Hale Named Bloomsburg Coach

James Perrins Sr.

Tuesday, December 22, 1992 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 





sunday/11.20 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 TIMES LEADER/LEWIS GEYER &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Computers have been selling briskly at Sam's Club, a local discount
members-only warehouse &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 TIMES LEADER/PETE G. WILCOX &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Al Farris says customer service is key at Al's Hardware &amp; Software House &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Compute (Continued from Page 1F) &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 COMPUTE, Page 2F &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Tumbling prices drive computer sales up &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Bargains are everywhere. But how can you figure out which is the right deal
for you? &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 By CLAIRE SCHECHTER &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Times Leader Staff Writer ou have at least $1,000- plus set aside. You
think you're ready to replace your out-dated, slow- moving personal computer.
Or even more daring, you're a first-timer, just about to make your initial
computer purchase. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Great. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Join the crowd. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Computer experts and sellers say this season's holiday shoppers are buying
computers like never before. Lured by faster machines with more options and
lower prices, consumers are hauling computers into their homes and small
businesses at a blistering pace. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Sales nationwide may reach 28 million units by the end of 1992, USA Today
reports. That's an increase of 14 percent over last year. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Much of the gain in computer ownership over the last 10 years has come
because the computer has become more affordable. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 A newspaper advertisement from five years ago offered a computer with a
now-outdated 286 processor, a processing speed of 8 MHz, a 40-megabyte hard
disk and a black and white monitor. All for $2,299. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Today, a computer with a 386 processor operating at 25 MHz with a 40 MB
hard disk and a VGA color monitor can be purchased for less than $900. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Translation: For less than half the price, you can now get a much more
versatile machine which works three times as fast. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "Computers have become much more of a commodity item," says Wilkes
University mathematics and computer science professor John Koch. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 At the same time, consumers are stumbling across computer sales just about
everywhere, from department stores to computer specialty shops to mail-order
catalogs. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 But before deciding where to buy a computer, Koch and other experts say
shoppers ought to do some simple homework. That advance work could save time
and money and prevent frustration if a new computer breaks down or operating
it turns out to be more complicated than expected. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 First, get everyone in the family together and decide what you'll do with
the personal computer, advises James Sidbury, associate professor of computer
science at the University of Scranton. "Do you want to buy the computer to
keep track of finances or keep inventory of personal possession or play video
games?" &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 With a "wants list" in hand, computer buyers, especially first-times, ought
to get familiar with basic computer terms and functions. Talk to computer-wise
friends and relatives. Take a computer course or two, suggests Koch. "In your
own defense, you have to in order to evaluate the deals," he says. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 If you know next to nothing, buy one of the inexpensive paperback books
written for first-time computer users. Also, pick up a copy of PC Magazine
($2.95). If you are leaning toward an Apple computer, buy one of the many
Apple magazines. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 You'll next want to look and possibly try out some computer models. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Before you hop into the mini-van with visions of megabytes dancing in your
head, you should decide where to shop. Here are some factors to consider: &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Discount/department stores &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Since prices at these large stores are based on the high volume sales,
computer costs are often lowest here. But so is the amount of time salespeople
can spend with customers. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "If you know a lot about computers and exactly what you want, you can
afford to go there," Sidbury says. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 But don't expect hand holding at discount outlets, Koch warns. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "At places like Office Max and Sam's, they know enough to distinguish their
products from one another. But they don't know much more about what's inside
than what they read off the side of the box." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 At Wilkes-Barre's Sam's Club membership warehouse, manager Mary Haulton
says computers are selling very well this holiday shopping season. However,
Ben Howell, who works part-time in the stores's computer department says,
"We're wholesalers, and we get very busy. If we can help, fine. If we're busy,
we sometimes can't. We do our best." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 At Office Max near the Wyoming Valley Mall in Wilkes-Barre Township, store
manager Bob Romasiewicz says his 135-store chain has taken advantage of its
volume buying power and computer-maker price wars. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "This year prices are extremely low," he says. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "People usually know what they want when they come in here," he says. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 One problem often encountered is that some retailers make it tough to
compare. Although an array of computers might be displayed at the store, the
shopper may only be able to try a demonstration program, which is designed to
highlight the benefits of the machine. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Specialty stores &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 While fierce price competition has forced at least three speciality
computer stores in Wyoming Valley to close in the past few years, other
outlets still offer customized computer services for both individuals and
businesses. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "We have a lot to offer that bigger stores don't," says Al Farris, who has
run Al's Hardware &amp; Software House on Northampton Street in Edwardsville for
six years. "We can put machines together to meet anyone's needs and budget.
Stores like ours are geared to support and service. It's worth the minor
amount of extra money they'll pay to be able to come in here and say, `how do
I do this or that?' " &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 According to Sidbury, computer buyers will probably save as much as 20
percent off retail sticker prices at full-service computer stores and, in many
cases also receive set-up, training and service guarantees. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "If you know little about computers, they (speciality computer stores) can
do everything for you," Sidbury says. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Shawn Mira, of P.C.S. computers on the Sans Souci Parkway in Hanover
Township, says his newly-opened store takes the frustration out of computer
buying because it offers "sales, training and services under one roof." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Mira says his store custom-builds computers for individuals as well as
large and small businesses and guarantees its machines for two years. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Last word &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Once buyers have done their best to catch up on the latest in modems,
monitors and megabytes, Koch says there's one last "rule of thumb" to
remember: &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "Typically, people buy a computer and six months later they are kicking
themselves because there is something new out there." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 But, Koch says, "I tell people sooner of later you'll decide it's a wise
investment. When you do, jump in." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Neill A. Borowski of Knight-Ridder Newspapers contributed to this story.

Sunday/11.20 
Times Leader/lewis Geyer 
Computers Have Been Selling Briskly At Sam's Club, A Local Discount 
Members-only Warehouse 
Times Leader/pete G. Wilcox 
Al Farris Says Customer Service Is Key At Al's Hardware & Software House 
Compute

Sunday/11.20 Times Leader/lewis Geyer Computers Have Been Selling Briskly At Sam's Club, A Local Discount Members-only Warehouse Times Leader/pete G. Wilcox Al Farris Says Customer Service Is Key At Al's Hardware & Software House Compute