1)  The speed of the CPU is measured in Hertz.  The older systems were going in the 200 -> 800 Khz, and we thought that was wondrous.   Today's systems, and I need to say when I am saying this: June 2004 are now in the next level of GHz and over the 3 mark.  In today's market I would say the average computer in WalMart is about a 2.8+ GHz computer.   You don't need to get too caught up in this speed value as other "bottlenecks" in your system, or internet connection,  will most probably negate the need for more speed in processing.   If you are not going to be doing video editing of your home movies, state-of-the-art video games or running big-time photo editors (e.g. PhotoShop 5) then a computer above 1 GHz should be fine for you.  Understand, that in this fluid industry this may change in a couple months, so if you want to be safe, then move the 1 to 2 Ghz.

2)  The amount of MEMORY in your system is in MB's.   However some new systems are now in the next level also and provide a GB of memory or more.  If as state above you are not a "hard-core" user, then 512 MB's should be fine for you (If you run out of "hard" memory you can configure your system to use excess disk space as "memory", called the "Page File").

3)  Hard DISK SPACE is also in MB's and GB's.   Disks today come in much larger storage capacities and read/write speeds.   As the above, a basic system only needs about a 20 GB hard disk.   If you are of the type that does not houseclean your system then go for the 60+ GB disk.

4)  Your MODEM if you are going dialup will probably be a 56K (baud rate) V90 model.   However, you should understand that dialup baud rates are actually based upon the capacity of your local phone companies phone lines and the noise there on.   If your ISP provides 56K V90 support you will most likely never see that occur as the phone lines generally cannot support that.

5)  The rest is optional and the list is long:  floppy drives, CD drives, CD/DVD drives, video cards, color video monitor, sound cards, intranet cards, wireless cards, external memory, zip drives, etc.    These are too many and too complicated to discuss here.

Quickie Nomenclature Table
MHz, GHz = CPU speed
MB, GB = Memory size and Hard Disk size
Kb(ps) = baud rate of Modems
Mbps = speed of your Network card

What should you pay for a standard level PC?  Did I say that!?!   That requires another widely variable answer.  Depending of course what's in the machine, maker of PC, where you buy it and when you buy it.  I will list a machine that would be considered low-end generic, yet should be able to handle most common computing applications of today.  I'm not going to get into which maker of PC's is better than the other -- ask around for that answer.   Also, remember, what you are going to use the machine for is very relavant to what size machine you need, i.e. someone who is only going to surf the internet and do email needs a much smaller/powerful machine than someone who plans on doing video editting or wants to play the latest video games.

This is a bench mark only, i.e. this is only a estimate and the cost should decrease with time, so you will need to interpolate from this date:  June 1, 2004

Cost:  $500

  What's in it:

• 2+ Ghz CPU (non-Intel chip)
  
• 40+ GB Hard Disk Drive
• 56K v90 Fax/Modem(not needed if u are going DSL/cable)
  
• 512+ MB of DDR memory
  
• floppy drive
  
• 12x+ CD-RW/DVD
  
• 10/100 Mbps Ethernet card
  
• 3D capable video card
  
• 3+ USB ports
  
• Memory chip media reader(s)
• 17-inch Color Video Monitor
• keyboard and mouse
• SW: XP Home® and some brand of Office Suit SW
  

keoni@isp.com