Krauter.pa@PARC-MAXC.ARPA (12/01/83)
I found this in the November '83 PSA airline magazine, and thought it
might be of interest since the subject came up not too long ago. Please
don't be offended that it seems to be targeted for the non-technical
consumer!
-Karey
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excerpted from "Computer Power" by S. Ross
PERSONAL POWER
Are you ready for a personal computer? Do you really need one? If so,
How much should you spend? The following test was designed to help you
find out. It reflects the fact that word-processing tasks are the single
biggest reason for buying a computer -- but that a lot of little reasons
can add up to enough incentive to make you want to part with cold cash:
(1) Do you have children in school?
No [] 0 points
Grade K-4 [] 2
5-8 [] 5
9-12 [] 10
College [] 20
(2) Do you often write at home?
No [] 0 points
0-500 words per week [] 2
500-1000 words per week [] 5
1000-2000 words per week [] 20
2000+ words per week [] 40
(3) Do you need to keep track of lists, perhaps for volunteer
organizations?
No [] 0 points
20 names (or items) or fewer [] 2
20-100 items [] 5
100+ items [] 10
(4) Do you have bookkeeping tasks at home?
No [] 0 points
Personal taxes only [] 2
Self-employed [] 5
Business that includes billing clients for time
[] 20
(5) Do you often do financial analysis at home, for yourself or your
employer?
No [] 0 points
Self-employed [] 2
Small investor [] 5
Active portfolio [] 10
"Homework" from office [] 20
(6) Do you have an on-cable videotex available in your community?
No [] 0 points
Yes, but not interested now [] 2 points
Yes, interested in electronic banking, information
[] 10
Yes, and no library nearby [] 20
(7) Do you enjoy video games?
No [] 0 points
Yes, arcade-style [] 2
Yes, logic and mystery games [] 10
SCORING
--Zero to 10 points--
You mainly use a computer -if you use one at all- to play arcade-type
games. Your other needs, possibly the typing of occasional letters or
keeping track of a small holiday card list, are not worth computerizing.
In fact, it may be more difficult to computerize such tasks than to do
them by hand. At the most, you might want to buy a very special type of
computer -- an advanced video-game player (that may be upgraded later)
at a cost of $200 or so.
--11 to 20 points--
You have some minor uses in just about all catagories -- or perhaps you
have a budding interest because of school-age children or a small but
steady writing volume of two or three typrd letters a week. Maybe you
have a one-person business, run from a small store or your home. Or you
may enjoy "logic" games, rather than arcade games that stress eye-hand
coordination.
In any of these situations, the likelyhood is strong that your needs
will be growing, too. Consider one of the new inexpensive packages from
Atari, Coleco, or Commadore. They offer enough computing power to do
word-processing and simple list-handling chores, and they play great
games. Expect to pay $600 to $1000 this year, but less if you decide to
postpone the fun and wait until next summer.
--21 to 60 points--
To score this high, either you do a lot of word processing or you have
many intermediate-level needs that are worthwhile (or marginally
worthwhile) to computerize. A good eight-bit machine and a solid but
slow printer would be an excellent investment -- especially since the
activities described here would qualify you for at least a partial
income tax deduction. Consider $1000 to $1500 well spent. You can
deduct all at once up to $7500 worth of equipment this year without
having to depreciate it over future years. So if you in the 50% tax
bracket, a $1500 machine will reduce your income by that amount and save
you as much as $750 after taxes (a bit more if you can't justify 100%
business use).
--61 to 100 points--
You do a lot of writing or financial work at home, and you may have a
child who_s college bound or already in college. A computer with a good
printer and enough memory to run spread sheet programs is justified.
That puts you in the $2000 to $3000 range. An eight bit computer at
$2000 including a slow letter-quality printer is fine if your chores are
mainly word processing. If you're more financially oriented, however,
go for a sisteen bit machine and maybe an inexpensive dot matrix printer
that does graphs, for a total closer to $3000.
--More that 100 points--
You are likely to be a sophisticated professional -- an executive, a
doctor, lawyer, or writer. You've been wasting time (and therefore
money) without a computer up to now. Buy as much computer as you can
afford. Expect to spend well over $3000 for one that meets your needs.
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