Yeah.... you'll need a video card, assuming you want to have at least one monitor! !!

Here are a couple of minimums that I would require;

• 1Gb of Ram... prefferably 2Gb.
• 256Mb graphic's card... prefferably dual monitor capable.
• 80Gb hard drive... get an extra hard drive if you have a bunch of music to listen to while you work.
• Trend Micro Virus protection.
• Webroot spysweeper spyware protection.
• Fastest processor you can afford with the formentioned specs.
• Download Firefox, Thunderbird, Itunes, and your pretty much set to go.

Don't forget to set a bookmark for the GDF!!!

.

80Gb hard drive, might aswell up it to a 100+gb hard drive, unless you use the raid5 on say 4 Western digital raptors (10k rpm hard drives)

Trend Micro Virus protection? no. AVG Virus protection or Advast! (they are only 20 bucks, and no subscription, and there damn good.)

Webroot spysweeper spyware protection? I prefer Spybot Search and Destroy combined with google toolbar (added popup blocker).

Fastest processor you can afford with the formentioned specs? I agree, but make sure its a Core Duo (intel), or dual core (amd) processor.

tessabell8, what is your budget (the maximum you can go)?

well, i'm thinking of paying monthly on it... at this point i need a system and thinking desktop for now and if i get enough freelance work, i'll end up getting a laptop. dell had some good prices... so i'm thinking i can handle up to up to 100/ mo payments... no more than 100...i'm still on an entry level job and they're yanking me around...so i'm not getting paid real well... so this is my opportunity to get some side work going and not completely stress myself out!

If you wait a few, and watch for the laptop/desktop processors change from Intel to AMD, the prices will drop some.

Dell's are not too bad (yeah I made fun of them), but they have a pretty good warrenty. I think you can get both a desktop and a laptop for 100/mo with dell. Also if you register say an LLC (small business), you can get a bigger discount on them, if you use the business registration number/tax ID#. if you can go with a little more than 100, you can get decent setups for both, and I believe since they would be investment tools for your business (see a C.P.A. for more advice and details).

yeah...i've found some as low as 40/mo that's why i'm asking what specs i need so i can make sure i can afford it. $$ is super tight right now, but i think it would be worth investing in...

do you have your business/freelance registered already? you can get those systems way cheaper if you can supply the register number or tax Id's. My teacher did just that, saved about 400 bucks. plus its a write off for him, not only as a teacher, but for his business.

i don't have my own company yet... should i start? i have a good friend that owns their own small business. she probably could give me some good pointers. what are your thoughts?

Why not? That way you will already have it, when you get your systems. get all the legal-legit stuff out of the way first. and do ask your friend for some pointers. its always good to get advice.

good call i appreciate it !!

The minimum would be

1.8 ghz processor
1 gb RAM
40 gb disc
video card could be onboard... but that means you'd be getting not the best motherboard. You'd need a good videocard if you are planning on 3D modeling and animation... and of course, if you wanna play graphic-intensive videogames. RAM in the videocard is not what is most important, but the GPU. nVidia and ATI are good.

A good Motherboard is what gives proper stability to the overall system, as she (hehe, a mother) will be the one that communicates with everything.
RAM [practical mode on] is what you are gonna need to have a lot of programs open at the same time, with lots of files open. If you don't have enough RAM, your computer will go SLUG mode.
Processor is what is gonna make those vectors show faster, that photoshop filter (god forsake) apply faster, those applications run smoothly, idem.

The more you can go, the better. But, if your budget is tight, don't think that by having a 1.8 AMD 32 bit processor you're gonna go slow, cause you're not.

A good monitor is also needed. It must support a resolution of AT LEAST 1024*768, I'd say 1280*960 is the best. The resolution will allow you to have the lots of tiny windows you need in the designing programs. I remember when I started learning Flash, and had a computer running on 800*600... all the windows clutched together, with hardly no space to work... at 60 Hz.
the monitor should support at least 75 Hz, or your eyes will go ARGH.

And... yadda yadda. Any questions? :P

Tessabell,

If you check out Dell you can get some great deals and not have to shell out a lot of coin each month. I just got a great system and I only have to pay $33 a month. If I decide to get my freelancing back in order I can write it off as an expense. You can customize the system to your liking and it gets shipped right away. I got an XPS system with 160 gig HD. Added my own 160 gig HD as a back up. 1gig of RAM. Only drawback is the new fan to cool the HD on the bottom sucks in a lot of dust, so you can't set it on carpet and you have to be careful of how much dust gets sucked in. I just had mine replaced because it was all clogged up.

Good luck!

You can't write off computer equipment/software as an expense. It gets depreciated over a number of business cycles.

SharkFinStudios: I know about Dell...that is exactly where I'm going...however I didn't know specifics because I've never had to buy a computer...i don't know a whole lot about hard drives and i know there are 2 different places for memory but i don't know what they are.

PrintDriver: I was told to go ahead and startup the whole small business stuff and get a head start on that and then having a small business will allow me to save some money when it comes to equipment?

So then you're telling me that every CFO, or CPA that has told me that, is wrong?

On the same note, company cars are write offs, yet they also "depreciate", so they too should not be a write off.

Sorry bro, but writing off expenses is used when you buy "Tools" for the job. A computer is a "tool", as is the car, or hammer, or what ever your job/business is..


Tess, you can always call Dell, and the IRS.

http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/...109807,00.html