Matching computer power with needs is key to best buy

Decisions about investing in a computer for the home can be fraught with anxiety. There's so much on offer that you may feel you need a degree in computer science to understand what's available. And that's before you can begin to decide whether you want it or not.

But rule number one is: don't believe the hype. If you are simply looking for a computer with Internet access and basic programmes offering word processor, spreadsheet and database functions, then you do not need the processing power of a space ship. According to Mr Sean Finnerty, director of CompuStore on Dublin's Long Mile Road: "Typically 50 per cent of our customers would not be knowledgeable about computers.

In most cases, all they require is a medium- to low-end system priced at around £1,000 including a printer. Demand for the powerful Pentium II chip is being driven by the manufacturers, but the slower MMX range is fine for any student or home user with basic requirements.

However, you may be concerned that your new computer will be rendered obsolete before you've got to grips with it. In this regard, you have to decide how much use you're going to get out of it.

If it is going to be for general family use, depending on the level of interest, it is quite likely a lot of software will be added on particularly if younger family members want to use it for games. If this is the case, it's probably preferable to go for the higher Intel Pentium II or Apple G3 processing speeds, which, in the case of the Pentium II will mean shelling out more. Newer computer programmes need a lot of power to run properly, and better processing speeds will deliver smoother graphics and quicker screen refreshment.

Another choice facing the prospective buyer is whether to purchase direct from manufacturers, like Gateway or Dell, or to opt for the retail route. Purchasing direct from a manufacturer wipes out the retailer costs, but as computers are built to order, only the newest versions are available. This means you are always looking at paying more for a high-speed processor, even if your requirements may fall some way short.

Retailers tend to have stock on site for up to one year, and they can offer unbiased advice on the right package of products for first-time buyers. Manufacturers also take between seven and 10 days to deliver, while you can walk straight out of the retailers with your new PC in your hands.

However, the level of technical support offered by the manufacturers tends to outlast that of retailers. Gateway offers a three-year warranty, and in the first year a technician will visit your home for repairs. Dell has a one-year collect-and-return-within-three-days warranty, including monitor repairs, which isn't always the case with other manufacturers.

Buyers can pay extra to get increased warranty support. Free-phone technical support is also offered but judging by buyer experience, this may not always be as helpful as it suggests. Long waits on the telephone are often the order of the day.

CompuStore supports sales through third-party maintenance companies with a maximum wait period of four days. Mr Finnerty says about 50 per cent of customers simply bring the computer back to the store if it needs fixing. Financing deals are available from retail and manufacturing outlets.

Then there's the Apple Macintosh option. If you're a first-time computer buyer you have probably been given the impression the Mac is inferior to the PC. This is not the case. Apple came up with the graphical user interface most people recognise in Microsoft's Windows today. Unfortunately, a number of poor marketing decisions and a failure to competitively price meant Apple floundered in the 1980s while the rest of the world went Microsoft mad. In truth, if you want to use a computer for graphics or desk-top publishing, most specialists would advise the Mac.

Apple is also about to release a new product which it hopes will be the key to its revitalisation. The new iMac, set to go on sale in August is expected to be priced here at £1,200 (including VAT) and is designed specifically for the entry-level consumer seeking Internet access and basic operability.

Apart from an unusual retro design, it offers a high speed 233Mhz G3 processor. The G3 operates twice as fast as Intel's Pentium II processor. Quicktime and a sound chip come pre-installed, integrating the multimedia features in one box much less unsightly than wires trailing out the back of the PC.

The pre-installed Claris Works software package offers a range of programmes for word processing, spreadsheets and database management, which can readily convert files into PC format for transfer to non-Mac machines. According to Mr John Mallon, national business development manager with Apple: "If it's a bog standard `I want to get on the Internet' computer you are after, then the iMac is ideal. It is fully operational straight from the box, and will run the latest version of Office 98 designed for the Macintosh featuring Microsoft Word, Excel and Powerpoint."

One drawback is that iMac universal serial bus ports do not currently support existing Macintosh hardware such as printers and scanner. However, one company has already developed a serial adapter, and an external floppy drive for the iMac.

The internal modem, which has been publicised as running at only 33.6 kilobits per second (kbps), is now expected to ship with a 56 kbps modem. Apple practically invented the term "user friendly", and if the iMac lives up to its promise, it could represent an ideal introduction to computers for the uninitiated.