Choose a location that provides the following:

A large, sturdy desk or table. Make sure it can easily support the weight of your system, including all its components.

A flat, hard surface. Soft surfaces like beds and carpeted floors attract static electricity, which erases data on your disks and can damage the computer’s circuitry. Soft surfaces also prevent proper ventilation.

Good air circulation. Air must be able to move freely under the system as well as behind it. Leave several inches behind the computer clear to allow ventilation.

Moderate environmental conditions. You need to protect your computer from extremes in temperature, humidity, dust, and smoke. Avoid direct sunlight or any other source of heat. High humidity also hinders operation, so select a cool, dry area. Since you can’t risk losing data stored on disk, do not expose your computer to dust and smoke which can damage disks and disk drives.

Appropriate power sources. To prevent static charges, connect all your equipment to 3-prong, 120-volt, grounded outlets. You need one outlet for the main unit, one for the monitor, and additional outlets for a printer and any other peripherals. The two auxiliary power outlets on the back panel of the Equity II reduce the number of wall outlets you need (see ‘The Back Panel” in this chapter).

No electromagnetic interference. Locate your system away from any electrical device that generates an electromagnetic field. Surprisingly, even a telephone can cause trouble, especially if you keep diskettes right next to it.

When you find the ideal location for your Equity II, you can start to set up your system.