I'm looking for a computer for my sister, she recently got into a Graphics Design Program so she'll be needing a computer that can handle heavy use of Adobe Illustrator and CS3.

I did a search and found this, any other suggestions?

Quote :

"Fastest processor you can afford, I would go with a quad core over dual core. Fast ram and a lot of it and I would also use a 64bit OS now that PS is a 64 bit compliant application. I would run one or two raptor 10k drives for your OS, programs and projects in progress, but use regular 7200 drives for storage. Running 3 drives in raid 5 would be best, but getting two drives mirrored would work fine too. Graphics card isn't as important for PS work, but will help you out to have a dedicated card for dual DVI output. Just be aware that if you do go with 64bit OS, you need to make sure you have drivers for all your hardware. If you buy from gateway, they should be straight about that. But sounds stupid to just go through gateway."

5/3/2008 4:01:23 PM

http://www.apple.com

5/3/2008 4:11:34 PM

I don't think he wants to mortgage his house for a ocmputer dude.

5/3/2008 4:35:03 PM

not gonna be super cheap either way

5/3/2008 4:57:56 PM

seriously...

1) chick

2)Graphics Student

pretty much http://www.apple.com

5/3/2008 5:10:57 PM

Graphic Design program where?

5/3/2008 5:35:28 PM

ECU

I'd rather stay away from Apple

5/3/2008 6:10:35 PM

She'll probably be the only one without an Apple, then. Honestly, if you walk through any of the buildings here at NCSU that do graphics stuff, it's almost 100% Apple.

5/3/2008 6:35:55 PM

^ Their school of design "requires" a Mac too: http://www.ecu.edu/cs-itcs/act/ace/upload/ECU%20Computer%20Requirements%20Fall%202007.pdf page 3 there

If she's really good with computers, she could probably figure stuff out either way, but it would be easier for her to be using the same platform as other students and the teacher, in terms of troubleshooting and things like that.

5/3/2008 8:06:08 PM

if you know what you're doing, get a similarly spec'd laptop and then dual boot and then everyone is happy

5/3/2008 8:10:16 PM

gay, i want to stay away from Apple because none of our family uses them and don't really know the computers, and integrating her laptop into the home network would be so much easier (she'll be living at home mostly).

my sister definitely isn't a computer person either and she's been learning Adobe and Corel Illustrator on Windows. thanks for that pdf though, it should be helpful when we take a look at what to get her. i'll have to ask if her classmates use Apple.

5/3/2008 9:22:23 PM

not knowing how to use an apple and only a windows machine is kind of like saying i only know how to do calculus but basic addition is too tough for me

they make it really easy for you to use and if she's used to a windows machine, other than learning that everything IS different it's not any harder

5/3/2008 9:25:35 PM

Quote :

"and integrating her laptop into the home network would be so much easier (she'll be living at home mostly). "

Macs use the same networking stuff as Windows, and it's usually MUCH easier to configure (definitely easier than Vista and as easy as XP for someone who knows what they're doing with XP). It'll do file sharing, printer sharing, and all that stuff very easily.

5/3/2008 9:28:29 PM

Quote :

"I'd rather stay away from Apple"

dot

5/3/2008 10:34:10 PM

Quote :

"Macs use the same networking stuff as Windows, and it's usually MUCH easier to configure (definitely easier than Vista and as easy as XP for someone who knows what they're doing with XP). It'll do file sharing, printer sharing, and all that stuff very easily."

Seconded.
My OSX machine usually plays nicer on the network than my XP machine.

5/4/2008 12:50:33 AM

Quote :

"gay, i want to stay away from Apple because none of our family uses them and don't really know the computers, and integrating her laptop into the home network would be so much easier (she'll be living at home mostly). my sister definitely isn't a computer person either and she's been learning Adobe and Corel Illustrator on Windows. thanks for that pdf though, it should be helpful when we take a look at what to get her. i'll have to ask if her classmates use Apple."

they're easy to learn, like anything else that you're not used to. networking is easy as pie. the adobe suite will be the same as windows, so there's no big difference there aside from where the menu bar is that i'm aware of. a majority of her graphic design classmates will probably have an apple.

5/4/2008 1:32:16 AM

The only down side to apple is that they are overpriced. Other then that, they are very easy to use, learn, and work off of. Graphic guys swear by it and I've been considering of getting a macbook pro for my graphic uses if they ever drop the prices. But pretty much in the world of graphic design, photography, news & media content, I'd say 90% uses Apple.

The only other downside about not getting an apple are all of the dumb ass and smug comments I get from fellow co-workers and friends. "Shouldn't you be using an apple?" You can do work on either platforms.

5/4/2008 5:14:27 AM

http://www.psystar.com/index.php?&page=shop.product_details&product_id=1&category_id=3&flypage=flypage_images.tpl&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=72


PROBLEM SOLVED!!!

NO ONE WILL BE ABLE TO TELL!!!!

5/4/2008 7:55:37 AM

student... graphic design... commuting... Gotta go with a laptop.

5/4/2008 8:29:40 AM

talked with her this morning and she confirmed that a Mac is required and almost everyone has one there, but its good to hear from you all that they're easy to use and integrate. I'm uncomfortable with Macs such as those in the library because its hard to move around and do what you need to do, but I'm sure she'll be able to figure it out.

any specific models? she was considering Macbook Air cause, well, she's a girl but knows its not practical.

5/4/2008 6:04:22 PM

do NOT get an air, she will be cursing herself if she wants to add a wacom tablet and an external drive and some other usb things

5/4/2008 6:08:58 PM

macbook pro would be my suggestion... though i may be a bit biased causing i'm typing from one right now... they're awesome machines. she won't have any trouble learning it. she shouldn't get an air though; i wouldn't suggest it to anyone that doesn't have a base tower at home and/or decent computer knowledge. as cool looking as they are, they're almost a novelty without those two other things, plus she'll want a stronger computer with more storage. i suggest a pro for the graphics cards and processors, they (video cards) aren't the latest and greatest but they'll get the job done with her graphics work. the new core 2 duo's are 64bit and correct me anyone if i'm wrong but you can use up to 3.5-4 gb (forget which it is) RAM with them.

[Edited on May 4, 2008 at 6:24 PM. Reason : ]

5/4/2008 6:22:27 PM

Macbook Air is more of an ultra portable laptop for light work usage and is really considered a "compliment" device for other mac computers. The Macbook Pro is pretty much what most students in graphic design get.

5/4/2008 6:51:50 PM

^ the much shorter version of what i said

5/4/2008 7:57:28 PM

Quote :

"do NOT get an air, she will be cursing herself if she wants to add a wacom tablet and an external drive and some other usb things "

Second this. The Air is pretty slow too.

I would so go with the Macbook Pro because its faster, and the faster GPU helps with certain things. It's also a fairly well made machine, and not as overpriced as you'd think. And if she REALLY gets in to graphic design stuff she may like the versatility of being able to do the occasional 3D modeling program without hiccups (and also playing games).

5/4/2008 8:28:58 PM

Quote :

"I'm uncomfortable with Macs such as those in the library because its hard to move around and do what you need to do"

only because you haven't used them much at all

after a week of using mine (with no real prior experiences beyond when i had to use one at the library or something) i was able to do anything i wanted

not to mention the whole dualboot thing that is stupid easy to setup

5/4/2008 8:32:38 PM

Have her get the lower end Macbook pro that ECU sales - it's a 2.4 GHz processor (new penryn processor), 256 MB video card, plenty of power for graphic design and gaming, and it comes with 2 GB of RAM and the price includes three years of AppleCare (which doesn't protect against drops, spills or any user damage. So if your sister is clumsy or never had a laptop before look into 3rd party insurance such as Safeware or see about getting it covered under your homeowners insurance).

Personally I'd buy 2 x 2 GB of ram from newegg or somewhere like that and pull the other 2 x 1 GB out (then sell them and get some money back). I bought a 2 GB Mushkin, apple certified stick of ram about 6 months ago for $100 - haven't had a problem yet. I would have bought two sticks but my MB Pro is a 2nd generation and only accepts 3 GB max.

The higher-end model doubles the memory of the graphics card (512 MB) and increases the CPU from a 2.4 to a 2.5 but the big difference is really the L2 Cache -> 3 MB to 6 MB.

Don't get the Macbook though - the integrated graphics will definitely cause a problem when using design software.

But - it's also $500 more which is why I suggested the lower end (but still a beast).

Like others mentioned - networking and everything else on the Mac is a breeze...and there is always the option of running bootcamp and/or Parallels.


[Edited on May 4, 2008 at 8:45 PM. Reason : AppleCare]

5/4/2008 8:43:25 PM

MacBook Pro. That's what my sister was pretty much forced to buy by her department when she started graphics design. If you can afford it, I would go all out as well; don't go cheap because a lot of the rendering software she'll probably be using are real resource pigs.

If she's going to ECU, tuition will be cheap anyways. If you don't have the money, go ahead and take out a student loan to buy one.

Oh, and buy a cable lock too. She'll probably end up living in the studio, and she might as well be able to lock it so she can go and eat occasionally without having to pack up her equipment or worrying whether her baby will still be there when she returns.

5/4/2008 8:47:34 PM

I.. err... 8th the macbook pro too. The NCSU Bookstore has them at 100 off education pricing right now (so 1699.00 for the lowest end mbpro and 2199 for the high-end 15 inch one.) I'd call to check if they're in stock though.

5/5/2008 9:49:22 AM

go with macbook pro for graphic design.

I love my macbook so I would have no issue going the next step up

5/5/2008 9:58:57 AM

I think apple's $100 off is a piss poor discount for students. If it was 10% or more off the price, I'd be more inclined to switch over.

5/5/2008 10:03:05 AM

^It's $200 off on macbook pro's... not $100. The bookstore's extra discount makes it $300 off retail on the pro's and $200 off retail on the regular macbooks. Not to say go over there and buy one, but on the macbooks that DOES come out to an extra 10% off.

5/5/2008 10:07:24 AM