Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, September 22, 1995 TAG: 9509220111
SECTION: FALL HOME PAGE: 17 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BETSY BIESENBACH STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
But if you'd rather do it yourself, or if you already have some computer equipment and you're wondering if it's enough to operate a business, the experts have a few recommendations for you. But as with any new technology, everyone has his or her own ideas, and sometimes the advice is conflicting.
Donna Spencer is one of the owners of Spentch Computer Services, a company that sells, services, repairs and programs computer systems for home and business use, and also offers training and consulting services.
She recommends that her customers invest in a processor with a Pentium 90 chip, 12 megabytes of RAM, an 850 megabyte hard drive and a 288 kbps fax modem.
Although most of the new programs will run on a 486 processor, she said, the Pentiums are faster.
A "nice, relatively inexpensive" system with a laser printer should cost about $3,000 to $3,500, she said. Equipment such as fax machines, scanners and color printers will add to the price, she said.
As for software, she recommends a good accounting system, such as Lotus, or a complete package, such as Microsoft Office. Many people also want to subscribe to an on-line service for access to bulletin boards, the Internet, and to establish an e-mail address. She also recommends buying the new Windows 95 program.
But Andrew Daniel, a service technician at The Computer Exchange, which deals in both new and used equipment, and will custom build a system, has a wait-and-see attitude about Windows 95.
He also thinks that for the average home office, a Pentium computer is not really necessary. He recommends a 100 mghz 486 processor with 540 megabyte hard drive and 8 megabytes of RAM, along with a standard 14" super VGA monitor.
Twelve megabytes of RAM would be even better, he said, and those who want to run large database programs should consider installing 16 megs.
"The more memory, the better," he said.
Daniel prefers an inkjet printer, and recommends buying a major brand-name model, such as Hewlett-Packard or Epson. A basic system such as this with a fax modem and printer could cost around $2,000, he said.
Buying a complete package system in a department store is less expensive than buying a custom designed system, he said, but those computers can't be upgraded. If the buyer wants an upgrade, he has to start from scratch with a whole new system, rather than just adding to an existing one.
Although a custom-designed system can cost more at first, in the long run, Daniel said, a package system ends up costing two or three times more.
Multi-media components, such as CD-ROM drives and sophisticated sound cards generally are not needed for a home office unless the user has a large publishing or database program that would overwhelm the capacity of the hard drive, he said.
Telephone lines are important to think about, too. If you're planning to do a lot of faxing or spending a lot of time on-line, it's often wise to set up a dedicated line for those purposes. If you'd rather not install a separate line, Spencer said, there are devices available that can distinguish between incoming voice calls and other transmissions and route them to the proper equipment. Some of them will even work while the processor is switched off, for people who don't want to leave their computer running all the time.
Of course, the paper clips and pens and desk blotters are important, too.
With the advent of huge office supply chains that sell everything for the office from computers to candies and the jars to put them in, several small locally owned office-supply stores have gone out of business in recent years.
The ones that are left offer computer paper and ribbons and accessories, but tend to steer clear of the computers and software themselves.
"We try to offer a little bit of everything," said Ray Sandifer, owner of SOS The Office in Vinton. "Everything" includes copier and faxing services for customers who don't own their own machines, and commercial and residential delivery of supplies throughout the Roanoke Valley. And there are no minimum amounts of supplies that a customer has to buy, he said.
The competition from the larger stores hasn't been a big problem, he said.
"We are able to offer a level of service the big companies can't."
Sandifer said a good portion of his customers are home-office users, and there has been a gradual increase in them over the past 10 years. It's easier to have an office at home these days, he said, because a computer can do many things that once required a staff of people.
Barbara Staples, office manager of Roanoke Office Supply Center on Grandin Road, said her store also emphasizes service, which includes delivering supplies. There also is no fee for putting together the ready-to-assemble furniture the store sells, and although the store usually is open only during regular business hours, it can be open in the evening by appointment, she said.
by CNB