"All my life, whenever it comes time to make a decision, I make it and forget about it."—Harry S. Truman

Our 33rd president was a tough, uncompromising kind of guy—but he never had to face the daunting task of buying a computer. A multitude of choices is the hallmark of a free society, but if presented with the number of alternatives available in today's personal computer (PC) marketplace, even "Give 'Em Hell Harry" might have thrown up his hands in frustration. Fortunately, buying a computer isn't as difficult as it might seem.

The good news is that just about any home computer you buy these days will work fine for most everyday tasks, including word processing, working with finances, sending e-mail, and browsing the Web. For years, computer manufacturers competed to see who could top the others with faster and more powerful models, but today the average computer is speedy enough for just about any use. In fact, the only two home applications that require a super-fast system are professional-level video editing and playing cutting-edge video games.

When buying a computer, the biggest decision you'll have to make is between the two major types on the market: Windows-compatible systems and the Apple Macintosh. While the Mac's market share was only 3.2 percent of all home computers sold domestically in 2003, that doesn't mean it's an inferior system, as any Mac devotee gladly will tell you. In fact, Mac ownership has been likened to a religion by some zealous fans.

The answer to the question "Which PC should I buy?" used to be "What do you want to do with it?" While that's still true to some extent, the playing field now is much more level than in the past. Both Mac and Windows PCs handle games, video, and just about any other application you throw at them with nary a hiccup. So instead of a system's usability, your choice probably will be influenced by other factors:

* What type of computer do your friends and family own? Although transferring word processing and other types of files between the two platforms is possible, sticking to the same kind of computer system they have makes it much easier to share information.

* How much do you enjoy tinkering with computer hardware and software? Apple is famous for keeping a tight rein on the production of its systems and software, while Windows computers are made by a host of manufacturers (including college students in their dorms), and just about anyone with a little programming knowledge can write Windows software. Apple's uniformity makes Macs much less likely to freeze up (crash) or refuse to start—a problem that has plagued Windows systems for years.

* How important is security to you? Computer viruses used to proliferate mostly between computer users who shared infected floppy disks, but with the advent of the Internet, they now can spread like wildfire. Windows PCs have been the preferred prey of most virus writers from the beginning, while Macs have had fewer viral problems because of Apple's smaller market share.

* How much variety do you need? There are thousands of software titles available for the Mac, but the Windows world boasts tens of thousands. If it's important that you have a wide range of choices when purchasing programs for your computer, you probably will be happier with a Windows-based system.

* What are you familiar with? If you are buying a new PC to replace an older one, it would make sense for you to get another of the same type rather than switch platforms midstream. Unless you're unhappy with your present computing experience, you'll be better off avoiding the steep learning curve a new type of computer can inflict.

Whether you end up with a Mac or PC, the main thing to remember is that the PC world is changing constantly. The system you buy today probably will be outdated in just a few years, so it's important to buy a computer with the future in mind. There's an adage in the computer industry called Moore's Law, which states that processing power will double approximately every 18 months. It has proven remarkably accurate, so try to get as much computer as you can at the outset.

Comparing Apples and Windows

Let's take a quick look at both the Mac and the Windows PC to see how they differ and what they have in common. Both come with a central processing unit (CPU) inside—the chip that functions as the actual "brains" of the computer. Windows models have CPUs made by either Intel or Advanced Micro Devices (AMD); Macs use CPUs from Motorola. A processor's speed is measured in gigahertz (Ghz), which gives you an idea of how quickly a system can carry out instructions. Most computers on the market today are fast enough for everyday uses.

To function at all, a computer needs an operating system (OS), a "traffic cop" program that oversees all the system's functions. For the purposes of this article, we'll look at the most current ones: Windows XP and Mac OS X.

Most of the more severe stability problems with Windows over the years can be traced to Microsoft's desire to maintain backward compatibility with earlier versions of its operating system. With Windows XP, compatibility with older software is limited, but the OS is much more stable than its predecessors Windows 98 and Windows Me. That means fewer crashes and a more pleasant computing experience.

Microsoft has charged onto Apple's turf with XP, stuffing the operating system with a wide range of audio and video offerings designed to compete with the Mac's groundbreaking multimedia software. Windows' Media Player does everything from playing DVDs to creating music CDs, and sports an improved look.

For homes where a PC is shared by several people, XP can be personalized so that each user has his or her own account and settings. The operating system now "insulates" programs from each other, so if your new blackjack software crashes, it won't take down the entire system. And XP features a remote desktop function that allows you to control your computer from another location, so you can access your system at work from your home PC.

For cruising the Internet, XP includes the Internet Explorer Web browser, but other free options, such as Netscape and Mozilla are available on the Internet. Microsoft includes its Outlook e-mail program with XP, but again, other e-mail applications can be easily downloaded, which might be more secure, as Outlook is a favorite target of virus writers.

On the Apple side of the operating system equation, OS X (it's Apple's 10th version) is a departure from earlier variants. Based on the rock-solid UNIX operating system long used by scores of businesses, it still retains the Mac's traditional ease of use and friendly interface.

For accessing the Internet, Apple has introduced Safari, which offers features such as tabbed Web browsing (you can have several pages open at once, each with its own onscreen tab) and easy synchronization of your address book, bookmarks, and calendar among several Macs. The new iSight digital video camera allows users to videoconference with friends and family over the Web, and Apple's famous iPod music player lets you download and listen to music, store files, and can even function as a travel alarm.

As with XP, OS X allows you to have several programs running at once without interfering with each other, using a new feature called ExposŽ. Pressing a single key lets you see all your programs side-by-side in their own windows; another key press hides them.

Apple was an early leader in wireless networking, and the company's AirPort wireless equipment gives Mac users a painless way to connect to each other and the Internet. And Macintosh computers sport the ultra-fast Firewire connector, which lets you hook your video camera directly to the Mac for video editing or to add external devices such as extra hard drives.

Decision time

When personal computers first emerged in the early 1980s, no one could have foreseen how they would change our lives in just a couple of decades. Both Mac and Windows computers have evolved to the point that either one can connect you to the Internet, store and play your digital movies and photos, send and receive e-mail, and perform a host of other tasks that were once unimaginable. And today's systems are so easy to use, even Harry Truman would be pleased.