What You Will Learn

• How to get current information of functionality and pricing
• How to evaluate products and vendors
• What issues are involved in buying desktop computers
• How to choose specs for desktop PCs, laptops, and network computers
• What the difference is between a workstation and a PC

Introduction

Hardware technology is advancing. Each day brings new buzzwords, acronyms, and faster processors. What you buy today will probably be with you for several years, but you can't be sure the manufacturer will still be around at that time. One of the reasons the IT budget is so large is because of all the hardware you'll be buying. This chapter offers you specific information on how to make intelligent and cost-effective decisions on hardware.

8.1 Products: How Do I Get Current Information on Functionality? On Pricing?

At the rate companies are being formed, acquired, and merged, and the rate that new products are being introduced and developed, it is impossible for any single person to be fully aware of all that is available in the marketplace. IT trade journals may help, but even they can't keep up. Hence the need for journals that specialize in various segments of the market (LANs, communications, AS/400, NT, Unix, etc.).

So how do you stay on top of it? There are a variety of resources to use. In addition to the trade journals, there is the Web, trade shows, vendor representatives, e-mail, consultants, and so on. For the most part, you have to make very...