Buy macintosh computer

Macintosh fans in small businesses take note: Now may be the time to buy the high-powered Mac and peripheral equipment you've wanted but couldn't afford.

The price-consciousness of Apple Computer Inc.'s new management and the imminent introduction of the company's next generation of computers--dubbed Powermacs because they're built around Motorola Inc.'s PowerPC microprocessor-- have triggered unprecedented price cuts affecting even top-of-the-line, traditional Macs and related equipment. Those who either don't need the lightning-fast speed of a Powermac or who don't want to invest in the software required to take full advantage of its microprocessor should consider traditional Macs that sell for bargain prices at retail and mail-order outlets.

In addition, those who use Microsoft Corp.'s Windows with their personal computers and find the program complex might now be prompted to consider buying a Mac. Because of the tight integration of graphical components in their basic design, Macs remain easier to set up and operate than PCs running Windows. Despite its power and glitz, Windows is still a graphical Band-Aid on top of a decidedly nongraphical DOS operating system. The next version of Windows, which will operate without DOS, is to be released late this year.

Is a Mac the right machine for you or your company? According to industry research companies, Apple Computer has a 10 to 12 percent share of the computer market. A lot of the choice depends on whether "a user has some specific and justifiable needs," says Helen Miller, a PC-network support analyst with Land O'Lakes in Minneapolis. The food company has thousands of PCs nationwide but fewer than 100 Macs, mostly in finance, corporate communications, and graphic

arts.

Miller says many of the current Mac users determined some years ago that the Mac version of Microsoft's Excel offered the best and easiest-to-use spreadsheet. On the other hand, Miller adds, the Mac vs. PC "choice depends also on the network needs users have."

Following are just a few of the bargain-priced Apple computers and third-party peripherals and software you might want to evaluate if you believe a Mac is for you.

Macintosh Centris 660AV, Apple Computer Inc., (408) 996-1010: The Centris 660AV demonstrates Apple's commitment to multimedia computing. The 660AV is a complete multimedia machine. Typically, it is configured with 8 megabytes (MB) of random-access memory (RAM), a 230MB hard drive, a dual-speed internal CD-ROM drive, Ethernet network connections, and a 25 megahertz (Mhz) 68040 processor by Motorola Inc.

The system comes with 1MB of video memory that can support thousands of potential colors. It also comes with advanced stereo audio capabilities for high-quality sound.

Designed from the ground up for multimedia, the Centris 660AV includes a custom AT&T digital signal processor (DSP) that vastly increases the speed of audio, image, and even telephone-based processing.

Though many of these capabilities are as yet untapped by software, you'll soon be able to buy products that turn the Centris into an advanced office machine for anything from digital voice mail to total voice input. Even now, the Centris can create and play back some impressive multimedia presentations, especially when paired with Apple's AudioVision 14 monitor ($729).

This new monitor has a Sony Corp. Trinitron color display and two speakers built in for playback. It also has easy-to-reach input jacks for CD-ROM drives, cassette players, headphones, or other devices.

If you want the full capabilities of a Mac as a business machine and the additional multimedia capabilities, the Centris 660AV is a cost-effective and desirable product. List price in the described configuration is $2,799. The more powerful Quadra 840AV (with a 40Mhz 68040 processor) lists for $4,399 with the same equipment as the Centris.

PowerBook Duo 250, Apple Computer Inc., 1-800-776-2333: Apple's PowerBook series set the standards for form and function in portable computing. Based on the muscular 33Mhz Motorola 68030 processor, the PowerBook Duo 250 adds some minor improvements to earlier models, most notably a 16-level gray scale, an active matrix screen, and a nickel metal hydride battery with improved power management software for longer battery life.

The system measures 8.5 by 10.9 by 1.4 inches and weighs just 4.2 pounds. It comes with a 200MB hard drive. A 240MB hard drive is optional. The 4MB of standard RAM can be expanded up to 24MB, and the system works with the current Duo expansion docks. List price, with 4MB of RAM and the 200MB hard drive, is $2,599. Aversion with a 256-co1or active matrix screen, the PowerBook Duo 270c, has a list price of $3,099 with 4MB of RAM and a 240MB hard drive.

DoveWriter-1 Printer, Dove Computer, (919) 343-5600: While the PowerBook and other notebook computers have made it simple to work on the go, printing documents away from the office has remained more difficult. The DoveWriter solves most of the problems associated with portable printing: It weighs less than 3 pounds, produces 360 dots per inch (dpi) resolution, and measures a totable 12 by 8.5 by 1 inches.

The system comes with a battery pack, an AC adapter, and all of the cables necessary to connect to a PowerBook. The list price is $549, but the street price can be less than $400.

Seiko Professional ColorPoint 2 PSF, Seiko Instruments USA Inc., (408) 922-5800: Seiko's Professional ColorPoint 2 PSF Model 14 features an innovative print head that can deliver full-color output in either thermal-transfer or dye-sublimation mode. The former works well for proofing print jobs at a lower cost per page, while the latter offers high-quality, continuous-tone output, which is better for preptess work. The printer comes with Adobe Systems's Postscript Level 2 software, has 300 dpi resolution, and can print full-bleed output at 11 by 17 inches.

The ColorPoint includes 104 Adobe Type 1 fonts, produces 16.7 million halftone colors, and supports EFI EftColor, Apple Colorsync, and Kodak Colorsense

Apple PhotoFlash, Apple Computer Inc., (408) 996-1010: If you've been searching for an easy way to import photographs into your business documents, then Apple's PhotoFlash may be for you. Designed to work with presentation, page-layout, and general business software, PhotoFlash is based on three main elements: a browser for selecting images, preparation tools for enhancing images, and a scripting facility for automatic placement of images.

The software is easy to use. You select an image using the browser, which provides thumbnail displays of available images, and then crop, rotate, resize, or otherwise manipulate the image. Finished images are then dropped into applications such as Aldus PageMaker. The program supports the Kodak Photo CD standard and comes with a sampler of color photos. List price is $279.

Xante Accel-a-Writer 8100, Xante Corp., 1-800-926-8839: The Accel-a-Writer 8100 can deliver resolution of 600 dpi or greater. The base model can deliver true 600 dpi resolution in 11 by 17 inch format for output that is much finer than a typical laser printer. Plus, the Accel-a-Writer can be upgraded to print at 800, 960 or 1,200 dpi.

The base model has 12MB of RAM (upgradable to 64MB), a print speed of eight pages a minute, and enhanced gray scaling. The system is widely available for about $3,995 for the 600 dpi model and $6,995 for the 1,200 dpi version.

AXION Switch, AXION, (408) 522-1900: One thing most PCs have and most Macs don't is multiple serial ports. Adding serial ports to your Mac, however, can be easy with the AXION serial box expander. This ingenious device simply plugs into the modem port to give you three active serial ports. This enables you to connect multiple serial printers, label printers, modems, or any other combination of serial devices.

The device is self-powered, allows one-click switching between ports, and has software to help configure almost any Mac serial device. Retail price: $159.

La Cie Silverscanner II, La Cie Ltd., 1-800-999-1477: There is no shortage of scanners for Mac systems, but the Silverscanner II from La Cie is notable for its combination of solid scanning software, quality optical components, and reasonable price.

The Silverscanner II can handle either grayscale or color images at a resolution of 400 dpi; that can be increased to 1,600 dpi with the software provided. Many scanning modes are available, from full, 24-bit color to a line-art mode that delivers faster scanning for less-critical images.