Wired
Buying Your First Computer

Dear Web Editor,

I'm planning my first computer purchase and have received lots of advice from many "experts." With each suggestion, I find myself more confused about what to buy. What bells and whistles should I consider for my first computer purchase?

Buying your first computer is, in some ways, as difficult as buying your first car. You have so many choices and options. It's easy to get wrapped up in the various features available and forget why you wanted to buy a computer in the first place.

My first piece of advice to both new and veteran technology buyers is to sit down with a pad and pencil and list the various tasks you want to perform with the technology you think you want to buy.

An analogy that illustrates this is a story about my dad and his propensity to buy the biggest and best of everything--regardless of the task for which a purchase would be used. My father wanted to own a John DeereTM tractor. When he tried to rationalize this purchase to my skeptical mother, he proclaimed that a John Deere "could be used for more than just mowing lawns." My mother pointed out that mowing the lawn was my assigned chore, one that took me 15 minutes with the Briggs and Stratton push mower we already had. Needless to say, we never did get a John Deere.

The point is most of us won't use our computers for complex tasks. You are more likely to make wise purchase decisions if you ask yourself the following basic questions before handing the charge card to the cashier:

• Why do you want a computer? The reason often comes from some sort of strategy, such as "I want to keep in touch with my daughter by e-mail when she goes to college next year" or "I want to do my own taxes." Write your reasons on a pad. This will keep you focused when you decide to buy.
• Do you want to use your computer for other purposes, such as surfing the Web? Forward thinking here can help you select among the various technology features, such as memory size and CPU speed, that extend your capabilities. The right choices can help you do more faster with more autonomy and, potentially, for less money.
• How and where will you use your new computer? Make sure your computer's monitor is energy efficient. (It should carry the ENERGY STAR® label.) The monitor also should come with multiple adjustment settings so you can position the monitor for your comfort. (For instance, adjust the monitor so that you can look straight at the top of the screen and drop your eyes--not your head--to look at the bottom of the screen.) Ergonomics applies to keyboards, too. The wrong keyboard can make computing a painful and irritating activity.
• Does the computer come with a readable, user-friendly manual? If it doesn't, ask the retailer to throw in a couple of books from the "For Dummies" series at no extra charge to help you learn how to use your new computer and software or opt for your second choice.
• Do you really need every bell and whistle available in a type of software? When choosing between ease of use and power, always go for the technology or software that's easier to use. Just because the salesperson recommends an item doesn't mean you'll be happy with it. Get advice from colleagues who have computing skills comparable to yours or from friends who use their computers for the same tasks you want to accomplish with yours.

Following this will help you avoid buying a John Deere when a Briggs and Stratton will do. Just remember to vet your final purchase against your basic computing strategy and make sure whatever you buy will meet your needs for the next few years.

Editor's Pick

Internet Picture Dictionary
Here's a free, online, multilingual picture dictionary designed especially for ELL students and beginning French, German, Spanish, and Italian language learners of all ages. Visitors to the site can search for words alphabetically or browse the existing topical categories on animals, numbers, clothing, fruits, vegetables, and colors. Each page includes six pictures and their identifications. The website also offers flashcard activities, word scrambles, fill-in-the-blank games, and spelling activities. Visit www.pdictionary.com/.

Owl Watch

Write for OWL!
What do NEA members Dave Arnold, Marian Galbraith, Patricia Peikoff, and the 25,000 subscribers to Works4Me have in common? Yes, they all are educators. But they also are pioneers building an online community on OWL.org (Our Web Location for Education) by writing articles and columns featured on the new website for NEA members.

Dave Arnold, an elementary school custodian in Illinois, writes "Dave's View," a column that provides unique perspectives on ESP issues and the school workplace.

Marian Galbraith, a middle school language arts teacher and the 2002 Connecticut Teacher of the Year, has two writing partners: ninth graders Torri Jennette and Dant? Gonzales. Their contrasting movie reviews in the "Reel to Real" column provide a fresh and interesting look at today's box office attractions.

Patricia Peikoff, who appears on OWL with her favorite pooch, is a secretary to an assistant principal in Illinois. Her articles provide insights about living with pets and cover topics such as choosing a veterinarian and adding new pets to a household.

Meanwhile, the 25,000 Works4Me subscribers, a group of educators from across the country, contribute practical classroom tips and answer educators' questions, which appear weekly on the Works4Me listserv.

NEA members also provide numerous articles on professional topics including teaching experiences, classroom management, mentoring, and professional development.

"Educators helping educators" is the main goal of OWL.org, and many opportunities exist for NEA members to share expertise with colleagues and help build the OWL.org community.

If you would like to write for OWL or have an idea for an article you'd like to see, contact OWL Editor-in-Chief Brian Bauer at bbauer@nea.org.