Home computer wars: compare the intended activity

Comparing home computers becomes clearer when the intended activity is stated. Playing a game, writing a program and producing a document place different demands on controls, storage and display.

Advertisements and recollections can highlight different strengths. Keep a specification separate from a user’s preference, and note which software and accessories a comparison assumes.

Choose one task and describe the steps needed to complete it on each system. This creates a concrete comparison without reducing a diverse period to a single winner.