Your Computer: Pros, Cons?

[Image]

Hey there. I thought this would be fun for anyone considering a new computer, looking to show off, looking to improve, or looking to start a X vs. XP battle.

Just say what computer you use primarily to design, what's good about it, and what could be better?

I'll start.

Apple Powerbook g4 (The newest one). I have a g5, but I'm always on the go so I use this more (the g5 is for motion animation, film post-production and other RAM eaters like that).

Pros: Uh, it's an Apple. Big bright screen. Widescreen. Thin, light, fast. Backlit keyboard. Scrolling trackpad.

Cons: It's fragile. Speakers need a little help. Eject button, Volume buttons, and screen brightness buttons (apple is notorious) are not analog so they don't necessarily respond right when you hit them depending on what kind of load your processor has. And it's fragile. I've bought one (this same one, but last year's) flawed, got it fixed under warranty, then it broke, got it replaced again, then it got stolen. Heh. I'm much more careful with my new one.

What do you love/hate about your machine?

[Keyare]

I'll just warn you in advance: if this turns into an "X vs. XP Battle" as you suggested, in any way, I'll lock the thread.

We've been over and over and over and over the whole PC/Mac thing a hundred times and it's never constuctive, or friendly....so we kill them before they get ugly. BUT your topic is a pretty unique so...

Carry on.

Have a nice day.

[Takayuki]

Hmmm, now my turn.

Computer:
-hp workstation xw8000
-single processor
-Xeon CPU 3.06ghz
-1g_ram

Graphics Card
-Quador FX 3000

Monitor
-DELL 2001FP

Disk space: 320gig

Thers not expecially pros or cons. Yet to say for improvement I need to jack the ram at least up to 3gigs and I need a dual processor with hyper threading.
For designing there is nothing wrong no lag even on a project of 900 pages in Indesign.:D

[Ghastly]

Amiga 500+
-Deluxe Paint III
-A big brown television made in the eighties

Pros: At the cutting edge of technology...and I can watch the tele when I've finished using the computer.
Cons: I live in dinosaur land so I can't get ought better

:D :D

[defjoe]

not this again...

[morea]

I'll just warn you in advance: if this turns into an "X vs. XP Battle" as you suggested, in any way, I'll lock the thread.
He will, too. Unless I get there first.


Here is the SHORT answer, from our FAQ:

Question: Which is better, mac or pc?

Answer: Both have their uses in graphic design. While Macs have traditionally been considered "THE" tool for graphic design, either system is acceptable in the industry these days. It’s not which system you use, so much as how you use it. The quality of our work is NOT defined by our hardware.

[D-Zine]

http://www.spacespider.net/emo/eatdrink033.gif

yep

[morea]

love the popcorn, DZ :p

[D-Zine]

tee hee hee...spanx!

[keith1]

hp workstation xw4100 (at work)

Con:
Sometimes when I use photoshop (6) for too long and I'm making clipping paths with the pen tool and I go to click the last ancor point to start a new path the cursor or pen tool I'm using doesn't turn into the "V" when I move it over the last point, I have to kind of find it like moving it just below and to the right, it's very frustrating. Does anyone have this problem?? It happens with other things to like resizing an image with the scale tool, i have to move the cursor around to find the angled arrow because it is not right on the corner where it is supposed to be.

Pro: It's pretty fast

iMac G5 1.8G (at home) 17"

Con: need more screen space

Pro: I'm in love with all things apple

[Jason Fraker]

I use a Mac G4 quicksilver (that will soon be upgraded to a lovely Dual G5) on my desktop, and a G4 ibook at home.

I prefer Mac, but maybe it's only what I'm used to (plus, I think they're cooler looking, which is totally unimportant), but I'm definately looking forward to a faster machine. My desktop Mac is getting a little long in the tooth.

I guess the only con for me is price. Most pc manufacturers have such high volume that they can afford a slimmer profit margin, but Apple never has anything on sale. Ever. Plus Dell's flat panel monitors are very, very nice and much cheaper than Apple's.

[Ghastly]

Spectrum ZX81
With Alba Tape Loader

Pros: make your very own graphics programs in BASIC

Cons: they're a bit s**t though

[Patrick Shannon]

Of my three computers.....

Work: iMac 600mhz G3 with 384MB of RAM running OS 9

Pros: Well...it's better than the 50mhz Mac mein fuhrer tried to get me to use IN FRIGGIN 2001...

Cons: Come on, OS9?!? We can't even install the Adobe CS Suite! And up that RAM!



Home: Mac Mini 1.4ghz G4 with 1GB of RAM running OS X Tiger (work rig)

Pros: Very small footprint, with modifications now a fast machine

Cons: When you factor in those upgrades/modifications, not such a bargain machine anymore



Home: 1.8 ghz Athlon 64 with 1.5GB of RAM running Windows XP (gaming rig)

Pros: It's a gaming machine, and a awesome performer at that, it's all I use it for

Cons: Seems like I'm having to reinstall the OS every six months for one reason or another

[benjo]

Imac G5 1.6Ghz
768megs of Ram
17" monitor.

I got it for a Grand. WOW! And I'm loving it. Will be installing tiger this friday and did I mention I love it. =)

Cons: It's not a PC wait that is a pro. Oh sorry guys. =) I'm joking.

[morea]

benjo, are you looking for a spanking?

[uncle carbunkle]

i am my own computer. i started out with a pc, but then my face grafted to the monitor, and my hands melded to the keyboard & mouse...i'm actually just thinking all of this.

it hurts when i crash...

[benjo]

LMAO @ Uncle.

PM me that question Morea cause I don't think you want the answer on the board.

[uncle carbunkle]

no really - someone unplug me. i'm doing aerobics to try and blow a fuse...

[Ghastly]

may I install MS Word uncle?

[benjo]

Hurry up come down to NY I'll help you blow that fuse!

[idaho]

Home:

Mac Dual G5 1.8 Ghz
2 gig ram
120 gb hd
64mb video

PC 2.0 Ghz Athlon 64
2 gig ram
80 gig hd
256mb video

Work (these are my big-boy toys):

Mac same as home except it's connected to TWO 5.3 terabyte Xserve raids. Yes that's 10.6 terabytes worth of apple goodness!
256mb video card (just waiting on the delivery truck to bring it)

PC - Dual 3.0 ghz Xeon processor
2 gig ram
200 gb hd
256mb video card powering two 21" Dell LCDs.

Damn I love my job!!!

Pro: All are fast as greased pig crap and can handle just about anything I throw their direction.

Cons: Macs are expensive as hell compared to a PC. PC's run Winblows.

Personally I don't give a rats-ass what computer I'm using as long as it gets the job done.

[Keyare]

ZX81 - lol! Great machine! Ultimate control! Never crashes! and viruses? No way!

[uncle carbunkle]

beedly beedly beep - what's up, buck?

[skinns]

At Work:
PC
Dual Zeon's 2.6.
Dual 21" Monitors
gig of ram
A crapload of snacks, coca-cola, beef-jerky, healthbars, coffee-machine, enough programmers to make a artist crawl in a hole.



At Home:
PC
1.6 Custom built snail Hell
512 of ram..basically I don't work at home anymore..

[Image]

I forgot to add that about my two powerbooks and dual g5...they're expensive.

Funny, though, I bought last years powerbook, and then bought this years. My new one has twice the ram, faster processor, scrolling trackpad, tiger, motion detecting hard drive, and improved battery, and it was about a grand cheaper! Apple's coming around, but you still need quite a budget for some of this stuff.

[morea]

yeah? well I own the patent on french fries. :p

[Ghastly]

And I own the patent on French Fry boxes, bags, cartons, and french fry making machines :cool:

[D-Zine]

doo dooo do do....dooo do doo do

I feel like singing!

morea - music notes please!! Ahemm!! ;)

[morea]

http://www.stevens-clogging.com/Music%20notes%20pic.jpg

[D-Zine]

Ohhh yeahhh....I knew you would let me down!

Do a lil dance...http://www.spacespider.net/emo/whacky072.gif
Make a lil love... http://www.spacespider.net/emo/common040.gif
Get down tonight! http://www.spacespider.net/emo/common007.gif

[morea]

w00t!

[D-Zine]

Hahhahhaha!!!

Thanks morea, that's awesome!! Its much better when I have the smilies to go with it eh? LOL

::thumbsup::

[Ghastly]

lol :D

[benjo]

LOL! I love the dancing smilie. Smilies are us. =)

[morea]

actually, I don't use a computer for my design work. I use an Etch-a-Sketch.

[idaho]

Ooooo... I haven't seen one of those in years. I may have to get one to go with my Darth Tater and Sgt. Schultz Bobblehead. :)

I'm fond of toys.

[Mynock]

My old job I had a G3 running OS9.

Now I have a

Custom Antec Box PC with XP

Intel Pentium 4 3 GHz
1 GB of RAM
250 GB Hard drive
Dual acer 17 inch flat LCD displays
DVD R/RW Drive

I can't stand my huge CRT monitor at home anymore. I need two. It's more productive and damn it I'm hooked. It would be hard to go back. Work in photoshop and illustrator at same time without minimizing. I can look at someones work while I fill in my reply. :cool: