How much is that Pentium in the window?

I'm often asked by other attorneys whether they should buy a Pentium Pro or wait until the MMX chips start shipping, or buy the bargain basement equipment now, or go nuts trying to compare all of the different systems and deals that currently exist on the street. In each case, I ask how the attorney is going to use the system, and how it will fit into their office system. You should see the strange looks I get. The most frequent response I get to my question is "why does it matter how I'm going to use this in the office? The new computer has to be better than the old ones." This is an unfortunate way to look at technology, especially when trying to get the technology working to your advantage.

Obsolescence: The First Law Of Computer Hardware!

Let's examine the basics about buying computer hardware. The first law of computers is that the system you buy is obsolete. Let me repeat the key word in that phrase: obsolete. When you buy a system, you may think that you're getting the best thing that ever rolled off the production line, but in reality, the best thing is just now rolling off the production line, and will start shipping the day you carry your computer out of the store. It doesn't matter if you wait until tomorrow, the day after, or next month, because the same rule applies. No matter how much you try to get the very best, it will be obsolete when you take it home.

So how do you decide what hardware to purchase? Let me suggest that you take a system-level approach to buying new technology. System-level in this context, however, doesn't refer to a single computer; rather, it refers to all of the computers and equipment in your office. Using this system-level approach, the first step is to evaluate what equipment exists, and how well it is working. Sure, you might be using a Pentium 100 system, and the thought of virtual reality graphics on a Pentium Pro is almost unbearable, but at the same time your secretary is suffering the insults of trying to run Windows 95 on a very old and slow 486 system.

Once you have an idea of what works well and what desperately needs to be replaced, try to balance out your new technology purchases so that the entire system improves. The balance process also involves weighing the various market prices for new computers, and the time it will take to install or move the systems around the office, and above all, the ways that a particular person will use the system. Keep in mind that a given computer only has to be fast enough for the particular user, and not necessarily the fastest thing on the planet. For instance, if your secretary does nothing but basic word processing, there's no reason to look for a fully-blown multimedia system with the hottest gadgets; all you want is a system that will run the word processing software reasonable well. Looking at the example above where the secretary is using a slow 486 computer, it might be more cost-effective to purchase a new Pentium 100 system for your secretary than it would to buy yourself the Pentium Pro and move your system to your secretary's desk. Prices for the Pentium 100 systems have come way down, while the Pentium Pro systems are still quite costly. In addition, you have to consider the additional time it will take to move the system around the office.

As a general note, try to resist the temptation to purchase the best or fastest when purchasing new technology. You don't need the fastest network setup if you only have six people using the network. You don't need the workgroup laser printer capable of printing 30 pages a minute when two regular 8 page-per-minute printers (which cost less combined than the workgroup laser printer) can adequately handle the load. And color scanners are great, but only if you're scanning something other than black and white.

One final suggestion when purchasing new technology: try to standardize the equipment in your office. Don't install Zip drives on two computers while installing optical drives on the rest, or different types of tape backup units. Consistency makes the office-system easier to maintain, and it also reduces the support time needed by your users.

If you take this approach to purchasing new technology, then you should end up with an office where everyone's computer runs smoothly and efficiently.

Got A Story? Share It!

If you hear information about firms moving towards technology, or a new way to become more productive through the use of technology (old or new), or any other war stories, please let me know. Send your story to <Edge@CompLaw.com>. Who knows, the story might be reproduced here.

Samuel Lewis is an attorney practicing Computer/Internet Law and Intellectual Property Law with the firm of Romanik, Lavin, Huss & Paoli in Hollywood, Florida, a member of the Florida Bar's Computer Law Committee, and the creator of COMPLAW^SM (http://www.CompLaw.com). He can be reached at 954-922-4656 or via e-mail: <slewis@CompLaw.com>.

Copyright © 1997, Samuel Lewis. All Rights Reserved.

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