Computer Configurations for Classroom Administration

The BARE MINIMUM to do grades [GRADEGID V 2.5] and word processing [PC-WRITE 2.71] would be:

IBM compatible CPU
1-360 K drive monochrome monitor
printer & cable
DOS 3.3

A fair system would be:

386SX/16 MHz
4 M Memory
1-1.44M drive
30+M hard drive
2 serial, 1 parallel [printer] port
Letter quality printer & cable
DOS 6+ (Windows 3.11?)
EGA video and monitor [0.3 or smaller dot pitch]

A better system would be:

486/25 MHz (or faster)
8M Memory
1-1.44 MB drive
200+M hard drive
2 serial, 1 parallel [printer] port
mouse
DOS 6+/Windows 3.11
SVGA video & monitor [0.28 or smaller dot pitch]
ink jet b/w printer or laser printer and cable[s]

The best system would include:

Pentium/150 MHz (or faster)
16M Memory (32M for Windows 95)
1-1.44M drive
1-100M iOmega Zip drive
1-8X CD ROM drive
800+M hard drive (partitioned to 510M maximum per partition)
sound card and speakers
2 serial, 2 parallel [printer] ports
33.6 modem
mouse
DOS 6+/Windows 3.11 (Windows 95?)
SVGA video & 17" monitor [0.28 or smaller dot pitch]
color ink jet and/or HP laserjet 4+ printers and cables

BEWARE of all computer ads! Most of the lower prices you see in big print have a small print part saying "monitor not included". A good monitor can easily add $350. Lately I have seen ads that say "keyboard not included". Missing either of these will make a computer very hard to use.

In the Chicago area, The Chicago Computer Exchange has refurbished used computers for reasonable prices. Link to their web site for the most current prices.

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Last Update 7/10/97 by Roy Coleman