Several years ago, before former U.S. Vice President Al Gore supposedly invented the Internet, computer technology was still in its infancy. And the baby was hefty: The machines were so large, they often took up an entire room.

But now, with a multitude of technological advancements at consumers’ fingertips, the biggest problem Generation X faces is not having enough memory on computers to store downloaded music and movies. (Meanwhile, a few of the older, more traditional computers users AreStillTryingToFixTheirSpacebarKey.) And the whistles and bells are becoming increasingly more sophisticated.

Barbara Williams feels she doesn’t need the all-in-one computer – telephone, fax machine and camera.

“I don’t really see a need for a loaded computer,” said Williams. “Why would I want a camera watching me? ‘Big Brother?’”

Williams admits she is computer illiterate, and new programs scare her and are difficult to use. But a recent move from one office to another has her a bit surprised.

“I ... still don’t have a computer, so my life has been upside-down,” she said. “I didn’t realize how much I depended on it until I didn’t have it. Even accessing someone else’s computer didn’t help much, because my address book doesn’t follow me.”

E-mail is Williams’ friend - she can contact so many people in such a little time.

“I just knew when I wanted to type an e-mail, I just put the first letter of the person’s name and it would magically appear,” said Williams. “No thinking required.”

For many years, a personal computer was the popular buy at the local electronics store, but as companies spent more and more money on research, Apple computers were built to offer everything PCs could, and supposedly were easier to operate.

“A common belief used to be that Macs were more expensive, but that’s not the case,” said Bennie McElhaney, manager of PROMac Computers in Oklahoma City.

According to Apple’s official Web site, desktop computer prices begin at about $600, and often include the works: mouse, keyboard, built-in webcam, microphone and speakers, remote control for video and audio, CD and DVD ROMs - even Intel Core Duo 2 processors, a feature once available only to the PC owner.

“With a PC, you have to buy the software, but an iMac comes loaded with the software,” said McElhaney.

Macs operate on the Mac Operating System. Users are especially appreciative of a “dashboard” feature: With one click of a button, a calculator, area six-day forecast, local clock and monthly calendar zoom onto the screen. Even better, according to Mac users, is the computer core of an iMac is embedded in a screen that’s barely 2 inches deep.

Apple recently began producing new commercials to inform consumers they, too, can offer what PCs can offer - and more.

“Hello, I’m a Mac,” says the actor potraying Apple’s computer.