With computer technology changing faster than diapers at the McCaughey home, everyone who buys a computer must always wonder when it's time to upgrade.

     Consider these criteria, then you can decide:

     1) Are you using your computer for business? An operation that takes a few seconds longer at home probably won't matter much; waiting an extra 5 seconds hundreds of times per day can really add up. So if you're running a business, take a look at upgrading those things that affect speed -- your hard drive, RAM, and, ultimately, the computer itself (depending on your processor).

     2) Are you using your computer for fun and games? If you spend a great deal of your time zapping stuff, you can't make do with a 486 anymore -- and sometimes not even an early generation Pentium. Game software these days not only looks better with the latest video and sound cards, but a great number of new games require it.

     3) Do you like changes in software that's important to you? Sometimes you'd be happy to chug along using old hardware, but the most important software you use has finally been revised to include the one change you've begged its publisher to make for years. Most times that means the new software will require new hardware.

     Let's define a term: Obsolete. At Quid'·nunc, we define a computer as obsolete when it no longer runs the software you want to run.

     The ultimate new hardware is a new system. When is it time to get a new system? Quid'·nunc advises to watch the price of hardware for your current computer. Memory is a good indicator. RAM is generally inexpensive, but RAM for old computers is costly, because there's limited demand for it. When you see that it costs more for that sort of item, your current computer is obsolete.

     "But," you might say, "My obsolete computer still works!" Of course it does. So does your old monaural phonograph, but when was the last time you played a record on that? And have you tried to get one repaired? You might as well buy a new CD player for sixty bucks.

     And that's the point. It may cost a few hundred dollars more to buy a new computer, but that computer will be around for a lot longer before it's obsolete than the one you have now. Even if you want to upgrade a part at a time, having a newer machine makes more sense: the 3D video card that comes with most computers today costs $50 to put in your Pentium machine and almost $200 to put in your 486.

     Naturally, there's an exception. If you do buy a new machine, buy one that's easily and continuously upgradeable. Right now manufacturers are creating introductory machines that just aren't.

     The moral of the story? You budget for a new car every few years. You buy a new television set every few years. So it makes good sense to budget for a new computer (or upgrade) every few years, too.

Index
Bill's Byte
What's New
What's Coming
Pre-Owned Software
We Made The Net Faster With DSL
New Year's Resolutions For Your PC
Snap Up Quid'·nunc's Post-Christmas Specials!

Calendar & Schedule
Classes
Coupon Specials
Quid'·nunc Information

Bill's Byte

WHAT'S NEW
     You've been looking for something fun to install on your computer . . . maybe something to take advantage of that new CD drive or additional RAM that you received as a gift. As usual, Quid'·nunc is the place to satisfy your software cravings:

     Kids: Thinkin' Science (teach your 1st and 2nd graders how things work) . . . Zap! (more science for kids ages 8 through 12) . . . Nancy Drew (solve mysteries) . . . Tonka Workshop (build toys) . . . Putt Putt Enters The Race (the latest featuring the favorite of children everywhere) . . . Pinball Science (understand the physics of a pinball machine) . . . American Girls (2nd Ed.) . . . Amazon Trail 3rd Edition (explore the world's largest river).

     Strategy/Puzzles: Battleground Collection 1 (Napoleonic Wars) . . . Battleground Collection 2 (Civil War) (two great collections of facts and graphics illustrating the military history of the world) . . . Oddworld Abe's Exoddus (Abe rescues Mudokon slaves with the power of his flatulence) . . . Quest For Glory V . . . Starsiege Tribes . . . Civilization II Gold (lead your civilization from the stone age to the stars) . . . Starcraft Brood Wars (lots of ick and death) . . . Myth II.

     Adventure: Elder Scrolls Redguard . . . Baldur's Gate . . . Lode Runner 2 (Mac).

     Written Word: Serious 3D Magazine . . . Your source for information on just about everything, from hardware to tips.

     Education: Guitar Method Songs (more songs taught the same easy way by the folks at eMedia) . . . Bodyworks 6.0 (get to really know your body) . . . Redshift 3 (get to know the whole universe).

     Productivity: Ultimate Family Tree Deluxe (Mac) (research and record your family history) . . . Microsoft Works Suite 99 (word processing, spreadsheet and more in one simple package) . . . Joy of Cooking (the software version of the popular book) . . . Master Cook 5.0 (keep all your recipes in one place; cook for any number just by altering the recipe in the program).

     Other Games: Falcon 4.0 (jet your computer into the wild blue yonder) . . . Deer Avenger (hunt without ever having to put on long johns or drink beer) . . . You Don't Know Jack "The Ride" (how trivial can one get? Very trivial) . . . Slot City (turn your Windows PC or Mac into a Las Vegas-style slot machine).

     Hardware: Gamestick 3D joystick with USB interface -- it works with the iMac and any PC or Mac with a USB interface.

What's coming
     By the time you read these words, most of these highly anticipated items should be at Quid'·nunc, ready for you to take home. The hot titles expected soon include Starcraft for Macintosh . . . Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri . . . Sim City 3000 . . . Daikatana . . . Beneath and Starfleet Command. In March, look for Command & Conquer Tiberiun Sun . . . Triple Play 2000 and Lands of Lore 3.

Pre-Owned Software
Have you been checking out our pre-owned software? Current best buys include: Microsoft Office 4.2 (Windows 3.x) $99... Adobe Illustrator 5.0 (Mac) $99... PowerPoint (Mac) $24.95... Visual Basic (Windows 4.0) $129... Ventura Publisher (Windows) $49... Norton Antivirus 2.0 (Windows NT) $9.95... Cakewalk Pro Audio 5.0 $74.95... Cakewalk Pro Audio 6.0 $129... Red Alert (Windows 95) $14.95... Myst (Mac) $14.95.

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We Make The Net
Faster With DSL

     Already West Seattle's most convenient Internet Service Provider, Quid'·nunc is adding DSL capability, which will make the Internet even faster for you Web browsers out there. Once we're up, you'll notice immense speed increases on incoming data (the increase will be smaller on data sent out).

     Quid'·nunc isn't the only partner in this deal, however. You have to live in an area where this is possible. DSL (digital subscriber line) works with existing telephone lines, but requires that your telephone line be no more than 18,000 feet from the telephone switch. That's pretty easy to match in the Seattle metro area, but there will be exceptions; just call USWest to see if your area qualifies. It's toll-free: 800-603-6000. There's a web site, too: www.uswest.com/com/customers/interprise/dsl.)

     For you, even better news is that you'll get this faster service with no additional cost to you (except the phone line, of course). Our monthly fee remain the same, but you don't have to get new software to enjoy the benefits. All you'll have to do is get one of USWest's DSL modems, and you'll be ready to go!

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New Year's Resolutions For Your PC

     by Rich Land
     So, you're going to lose weight, go to the gym, organize your desk and clean the garage in 1999.

     So what are you going to do for your electronic pal and partner, your computer?

     It, too, is another year older. It, too, is facing the new millennium with lingering doubts.

     Here, then, is my list of recommended resolutions for you to make for the sake of the investment you've made in your computer:

     1. Resolve to keep your computer clean. You'd be amazed at the dust and gunk that can accumulate inside a computer. Heck, in New York, computers are nice and warm, providing a perfect refuge for insect life. So open your case every once in a while and take some compressed air or to the innards. You might also resolve not to eat a scone over your keyboard every day, too, but I don't want to push it.

     2. Resolve to understand your computer a little bit better. No, you don't have to know everything about it, but if you understand how Windows 98 allocates disk blocks, you might be less inclined to unplug your computer in the middle of a backup. (Not that you'd ever do anything like that, right?) We're happy to answer any questions you have -- it ultimately makes our job easier -- and the Quid'·nunc web site is also a great place to find answers to many questions.

     3. Resolve to plan your upgrade path. Upgrading haphazardly can lead to a bizarre mix of components, and even a premature end to your computer's usefulness. Sit down and think about what you're going to need your computer to do for the next six months to a year, then plan accordingly. Again, we're here to answer your questions so you can do this logically.

     4. Resolve to clean up your hard drive. After time, so much stuff winds up on our drives -- especially in these days of multi-gigabyte beasts -- that I wouldn't be surprised if you told me that you have your third-grade homework still on hard disk -- and you're working on your doctoral thesis. Whether it's old data (which can be archived on removable media, like floppy and Zip disks) or pieces of old programs (remnants of shareware you didn't buy, for instance), make it a point to clean up. You'll be rewarded with better performance. (Remember to uninstall those programs, not delete them. You want be sure that you've gotten the whole of what you don't want . . . and that you haven't deleted something that's essential to another program.)

     5. Resolve to be aware of Y2K without going bananas. Pick up the Y2K-compliant software checkers and upgrade or delete accordingly, but remember, for the most part, your computer will handle Y2K fine, especially if you've bought it new since 1997. Good news for Macintosh owners: Your computer's software won't run into trouble until approximately 29940.

     Finally, resolve to visit Quid'·nunc a little more often, whether in person or on the Internet. We're friendly people and we're a fun place to just browse!

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          Quid'·nunc Best-Sellers
          Dec. '98 / Jan. '99
           Indicates second consecutive month as best seller