The 1998 Consumer Reports Buying Guide (US$8.95) is a handy reference guide for purchasing major appliances, especially if you're a first time buyer.

How many of us know and can remember all of the features to look for when buying a CD player or refrigerator? The 356-page book has some great pointers about what to look for when making the major purchases. Tips on buying other items such as bicycle helmets and water filters are thrown in between sections on the major appliances. Ratings on automobiles take up a good portion of the guide, but you can send away for Consumer Reports more extensive ratings on the other types of products.

The section on computers is commendable for beginning with the basic descriptions, and moving on to the choices and tradeoffs a consumer will have to decide on before making a purchase.

A more experienced buyer will take interest in the hair-raising statistic that about 23 percent of computers develop a problem within the first month of purchase, according to a Consumer Reports survey.

The organisation found five percent of desktops bought between 1993 and 1996 became completely inoperable within that first month, while another 18 percent had problems but still worked. This is a scary figure for someone about to put down $2,000 to $3,000 on a first computer. Consumer Reports surveyed 26,000 readers for its ratings on the various companies. Out of seven manufacturers, readers gave Apple computers the highest rating (91 percent) for performance and reliability. Next in line is Dell, Gateway 2000, IBM, Compaq, AST, and Packard Bell. Packard received a rating of 79 percent.

Among seven brands of computer Apple had the best repair history while Gateway 2000s computers had the worst with about 12 percent for core components, and a very high 20 percent on peripherals.

Apple also received the highest satisfaction rating among the companies in providing help when the computer needed servicing. Packard Dell received the worst rating.

For all computers, 28 percent of 9,000 consumers surveyed said the problem was never fixed, 19 percent said it took a week to fix the problem, and over 40 percent said the manufacturer was hard to reach.

Consumer Reports' ideal computer (based on performance for value) is a 200-MHz Pentium MMX processor if you're buying a Windows-based system, or a 180-MHz PowerPC if you want one using Mac OS. The organisation recommends at least 32 megabytes of RAM, a 3.2-gigabyte hard drive, a 256-kilobyte cache memory, 8X CD-ROM drive, a 28.8 or 33.6-kbps modem, a 15-inch monitor, and a 100-megabyte removable storage disk.

"Such a computer starts at around $2,000,'' the magazine states. Add more money if you're shopping in Bermuda.

While there are separate sections on backup systems, monitors, and printers, the report lacks information on laptop computers. Perhaps they'll include a special section in next year's edition.

For a copy of the guide contact Consumer Reports online at www.ConsumerReports.org.

New Jersey-based Sensar Inc. has developed eye-scanning equipment which it is selling to ATM manufacturers. The system could replace the use of PIN numbers to access accounts at ATMs. When a customer puts in a bank card, a special camera locates the face, and the eye, then takes a digital image of the iris.

The image is then compared with the one the customer has given the bank. The process takes about two seconds to complete and works even if the person is wearing glasses or contact lenses, according to a Sensar press release. Iris scans are more accurate than high-tech identification systems using fingerprints, voices and faces. The iris has 250 features unique to each person, compared with about 40 for fingerprints.

The iris scanning system could allow banks to expand the services ATMs now offer. With a more secure system big-money withdrawals, money transfers, and non-banking related functions may come online once consumers get used to having their eyes scanned.

A Dataquest survey found software giant Microsoft Corp. is pulling even with Netscape Communications in the `war of the browsers'. Dataquest found the Netscape browser had a market share of about 58 percent in the third quarter 1997, while Microsoft share had doubled in nine months to 39 percent.

Dataquest estimates Microsoft's Explorer browser should draw even with Netscape by second quarter 1998.

At this point which type of browser you use is now very much up to personal preference. I find it slightly easier to use Netscape. That may be so because I started browsing the Internet using Netscape.

You'll find advocates on both sides of the divide. Of more interest is Microsoft's court battle with the US Justice Department over its aggressive promotion of its browser.

A judge has granted a preliminary injunction against Microsoft, preventing the company from requiring computer manufacturers to include Explorer as part of the Windows operating system.

Microsoft had planned on including Explorer as a key component of its Windows 98 system, which is due out this year as an update on Windows 95. The company had argued Explorer was an integral part of the Windows system.

Microsoft is appealing the decision and claimed in a press release: "Today, a number of Windows 95 functions, as well as third-party applications, are dependent on Internet Explorer technologies.'' However, the system operated fine in court without the browser, a demonstration which convinced the district court judge it wasn't a necessary software component.

If the court fight continues against Microsoft, the release of Windows 98 could be affected. Windows 98 has more fully integrated the Explorer browser into the operating system according to the company. Microsoft is promising "higher quality and reliability, an easier Internet experience, better entertainment with high-performance graphics and audio, and support for the latest hardware technologies'' in Windows 98.

Windows 98 will also offer a compromise solution for businesses which can't move to the Windows NT operating system for workstations, according to the company.