get. It's like never accepting prescription medicine from a friend: what cures him could kill you. You have your own unique set of computing needs, level of expertise, and likes and dislikes. Just because the office guru says that DOS-based QuickEdit 13.0 is the ultimate in word processors doesn't mean you'll like it better, or be able to use it more efficiently, than WordPro 97.

By the way, "don't" number 5 applies to the advice on this page as well. Always get a second, and a third, opinion and then make up your own mind.

WM. Auckerman