FAQS! FACTS! FAX! 033 (26/11/96)

WET VET

I operate a veterinary practice in rural North Wales and use a PC back at the surgery for record keeping etc. I also need to keep a lot of information on a laptop, but to date I’ve trashed three of them, either through getting bashed around in the back of the Land Rover, or in one case, falling into a slurry pit. Do you know of a portable PC that could survive this kind of rough treatment?

D. R. T.

A

Husky Computers produce a number of ‘ruggedised’ portable IBM compatible PCs. They’re built to a military specification, and can withstand a drop of 1.5 metres onto a solid surface. They’re also waterproof and will operate in temperatures from -20 to + 60 degrees centigrade. Various levels of specification are available and prices start at under £2,000. For more details contact Husky Computers Ltd on (01203) 604040

FAMILY FEATURES

I am considering purchasing a home computer, primarily for my children, aged three and five. I have a laptop, but this is of limited use. I’m keen to get the services and information on the Internet and my wife may eventually use it at home for work using language translation packages. What sort of capability should I be looking for, what services should I buy, where is the best place to buy and what training and back-up can I expect?

T. B.

A

A moderately fast multimedia machine will do everything that you need. Look for one with an 80, 100 or 120 MHz Pentium processor with at least 16 megabytes of RAM, and a 1 gigabyte hard disc drive. It must have a four or eight-speed CD ROM drive, 16-bit stereo sound card, a fast modem (28,800 to 33,600 bps) and a 14 or 15-inch SVGA monitor. It should come with Windows 95 pre-loaded; nowadays most machines are supplied with bundled software, including CD ROMs, that usually  includes games, education and reference titles.  Keep a sharp look out for deals and discounts, especially on older or discontinued models. PCs with that kind of specification sell for between £1000 to £1400, inclusive of VAT.

Internet access costs from around £7 a month from major service providers like AOL, BT, CompuServe and Microsoft Network. Most Internet-capable PCs come with ‘free-trial’ Internet software, though be warned, this normally involves giving the company your credit card details, so read the small print carefully!

Where you buy your machine largely determines the kind of backup you’ll receive, don’t expect too much in the way of training from anyone, unless you’re prepared to pay for it. Unfortunately the PC industry is still coming to terms with the consumer marketplace. Customer service and satisfaction varies widely, from abysmal to acceptable, there’s little consistency but in general you are better off buying from the larger, better established companies.

BIG BILLS

I have been using the Internet for 6 months now and our telephone bill has been HUGE as a result of it. In America I hear they have fixed rate telephone bills. Do they do that over here?

N. D. W, Warrington

A

Not as such, but there are plenty of ways you can reduce the size of your bill. First double check that you’re connecting to your closest point-of-presence (POP). It may be worth calling your Internet service provider, to make sure they haven’t introduced any new POPs nearer to where you live, or possibly a Lo-Call number, where you will be charged at local rates. BT operate various schemes where you can reduce the cost of calling frequently-used numbers, or receive a discount if your bill regularly exceeds a certain amount. More details are available from BT Customer Services, just dial 150. If there’s a cable TV company operating a phone service in your area you should compare their rates with BT. Avoid making a lot of on-line calls during peak charging periods, and ‘rush-hours’. Abandon slow downloads early or re-connect, if it seems as though your data is getting stuck in a bottleneck somewhere. Changing to a faster modem can also help, especially if you’re using one running at 14,400 bps or slower.