When you walk into any computer store, you're going to be presented with a myriad of options, some more high-tech than others. How do you, as a Realtor, make the right decision -- purchasing equipment which will prepare you for the years ahead, but which doesn't overestimate your needs or capabilities, either? Your recommended plan of attack is actually quite simple. Heed the words of real estate technology trainer Matthew Ferrara -- and Goldilocks.

Remember Goldilocks?

Remember the fairy tale about Goldilocks and the Three Bears? Well, Goldilocks learned a very important lesson: There are often things in life which are not the "right size" for every individual. In fact, there are more often a "range of choices" to pick from when looking at products and services. Like Goldilocks, you will have to determine which computers are too little, too big, and just right.

DO NOT BE UNDERSOLD. DO NOT BE OVERSOLD.

For each component inside the computer, you can buy sizes which vary from "too small" to "average" to "too much." Remember that if you get "too small" or "too much" of a component, it will dramatically effect either your computer's performance or its price.

There is such a thing as getting "too little" of a vital component, especially Processor power, RAM, and hard drive space. If you get "too little" specifications on these components, you will certainly suffer poor performance and more costly (and necessary) upgrading in the near future.

There is such a thing as getting "too much" of a vital component, especially oversized (and overpriced) monitors, video memory, keyboards, and sound cards and speakers. If you get "too much" specifications on these components, you will be paying excessive amounts of money for "improvements" in size that may be minimal for the average tasks you will perform. While in some cases a larger 17-inch monitor may be necessary, for most of us 15 inches will do nicely. The same is true for $100 keyboards when a $50 model will be just as comfortable, or 32-bit sound cards which improve the sound minimally on the same cheap speakers that the 16-bit sound cards are sold with! Worst of all, you may be offered extra "RAM" on some things like video cards which minimally affect the average software package (really only useful for games) or the infamous upgrade -- "bigger" speakers which tap into your sensibilities about bigger and better stereos, but detract from your real necessities for computing, like processor power and storage space.

The key is getting the "just right" amount of each component that yields the best average of performance and price.

DO NOT EXPECT YOUR COMPUTER TO LAST FOREVER

DO NOT expect your investment to last forever. It will probably last about three years and need some type of upgrade. Upgrading memory and processors makes sense, but much more than that may be too costly. Keep these rules in mind:

DO NOT spend more than 30 percent of the cost of a new computer trying to upgrade an older model. Invest again.

DO NOT skimp on your laptop! Laptops are even harder to upgrade than desktops -- and virtually no laptops allow you to upgrade the processor. Likewise, laptop upgrades are more expensive because they are physically smaller components. So be sure to get the "just right" amounts for three years of usage.

For more information on Matthew Ferrara or his seminars, head to www.mfseminars.com.

Published: April 20, 1998

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