ELM Bulletin - August 31, 2009
Back to School Advice
The Staples ads have been telling us: “It’s the most wonderful time of the year.” While I believe that the most wonderful time of year is Easter, this is the time of year when students head back to their studies, with their parents trying to give them the best start possible. This month’s ELM Bulletin will discuss some of the things you need to know before you send your child back to school with a new computer.
FIRST, The Computer – Perhaps the most important piece of technology you can provide the student in your family is the computer itself. Back in the late 90s it was very important which computer you bought and what its capabilities were. These days almost any computer you buy will give your student many years of usefulness. Unless they’re heavily into audio or video processing you should be able to easily find the perfect combination of features and performance for under $800.00.
Even if media does enter into the picture, you’re still not going to have to spend a great deal more than $1,500.00. The best advice I can give you with regard to the computer purchase is this: Does your student like the system and does it meet the requirements of their school.
Take the person who will be using the computer with you to buy it. Let them have a look at it, out of the box if possible, to ensure that using the computer will be a comfortable and enjoyable experience. (Yes, using computers can be FUN!)
SECOND, The Operating System – Naysayers notwithstanding, we at ELM have found nothing lacking in the Windows Vista operating system. Quite to the contrary, we are quite pleased with what Vista is capable of and the features it has brought to the computer user. With Windows 7 ready to be released in October and already receiving very positive press, we would caution you not to think you have to wait for Windows 7 before buying a computer. Microsoft has a very good upgrade plan in place for anyone buying a Windows Vista system at this time to allow them to upgrade to Windows 7. But even if you miss that boat, Windows Vista is a very good, very stable operating system which we have found to perform very well.
The minimum version of Vista I recommend for a home/school system is Windows Vista Home Premium. Some schools may require student computers to have Windows Vista Business to take advantage of the school’s network. Windows Vista Business may also be essential if the computer will be used in a co-op or work environment.
THIRD, The Tools – A computer is a wonderful tool but is only as useful as the tools that are on it. Word processors, printing and email are obvious and are often packaged with the computer when it is sold. Below are listed three additional items that should also be purchased to ensure the smile of bliss does not give way to an agony of despair:
AntiMalware - Although many of the claims made in Apple’s ongoing add campaign are exaggerations of perceived reality it is very true that Apple computers are much less susceptible to viruses and other malware than are PCs. (PC = IBM Compatible. Apple refers to IBM Compatibles as PCs but Apples are Personal Computers too. To distinguish between the two, I use PC in this ELM Bulletin in the same sense as Apple does in their ads.) In either case, you would do well to consider anti-malware software for any computer you buy but it’s pretty much necessary if you buy a PC. Two good names to consider are Norton (or Symantec) and AVG. Both have stellar reputations and require very little overhead.
Backup – Of course, getting data into a computer is only half the battle, it’s also critically important that you’ll be able to get it out again. In this case I very highly recommend an external hard disk drive as a data backup device. With an external hard disk the student can very easily make a copy of their work so that if the computer crashes (or is stolen) the data can still be recovered. Come exam time, this can make all the difference between a great grade and a not so great grade; making it a worthwhile investment.
Conscience – Whether the computer is a desktop or a notebook, I recommend that a cable lock be purchased so that the comptuer can be locked down when the user is absent. Not only will this ensure that the computer will stay where it’s supposed to stay but it has the added benefit of reducing anger and attacks of conscience.
As always, please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions about this or any other issue.
Past issues of the ELM Bulletin are available from our website, feel free to forward them to anyone you wish.
You have received this ELM Bulletin either by request or because you have given your contact information to an ELM employee. If you no longer wish to receive the ELM Bulletin, send us an email with "Remove Me" in the subject line and we will remove your email address from our distribution list.
Peter Rhebergen Telephone |
Websites & Publications Product Websites |
