Finally thinking about getting a new computer

[Sketcher]

Only thing is, I'm not sure what I need. I've had my PowerMac G4 for just over four years now. I'm thinking about getting a 17" MacBook Pro. I'll probably later get a larger display to hook up to it. I also thought about getting a new iMac but I prefer a laptop. It'll be mainly used for design work. How much RAM should it have? How big of a hard drive is needed? I mostly need help with the technical specifications that are needed for a graphic design machine.

[Danger_Mouse]

max your RAM whatever you get, RAM is dirt cheap right now. But 2GB is my mininum.

As for your Harddrive, you should be able to determine yourself. How busy are you? heh seriously. Bigger the better again, but a better question is what is your budget?

Whatever your system comes with will start you off. But just think of your growth, the size of files you generally deal with and of course how much work is coming in. Are you going to be backing up to another server or anything? If you are ...then a bigger HD isn't really necessary. If its your sole computer, go big.

I think the Macbook starts with 120gb harddrive...which in my view is plenty ass big.

[Sketcher]

Well, I'm a student right now in my last semester. So at this point, I really don't know how much work is going to be coming in. But it seems as though my files are getting bigger and bigger. The MacBook Pro I'm looking at comes with a 160 GB hard drive, which can be upgraded to 200 and 250 GB. I guess I could always buy an external drive if I need it.

Also, can any Apple monitor be hooked up to a MacBook?

[hewligan]

ANy hard drive you buy now will seem tiny in two years time. Just get what the machine comes with, and expect to need to buy an external later.

iMacs and the Mac laptops come with mini DVI ports these days. No monitor in the world plugs into them directly, and you can buy adaptors to plug just about anything that will take a video signal in.

[budafist]

I have a 40GB hard drive. It was massive when I bought it. Now look at it.

*pokes computer with a stick*

[hewligan]

I can still remember thinking a 540MB hard drive was huge.

[budafist]

I can still remember thinking a 540MB hard drive was huge.

Gawd, what could you do with a 540mb hard drive? You couldn't even open a full CD!

[hewligan]

Well, you could confortably run Illustrator, photoshop, pagemaker and corel draw. Also Doom :D

[budafist]

Photoshop!? How big where your files?

[hewligan]

Well, I don't remember, but probably a lot smaller. Photoshop 3 didn't even have layers (I think they were introduced in 4).

[monkey900]

hahahahahaha i've only used photoshop since i started uni in 2005 and i couldn't see how you could do anything with out layers

[achipmunk]

why not get a 19 inch screen, the price difference is not so big..

[Sketcher]

why not get a 19 inch screen, the price difference is not so big..

Does Apple make laptops with 19 inch screens? I've never seen one.

[budafist]

Neither!

[vtwin_gary]

well i may be the only pc guy in the thread but i just ordered a new machine.
2.66 core 2 duo
500 gig hard drive
4 gigs of ram

i can't wait should be ready for pick up tomarrow