Computers: Personal computers for the entrepreneur: Microcomputers can help meet payrolls rather than play star wars availability of applications software packages is the pacing item

All the ballyhoo about a user-programmable microcomputer in every home has about run its course. Consumers are still interested, but right now they relate mostly to computing systems and advanced video games that can be set up with a prerecorded program cartridge (Atari, Fairchild, VideoBrain). Programmable microcomputers are being purchased by hobbyists, educators, and small businessmen. However, kits are much less important than they were only 18 months ago. Commodore Business Machines, Intelligent Systems Corporation, Radio Shack, and others have marketed “turnkey” computer products for under $1000 — but the cost of peripherals and additional memory typically pushes this figure much higher before a useful computing system can be realized. Seeing the consumer as a reluctant spender in this price range, many former hobby computer makers have begun courting the small-business customer. Here's a look at recent hardware and software trends, highlighted by some examples of microcomputer applications in the small-business community.