Don't Be Stung by This PC Bug

Just how bad is the problem with the Pentium chip? And if you'rein the market for a new PC this Christmas, should it affect yourbuying plans?

First of all, you need to consider just what the problem is.

The Pentium chip, in both its 60MHz and 90MHz versions, has anerror deep in its microcode that causes it to make errors in divisioncalculations that involve numbers with decimal points.

That means calculations involving dollars and cents, for example,could produce incorrect results because of the Pentium bug.

This bug not only shows up if you use math-based software suchas Excel or 1-2-3 spreadsheets; it can also show up if you use a database, a word processor, a graphics program or even a game.

In fact, any program that does real number division deep insideit is susceptible to the Pentium division bug.

As a result, IBM has decided to halt shipments of itsPentium-based PCs. Some analysts point out that IBM also producesthe PowerPC chip - along with Apple and Motorola - in competitionwith Intel, maker of Pentium chips. Even so, IBM has a largeinventory of unsold Pentium PCs, and this move will still meanlosses for the company.

I believe IBM's concern to be genuine, and I think consumersshould, too. I wouldn't be surprised to see other majormanufacturers mimic IBM's announcement, or create a special programto replace the buggy chip at no charge.

From my point of view, it's unconscionable that Intel isn'talready offering any immediate replacement Pentium chip.

So what should you do now?

If you already own a Pentium-based PC, you should contactyour computer manufacturer, and the store you bought it from, anddemand a Pentium replacement.

If you haven't already bought a PC, don't buy one running thebuggy Pentium chip.

If you want to stay in the world of DOS; Windows, you shouldconsider a PC based on the 486 chip, perhaps the 486; DX2 at 50MHz or66MHz, or the 486; DX4 at 75MHz or 100MHz.

These chips are less powerful than the Pentium, but still offerplenty of computing horsepower to run multimedia, CD-ROM titles,games, big data bases and all the rest, without the Pentium divisionerror.

Because they cost less to manufacture, you can find 486; DX2 andDX4 machines for much less money than Pentium PCs. My favoritesinclude the Zeos Ambra, Packard Bell, Compaq Presario, IBM Aptiva andZenith Data Systems lines.

Expect to pay $1,200 to $1,600 for a 486; DX2 desktop PC with a14-inch color monitor and CD-ROM, while the price of a DX4 desktop PCwith similar equipment should cost you $1,700 to $2,200.

Your other alternative is to forget DOS; Windows and go with anApple Macintosh.

These machines use either the Motorola 68040 chip or the PowerPCand don't suffer from the Pentium division error. For my money, Macsare still much easier to install, learn and use than even the best PCrunning Windows 3.1.

And if you need to read DOS; Windows data from the office on ahome Mac, every Mac sold can do that without additions, thanks totheir SuperDrive floppy disc drives and their System 7.5 operatingsystem. If you need to run Windows software, a Mac can handle thattoo, by using a special program called SoftWindows, from InsigniaSolutions.

Expect to pay between $1,600 and $1,900 for a Macintosh Performa630CD machine (68040 CPU) with a 15-inch color monitor, and between$2,400 and $2,700 for a fast Performa 6115 based on the PowerPC chip.

You'll find Macs, as well as 486; DX machines at areamass-market, electronics and computer retailers, including Target,Sears, Montgomery Ward, Silo, Computer City, CompUSA, Elek-Tek,Circuit City and Best Buy.