A quick glance at the decrepit computer ads in the papers is enough to depress anyone who owns a PC at present. A Pentium 166 MMX computer for just Rs 42,000 - or even a Pentium 200 MMX at 46,000? That was what you paid for a non-MMX Pentium machine just a year back. Computer prices have come down to levels that would be considered absurd by the standards applied to any other industry here, as technology improves, prices drop. And the buzzword is MMX, the enhanced set of multimedia instructions that make a PC perform faster, especially when playing multimedia.
But the cheap MMX meanies belong to the bottom end of the MMX ladder, which rests on the top end of the ladder of aging non-MMXers. There are 233 and 266 Pentiums IIs in the market already, but the local manufacturers havent taken to them yet - they are seen as machines exclusively for the megahertz-crazed. Compaq, Wipro and Unicorp have introduced P IIs, but they are not visible on the shelves yet.
The multinationals in India, who had already targetted the multimedia segment, went MMX almost as soon as Intel launched MMX chips in India. And now, every new PC in the market is MMX-enabled. The sophisticated multimedia PCs from Compaq, Acer and IBM rule the pricing stratosphere. Here, the upmarket customer looks for a better OOBE (Out of the Box Experience) than what he gets from the friendly neighbourhood assembler. Reliability is paramount, and everything should work right out of the box. If you feel like sending a fax right after unpacking it, a top-end PC will do it while a locally made PC would still require a bit of setting up. When you pay more than twice the price for a MNC computer with the same processor inside as the assembler, quality matters more than anything else.
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But in raw power, every MMX machine, whether locally made or MNC, are on par. So how do they differentiate themselves from them and from each other?
Looks good next to the TV
Acer Aspire wins (Rs 1,32,000) hands down in the looks department. Here is a computer that will look fabulous in the visiting room or the bedroom. The telephone-like receiver means that you can do away with the phone. And conversations remain the way they should be private. With any other computer, privacy means hurrying for the headphones. The curvaceous lines make it the only computer that will make a perfect compliment for your 2000W Sony. Even the sculpted keyboard beats Compaqs half-hearted attempt.
But it doesnt end with aesthetics. The machine is fast, and a Rs 1,32,000 machine had better be. The Aspire boasted of its unique quick start even before Microsofts OnNow technology was on the scene. Face it, this machine was, ever since it was introduced, a futuristic piece with a mean price tag. And things havent changed much still.
Screams through multimedia
Recently, Microsoft and Intel published PC 98, a detailed specification that tells hardware and software makers the minimum system they should be targeting with their new products. PC 98 specifies a 200-MHz Pentium MMX (or equivalent) processor as the minimum system that will stay current for at least the next 18 months.
Here, the Compaq Presario 4810 (Rs 1,42,000) steals the show. It has a screaming 233 MHz MMX processor for bulldozing through a game like Hexen II. Be confident that for the next couple of years, your computer will chew through whatever is thrown at it.
It also sports MPEG-2 video for playing those video CDs and 64-bit graphics using Direct 3D. Simply put, the graphics, video and animation on those CDs you pick up for the kids would be a blast on this machine.
Any new system that you buy should come with at least 32MB of RAM. Memory is so inexpensive these days (under Rs 1,500) per 4 MB) that theres no excuse for a computer to have less than 32MB. The type of RAM that comes with your new system is also important look for a computer that uses at least EDO RAM. Synchronous DRAM ( SDRAM) is even better.
Here, the Rs 1,45,000 Aptiva 166 falls short. 16 MB RAM is a bit on the low side for system that costs you the better part of two lakhs. But the computer employs faster SDRAM - be prepared to shell out another couple of thousands for another 16 MB or RAM. Often, that will make up for the barely noticeable performance variance between the 166 and the Rs 1,85,000 200 MHz versions.
The Datamini Pixies (between Rs 52,000 to 55,000) pull their punches here. Even though RAM still remains at 16 MB similar to the Aptivas, both the 166 and the 200 MHz Dataminis employ 512 KB of cache memory.
Monster hard discs
Taking hard drive capacity? How would four gigs sound to you? Assemblers and local manufacturers routinely offer 1.6 and 2 gigabyte drives, these machines offer drives of 2 GB and above on an average. There is a saying that software expands to fill the hard drive space available but even with heavy surfing and downloading and a gaggle of games, plus software for the entire family, its a bit tough to clog up anything above 2 gigabytes. Here, the Compaq 4810 offers a whopping 4 GB while the humbler 4506 offers 3.2 GB. Both score higher here than everything else in the field.
More free stuff
Here, we are talking legal free software -- the software which the assembler offers is often an unauthorised copy. All MNC PCs come bundled with a clean conscience. It is tough to decide on the better deal as the packages keep changing. But often, your dealer can help out by giving you your choice of software. However, all offer complete message centres including fax and phone software and office suites.
Target: Lazybones
Compaq has its easy access buttons, but they are really useful on the tower model only if you keep the PC below your desk. On the flat model, they are within reach but look silly. Aptiva and Datamini have indifferent ergonomics, but if you are used to normal office PCs, you may not even notice! Again, as in aesthetics, Acer Aspire scores better than others in this department.
Whats missing?
How come none of them have thrown in a TV tuner card? Not even the futuristic Acer, when local manufacturer Zenith has a PC-TV already in the market? A basic TV tuner card costs about Rs 3,500 - so there really isnt any justification for not tacking it on to a Rs 1,50,000 machine.
All in all, the top-end PCs make sense for only those who want a hassle-free relationship with computers. In pure power, the Compaq 4810 and Acer Aspire score, with everyone else neatly lining up behind them. For a lifestyle PC, there is nothing to beat the Aspire, and Datamini has its place as an alternative PC for those with a slim wallet.