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Show ICoVerlStorTJi Your teen could be your best source ot advice by VICKI BROWN and CAROL DAVIS Doris Hartley is determined that, n, her next computer will do what she needs. Shes no novice to look doesn't she for used them but decades, really having forward to shopping for one. They are calking about RAMs, and they are calking about this and that," Hartley, of Roy, N.M., (pop. 304), says of some computet sales people. I just want it to be able to do this and this com-puce- Christine Schlauch, 8: (farents) need to look into their school tfinrict end see what operating system the 1 school is working with." needs. They're scared to mess it up, or theyre afraid chat they're going to do something wrong," be says. Ybu' cant really break a computet, though, and I don't think people realize that. Indeed, if anyone is comfortable with compuns, it's teenagers such as Hancock and Schlauch young adults between 16 and 22 for whom computen always hove been part of the landscape, ' not something new and challenging. Still, technology is advancing so quickly that even these mem-be- n of Generation Y, for whom wads such as megahertz," "gigabytes," and RAM roll off the tongue as easily as "jogging, "yuppies, and "groovy did for their baby boomer patents, occasionally find themselves bombooaled by computers. and this. I want it to be simple. In fact, it is simple simpler than most would imagine. In a nutshell, one decides what the computer will be used for; then finds the programs and hardware to do the work. Roeland Hancock, 17, who took top honors this year in the New Mexico High School Adventures in Supercomputing ChalTm intimidated the way they are, sometimes," ays Headier Memo; 18, a Colorado Sob Univexsity freshman lenge, undentands why computer buyen Rowland Hancock, 17: . . who also captured top htxxxs at the supercom-pubn- g might be intimidated, however. For Juki general computer, It can be a reasonably expensive investchallenge. Xompuns are changing youVe going to ment and frequently is a very short-ternpidly; and (buyen) donc know what is the btsL" want treason-abl- e But the best computer depends on what an investment, because youll end up getting a amount of UfST' individual new one, says Hancock, of Silver Gty, family needs, to figuring up your hard drive . NiK. (pop. 10,545). Also, people who requirements is crucial, says Tyler Danley, 18, of space upward aren't that computer literate are concerned Ocean Springs, Mist, (pop. 17,225) who has about how usable it's going to be ant) if it been using computes for half of his young bytei end a will do everything the want." have to decide fist what you want to decent-tilemoniOchets are unfamiliar with the technolcgy, use the computer for,Dttnley says. Then, tor tirout 17 write them down: Internet, wood processing, says Christine Schlauch, 18, of Petty; Ohio, 1 KVlttL or whatever. Then jrou have tp decide: Du (pop. 1,195) who participated in Petri cech, her high khools student-staffe- d somecompany you need something mOte powetfiil that handled all of the schools computer thing not as powerful? . m a , d . a BE A SAVVY BUYER s doesnthowto be intimidrirgwkh a Buyfogaaxnputar k might wn be enjoyable, sys Den GooUnmidiorafBaGonlH&fbrDumnFGfirDum-mic- i and other bcrtselng books that demystify technology S' computer, the monitor and htybdanput the software (panel and other preyams which tel the computer what to do) determines the kind of computer you need,Gooldn ays. (Softwar wi sy on the betel need this much memory I need this much hard (fisc storage .tHs much graphic mam-ory- , Into plain Engfah. Gocldn offers Ive and transface tech-spetoward ; ; , savvy purchasing; ; . steps ak of whatever word I.Whatdoyouwaiktlwconiputartoclo?:--''processing gene; dr graphics software you plan to use, then Look at what games your children or grandchildren buy a kde more than required fiyou can afford lehesogesc. mfght want to pbp If youVe buying family computer. If. because ifyadkig later fa more expensive. you plan to do jgeneelogy or scan and catalog old photos, ; 3. Find lenfawta maCchyour software. that will determine how much computer memory and . : ; Now take your fist of software, reqidremehti to the noire. v: seem fike'a. bargain, but storage you need, GookkiHqrs.-;.-:s' 1itLPOKwTiOlMWWWWiii Imilrtm a make sure they meet yourrequirements,Gookin advise. V Most peopte fait difchofhankvaro(theplyshtipirt of the Compare prices end. look fern a hefpful deeler;.;,-!-: , sy. Note the requirements Gooldn ' - . v r &.; Pag.6 American Profile . . I?- :-- " 'i : : at-- li 1 |