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Spring Home Living Pag* 25 Convert unused space to a home computer center By Gregg Howard Copley News Service Computers are turni unexpected advantage for their owners out to have an today in solving a problem that has plagued home owners for years. Trie problem is unused or underused spaces, such as alcoves or odd-size rooms. With the growing prevalence of computers in homes, many of these spaces can be transformed into ideal workplaces for the budding computer enthusiast or the emerging home business person-provided the home owner knows a few basic con­ siderations in making such a con­ version. SEARCH rith computers," says Paul Edwards, business consultant in Sierra Madre, One of the primary considerations is having the right furniture. "For the most economical use of space, one of these rooms really should have a desk built especially for use with a Calif. "Anybody who is the least bit handy with tools can build one of these desks pretty easily," says Edwards, "or you can buy one for about $100 to $300. It's important for the desk to have holes in the back for computer wiring, storage spaces for paper and other supplies and special places for com­ puter accessories such as a printer or a type of home you want or can afford. "Think about whether you want a detached home or a condominium and how many rooms you need," he said. "Some people need several bedrooms because of the size of their present or planned family." "Many others can get by with less." The next thing to consider is location. "Uris is to be thought about in con­ junction *vith what you can afford," he said. Once you have qualified financially, determined the size of the unit you're looking for and pinned down a general location, the next step is to consult the media. "I think the best source to look at is newspapers," he said. "Check out the newspaper ads to find out where various developments are." •telephone modem. If the space to be converted has a window, the computer should face away from it or be protected by heavy curtains. Direct sunlight can interfere with computer operations. Personal computers run on standard household electrical current, so they can be installed in any room with an outlet. Also, "computers should be installed in rooms with phone lines or where phone lines can easily be ad­ ded," advises Scott Edwards, manager of marketing services for Epson America Inc., a manufacturer of computer printers and personal computers. "We've found that many users eventually want to add a modem- -a device that lets them transmit and receive data via the phone lines." While almost any indoor space can be converted to a computer workplace if it is large enough, it's not a good idea to use enclosed porches, breezeways or other areas exposed to the elements. "Dust and rain are enemies of computers," says Edwards. "Either one can seriously damage the machine." Static electricity can cause damaf too, so home owners in especially areas may want to invest in anti-static carpeting or in anti-static aerosol spray. (Continued from page 24) The overall procedure then turns to legwork. "There's no real shortcut to this," he said. "You have to go out and look at a lot of developments." "You've got to see them firsthand." Thill said that before anyone goes out and starts looking at developments, he should make a checklist. "The purpose of the list is to make sure that you get all the necessary information at each project," he said. The checklist should include such things about each developement as its name, the price range, the financing packages, the down payments required, whether the mortgage rate is fixed or variable, the mortgage rate and the amount of the closing costs (fees required to complete the sale). • y Jilgm ?-• Best Of jgisjet, A Conn try Decor for your walls doors, floors & table tops COME IN & SEE n THE NEWEST IDEAS! CumsStore Wood'M'Tfiinft We welcome Bride* to register for Wedding Gifts. 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