Finding a Gift No Trivial Pursuit
Some people think that writing about computers is fun and games, but most of the time I focus on serious business tools. Once a year, however, my editors let me delve into the real fun and games. Hence my annual holiday gift column.
I’m not much of a game expert, so I turned to Peter Spear for advice. Spear is a former TV producer turned computer game guru. His latest book, “The Uncensored Leisure Suit Larry Bedside Companion” (Bantam, $9.95) makes a good gift in itself. It contains hints on how to play Sierra On-Line’s popular Leisure Suit Larry games along with an original short story and a compilation of Larry’s diaries. It’s a lot funnier than the business computer books that I write.
One of Spear’s recommendations, Railroad Tycoon (MicroProse Software, $59.95) puts you in charge of a railroad.
You plan routes, buy land and equipment, build stations and watch your railroad come to life. The illustrated manual includes a history of railroading.
If you want your friend to be able to build something a lot bigger than a railroad consider SimEarth from Maxis Software. This $69.95 game gives players control over the evolution of life on a planet that they create. Players also can manipulate seven prebuilt planets, including Earth, Mars and Venus.
There is now an Apple Macintosh version, and an IBM-compatible version is scheduled for “sometime before Christmas.” It’s from the same people who brought us SimCity, the City Simulator. That program, which runs on the IBM PC, Macintosh, Amiga and Commodore 64, lets you create and run a modern city and solve problems related to taxes, crime, disasters and invading monsters.
List price is $49.95 for most versions. For information, call (415) 376-6434.
The millions of people who love the board game Trivial Pursuit now can play it on their computers. Parker Bros. has published a $39.95 software version for IBM and compatibles. For information, call (508) 927-7600.
While some people like games, others would prefer more business-oriented gifts.
For your serious-minded friends, consider an integrated software program such as Microsoft Works or Lotus Works. Both programs offer word processing, communication, spreadsheet and database all wrapped into one modestly priced ($149) and relatively easy-to-use program.
No one wants to think about losing data during the holiday season, but it’s always a risk. Norton Utilities 5.0 ($149) can help your friend prevent or recover from a hard disk “crash.” It can also be used to unerase files and to speed up any IBM compatible hard disk.
This may be flu season for people, but it’s always virus season for computers. Viruses, which are spread by sharing software, can wipe out the contents of a hard disk. For Macintosh users, consider giving Symantec Anti-Virus for Macintosh ($99.95). For IBM compatibles, check your bookstore for “VIRUS Protection: Vital Information Resources Under Siege” by Pamela Kane (Bantam $49.95). This includes both a book and a disk with protective software.
Of course, all this software won’t do much good if your friend or loved one doesn’t have a computer.
Unfortunately, I can’t recommend any that are priced like stocking stuffers. Few of us can afford $1,000 or more on such a lavish present, but even if you can, buying a computer is not a trivial pursuit. If you are thinking about buying someone a computer, be very careful. If you know exactly what the person needs and are willing to spend a lot of money, then a computer makes an excellent gift. But the wrong model can lead to some unhappy surprises.
If you do shop for a computer, look at Apple’s new Macintosh Classic. The $1,499 model comes with a hard disk and 2 megabytes of memory. That’s plenty of computer power at a reasonable price. And, like all Macs, it’s easy to use.
You can do well for under $1,000 if you get an IBM compatible or “clone.” It’s hard to recommend one from the hundreds of brands, but you’ll do fine if you stick with one of the reputable compatible makers such as Everex, Epson, Sun Moon Star, Northgate or Headstart. Visit your dealers and check the ads and reviews in the various computer magazines.
IBM’s new PS/1 is an excellent home computer. The hard-disk model, with a suggested price of nearly $2,000, is a lot more expensive than many similarly equipped compatibles, but the machine is well designed with a reasonably fast Intel 80286 central processing unit, a 30-megabyte hard disk, a megabyte of memory and built-in modem. It also comes with Microsoft Works and a three-month subscription to the Prodigy service.
Your neighborhood Radio Shack store is offering the Tandy 1000 RL, an $800 home computer with 512K of memory and a 720K floppy drive. The model with a 20-megabyte hard drive costs $1,100. The machine comes with a lot of useful home software, but its display is harder to read than today’s higher-resolution screens, and its Intel 8086 central processing unit makes the machine slow by today’s standards.
Finally, here is a gift for someone who hates to walk away from the computer, even when it’s time to go to bed.
Would you believe SpreadSheets bed linens that are designed to look like tractor feed-type printer paper? There are twin- and queen-sized compatible versions starting at $45 per set. The company also makes HeadCrashers, a set of two matched pillow cases. For information or to order, call BedWare Unlimited at (408) 395-1622.
