The Help Desk
Q: My wife loves the looks of Apple laptops and wants to buy one to replace our aging Dell laptop. There's no doubt that we need a new laptop, but is moving to an Apple a good idea? Is it better?
— David Wright
A: Is a Mercedes a better choice than a BMW? Well, it depends on how much money you have and how you determine value. Most people would rather have a Mercedes but it's not always the smartest choice. After all, you can buy several Kias for what you'd pay for one BMW.
It's the same when you shop for laptops. You'll pay more than $1,000 for that Apple laptop while you can buy a serviceable PC laptop for $400 and some change. I do think Apple machines are stylish and less likely to be hit by a virus. In my home we've stayed with PCs but I'd be pleased if my finances could justify the price of an Apple laptop.
Q: You would be doing many of your readers a favor if you were to comment on Bose Wave radios vs. the "home theaters" with their multitude of speakers. Which is best?
— Jack and Eileen Wolock
A: This is my day for being unable to give a yea or nay. Best is a truly relative term. The Bose radios have good sound. And for people who want simplicity, and who don't mind paying a premium price, these radios can be a good solution.
Technology — whether in the form of computers, sound systems, TVs, whatever — offers solutions for specific situations. So what's "best" depends on each users' situation and tastes. If a person doesn't mind a few wires and speakers in the room, a separate audio system with five speakers, along with maybe a subwoofer, produces sound superior to what you'd get with a Bose radio.
But I can easily see how a Bose radio would appeal in some households. If it's the best overall solution for you, you'll get very nice sound.
Q: My house was wired for cable TV 13 years ago. I now have a plasma TV, an LCD TV and a DVR. I often get puzzle-like squares on the plasma TV. The Comcast tech said I ought to have the house re-wired. Before I spend the money, is it needed or could it be something besides the wiring.
— Richard LaPlante
A: I can't know if your old coax cable needs replacing or not but my guess is that the tech is correct. Coax does deteriorate over time and 13 years is a long time. You might also ask the tech whether a cable amplifier would help.
HAVE A QUESTION?
Please send your questions to Bill Husted at tecbud(at)bellsouth.net. While he reads every e-mail, not all are answered. E-mails are selected for publication based on the likelihood that the answers will be of general interest.