Ponder this for a moment: "Computers don't work computers - people do." With that fact in mind, let's explore ways to make your computer work for you the way you work and put together an ideal PC that can effectively accomplish feats that are needed to run your business.

The whole idea of a computer is to make your job easier, not harder. Most of us are not computer techs. We are rental store operators trying to make an honest living. One reason we bought a computer was to help us achieve this goal. Just as when we buy a rental product, we expect value in return.

It seems every time we turn around a computer manufacturer or programmer has something new that will run faster, better, do more - one way or another, make its predecessor obsolete. It's a safe bet that when you take the plunge and purchase that program or system you've been contemplating, within days of final payment the new version will be released or the new model will be introduced. Remember? - just when you thought you had mastered the Windows 3.1 operating system, out came Windows '95, and then when you felt comfortable with that, next comes Windows '98. We can expect Windows 2000 to follow shortly. Keeping up with technology can become an obsession - and an expensive undertaking.

How can we, as rental store owners and employees, prepare for the millennium and still remain on the edge of technology? I want each of you to answer these three questions:

1. What are you capable of doing right now on your computer?

2. What would you like to be able to do right now?

3. What should you be doing within the next six to 12 months?

Now, which of these questions is the most critical to you and your business? If you guessed No. 3, you're correct. The key to anyone's success is to plan ahead. With a direct path to follow, this will put you on the right track to not only owning an ideal PC for your business and personal use, but also in the skills you wish to acquire. If I had the opportunity to look at your answers to these questions, I'm sure I would see an entire gamut of responses. For question No. 1, there will be answers ranging from turning the machine on to producing CAD layouts of rental equipment. For answer No. 2, everything from sending e-mail to calculating return on investment.

Your responses to question No. 3 would be interesting to review. Based on my experience in the field and many conversations with rental professionals, here is what I believe should be on that list:

• Have a complete and thorough knowledge of how e-mail can work for my business and how to put it to use.
• Discovering how e-commerce can work for my business; namely how a Web site works and how I can create, monitor and implement this for my company.
• Using the power of the Internet to obtain vital information to run my company.
• Corresponding with my customer database, which entails learning the ins and outs of a practical word processing program of your choice.
• Understand the possibilities of digital imaging and how to apply them to my overall marketing strategy.
• Learn about all the ways to store and retrieve data in the most efficient means that will save time and money.
• Develop a system or a way for myself and/or my employees to keep up to date on new technologies and how they can benefit the company.

Now, armed with this knowledge, let's come up with a basic PC package that is very capable of accomplishing the objectives we listed.

First let's establish some simple ground rules:

1. Just reading this column doesn't make you a computer expert. It's a good step in the right direction and it shows that you want to learn and believe that osmosis isn't an effective means of obtaining computer knowledge.

2. Having one computer that produces your rental contracts, another to do your e-mail, others that just do word processing, etc., is not being efficient. Your single computer should be capable of accomplishing numerous tasks. That's why the Windows operating system was developed in the first place. The ability to multitask - "opening many windows at once."

3. Having the biggest, meanest and most expensive and up-to-date computer is not always the right computer for you.

4. No matter what computer you buy today, in most cases it will be considered "yesterday's news" shortly thereafter.

The best thing about high technology today is, as new products are developed at an ever-increasing rate, the price of what I consider "prime computer power" becomes available to us at lower rates. Although a top-of-the-line Intel Pentium 500 mhz and greater machine is essential for a few of us, the majority of us can purchase a PC with all the necessary essentials for under $2,000 today.

I can get extremely detailed describing to you in vivid detail each component in an efficient PC, but for simplicity's sake, I will be as generic and concise as possible. Those who wish specifics can contact me directly for my top picks of manufacturers and products.

A RESPECTABLE RENTAL COMPUTER (as of March 1999) might be configured like this: Intel Pentium II processor, 400 mhz or greater; 128 MB 100 mhz SDRAM (memory); 14.4 GB Ultra ATA hard drive (storage, non-removable); 17-inch standard monitor rated at .26dp - or a flat screen 15 inch; 16MB 3D graphics card (minimum for Web graphics capabilities); 40X Max variable-speed CD-ROM drive or a new DVD drive; 64V sound card plus speakers (standard on most new computers); 56K V90 modem or network Internet access, depending on your situation; large-capacity storage drive, such as an Iomega 100 MB Zip drive (storage removable); Windows '98 operating system; and a standard "Office Suite" software package (basic business software) - plus these accessories: laser printer, 600 dpi or greater; subscription to a good computer magazine; digital camera or flat-bed scanner; and a good service plan from a reputable computer manufacturer.

Once you have decided on the appropriate equipment, you're ready to start meeting your objectives. Keep in mind that a good computer system should adapt to you. You should not have to change your entire way of doing business because a particular salesman or company says this is how you are going to have to do this from now on.

Technology is increasing at a great pace. We, as business professionals, are not expected to become experts in the world of computers, but to be successful today we must be able to take advantage of technologies that can keep our businesses viable, competitive and profitable.

I look forward to your comments, letters and even professional criticism. As always, I can be reached via e-mail at tent_man@msn.com.