Buy a mac now and you won't have to buy a mac AND all new software later. But a PC may be more in your price range.

I wouldn't go for less than an 80 gig hard drive. 120 is better. And a gig of ram. But that's me and my desktop unit talking. Actually I have 2 hard drives too. If you get a new mac you will be using OSX. Better now than later.

For a laptop, the mac G4's are nice but maybe a little outta your price range unless you can find a lightly used one (be wary of used laptops, they travel a lot and get banged around).

Check out the student discounts sites like www.academicsuperstore.com. This is a neat place with deep discounts on software for students with ID's. Beware of OEM software. It is almost always a scam and you will get either a disk in chinese or a beta serial number or nothing at all for your money. Seems like a school with a GD course should be able to hook you up with a mac cheaper than you trying to find one yourself. Though a school teaching design on OS9 doesn't seem 'with it' anyway.

You sure you know what you're doing?
Welcome to the forum.
Read around. It may be enlightening.

PrintDriver is a large format digital print dude. His advice/opinions may not apply to the 4color/offset/web world of printing

welcome msnelson!


This thread should help you some!


You can go either Mac or PC for graphic design. They are both great tools. If your school is using Macs you may want to go that way, but it doesn't really matter as long as you can save your files so they can be opened on either platform.


If your budget is $1,000 - $1,300 I'm not sure you can go Mac for a laptop for the specs that you should have.You would probobly wanna go with a Powerbook if you got a Mac laptop and they start at $1,600 I believe(that is for a 1.3ghz with 256mb of ram and a 12" screen) I feel a 12" screen is TOO small for design work but thats just my opinion. Here is the link for the Apple Powerbooks so that you can check the specs yourself. They are awesome computers but maybe not in your budget if you are staying about $1,300.


I just purchased a Dell laptop myself. So recently that its not even here yet...lol. They start at $699 and go up to like $3k. I got the Inspirion 9100. Its an $1,800 laptop but i got it on sale for $1,400. Its got a 2.8ghz Pentium 4 processor, 512mb of ram, 60gb HD. You can customize what you want in the system. You can also do that with the Powerbooks.


You can go either way, both systems will do what you need them too (PC or Mac I mean). In the link I posted at the beginning here there is alot of information listed from Torque and Ryan about searching for a new computer and a new laptop. I think you need to have ATLEAST 512mb of ram but I gig is best. I only got 512mb in my new one bc I just couldn't afford to go any higher..LOL.


Good luck in your search and I hope this has helped atleast some! )

Boobie Island or Bust!

Mac, Mac, Mac, Mac, Mac, Mac, Mac, Mac, Mac, Mac, Mac, Mac, Mac, Mac, Mac, Mac, Mac, Mac,
[img]/emoticons/wub.gif[/img] [img]/emoticons/wub.gif[/img] [img]/emoticons/wub.gif[/img] [img]/emoticons/wub.gif[/img] [img]/emoticons/wub.gif[/img] [img]/emoticons/wub.gif[/img] [img]/emoticons/wub.gif[/img] [img]/emoticons/wub.gif[/img] [img]/emoticons/wub.gif[/img] [img]/emoticons/wub.gif[/img] [img]/emoticons/wub.gif[/img] [img]/emoticons/wub.gif[/img] [img]/emoticons/wub.gif[/img]

Now I've got that out of my system.... buy a Mac. Less hassle, no viruses, the best OS.... and they're soooooo pretty! (You'll never want to go back to Windows... never I tell you... NEVER!!!)

If you don't want to worry about worms and viruses go with a Mac, if you are brave then go with a PC. I have both and both work equally well for design, but if i had to start all over, i would most likely go pure Mac, it worth the extra $$$ to not have to deal with all the bullshit you have to on a Windows machine (worms, trojans, viruses, spyware and all the other windows based terror out there). THis is coming from a form Microsoft MVP (Most Valuable Professional 1996-2003)


allen harkleroad<a target="_blank" href="mailto:H@rklerod" target=_blank>
</A>"Sleeping on the job.... again"

Visit Our Magazine: www.DesignerToday.com

Get inside my head at www.DontFear.com

ZoneDeals.com BETA

BTW - Apple does have student rates too I think. They did when I was in school. I got one then - cost me...uhhmm.err..my dad about $5,000 back in 1995! WHOA!! Lasted a good to years and then crapped out. The new systems are awesome tho...and cheaper than they were back when I was in college.

Boobie Island or Bust!

Yeah D-Zine's right, 10% (I think) discount for students.

im (pc) not (pc) even (pc) gonna (pc) comment (pc) on (pc) this (pc) one.......


A Tribute To Homer S.
"Getting out of jury duty is easy. The trick is to say you're prejudiced against all races."

"Don't worry. Being eaten by a crocodile is just like going to sleep... in a blender."

"Marge, what's wrong? Are you hungry? Sleepy? Gassy? Gassy? Is it gas? It's gas, isn't it?"

"Maybe, just once, someone will call me "sir" without adding, "you're making a scene."

"Ooh, the internet is on computers now."

"Son, when you attend sporting events, it's not whether you win or lose, it's how drunk you get."

"To start, press any key. Where's the 'any' key?"

"Lisa, if you don't like your job you don't strike. You just go in every day and do it really half-assed. That's the American way."
digitalcamwhore

LOL @ D-Frag! Thug fer life right! w00t!!!!!

BTW - laptop should be here monday! yay!

Boobie Island or Bust!