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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
what kind of PC ?
Jon Ramirez, Photographer
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Red Bank | NJ | usa | Posted: 3:32 PM on 01.05.04 |
->> I work with G5, and G4 for most of my photo editing. I looking to purchase a PC business functionality (Database, invoicing, ect. If I'm looking to upload a few editing programs (photoshop, Illustrator, photo mechanic) as back up, what kind of pc can I get away with that will fit this situation. There would be very little photoshop done but need the flexibility when the situation warrants .. How much ram ect would be best. I do want a cd burner also. I am very nieve to IBM compatibles computers......what operating system is best also.................
Standing by for a few opinions |
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Bob Markey, Photographer
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Royal Palm Beach | FL | USA | Posted: 3:43 PM on 01.05.04 |
->> Pretty much everything comes with a CD burner these days. Dell is throwing in a CD-DVD burner right now on many desktop models.
Unless I wanted to build the machine myself, I would stick with a Dell, Gateway or Compaq/HP (in that order), making sure to get at least 512 RAM, a fast, high-meg video card (not necessarily shared video memory), a separate sound card, DVD (+/-) burner, and large hard drive (at least 80-120GB). |
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Jim Comeau, Student/Intern, Photographer
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Los Angeles | CA | USA | Posted: 3:59 PM on 01.05.04 |
| ->> if its just a basic machine, go with a Dell Dimension 2400 or 4600, with 512 megs of ram and you'll be fine |
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Jon Ramirez, Photographer
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Red Bank | NJ | usa | Posted: 4:04 PM on 01.05.04 |
->> Bob and Jim......
Thanks for the input............. |
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Jim Comeau, Student/Intern, Photographer
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Los Angeles | CA | USA | Posted: 4:22 PM on 01.05.04 |
| ->> if you have any specific questions, send me a message, I'll help out the best I can |
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Darren Whitley, Photographer
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Maryville | MO | USA | Posted: 4:30 PM on 01.05.04 |
->> First off let me say I use both Macs and PCs. Mac - at work, PC - at home.
Buy something with a DVD burner. These days DVD burners only cost about $100 so there's really no reason to opt for the CD-RW unless the OEM is goudging you on the price.
RAM should be based on what works for you on a Mac will be about the right proportion for a PC. In other words, if 512MB is good enough for ya' on a Mac, then it's good enough for you on a PC. I have used both Windows 98 and XP Pro. I love XP Pro and would never go back so I think XP Pro is the best way to go. These days 98 isn't even an option thank gyod!
Here's something to consider... If you buy a $599 Dell desktop, you're still likely to buy a $200 warranty service. For the same money ($799) you can build a PC that has better hardware. Obviously there's not a warranty, but I spent as much on shipping my PC for warranty repairs as the parts would have been.
The lifespan of a PC is very short because the price for an upgrade drops so quickly. Within a year, the price of a CPU can drop enough that you can build a modestly-priced CPU and make a nice speed increase just buying a new CPU.
For much of what you intend on doing, you don't need a super computer, but I would suggest you leave some room for an upgrade because you might become accustomed to Windows enough that using more and more won't bother you. |
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Chris Jennings, Photographer
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Sherman | TX | USA | Posted: 5:16 PM on 01.05.04 |
| ->> Either build your own or get a Dell. |
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Richard Uhlhorn, Photographer
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Chelan Falls | WA | USA | Posted: 12:34 AM on 01.07.04 |
| ->> It's as easy as Dell. I purchased my Dimension 4500 with 512mb of ram, a CD burner and they threw in a DVD reader and upgraded my monitor from a 15 inch to a 19 inch. I have had the machine now for one and a half years and couldn't be happier. |
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Matt Felten, Photographer
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Cumberland | MD | USA | Posted: 1:21 AM on 01.07.04 |
->> I bought a new Dell 8300 with a three-year warranty and some extras (less monitor) through Dell's eBay outlet in December. I saved between $300-400 off the same configuration on the Dell Web site. Just a tip for those interested. E-mail me if you have questions.
The newest is my fourth Dell, which makes me both a happy customer and brand loyal fool. |
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Jean Finley, Student/Intern
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Iowa City | IA | USA | Posted: 1:28 AM on 01.07.04 |
->> I vote for build your own. You'll learn a lot along the way and maybe even save a little money in the end. Everything we run in our family is built.
If you don't have the time or desire to learn that sort of thing then go with Dell. |
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Tom Braid, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Edmonton | AB | Canada | Posted: 1:48 AM on 01.07.04 |
->> Three shooter went PC laptops this year (on their own) and they all got PC one a Compaq P-4, 2.4 with 512 RAM Really heavy unit when in a computer case walking through airports!!! But it works great.
The other two went with the Toshiba portables that run on the Intel® Centrino™ mobile technology. They are light, the battery last 5 to 6 hours and they work great. The first guy wishes he had done the second option.
These laptops run faster than the Mac G-4 towers at work. There are many problems with hooking up the PC's to Macs in network and if pictures burnt on Mac do not have extensions on them you are screwed when you try to read them on a CD inside PC!!! But what in life is perfect???
Interesting that Wire shooters in Canada both Reuters and Canadian Press shooters are issued PC and I never hear any complaints. |
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Tom Braid, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Dianna Russell, Student/Intern, Photographer
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Springfield | MO | USA | Posted: 6:09 AM on 01.07.04 |
->> Jon,
I agree with Bob Markey's suggestion and recommend getting one built/or build one yourself with at least 512 RAM and room to upgrade later. There is a local company that can build whatever the customer wants with plenty of room to upgrade and without all the bundled junk that comes with machines bought at Best Buy or wherever.
I recently had a DVD burner put in mine and recommend the Sony DRU-510A (About $250.)-- It’s a DVD(+ -) RW/ (+ -) R/CD. I don't have to worry about which DVDs I buy and whether or not they will work. Some DVD burners won't work with all DVDs.
I use WinXP for my OS and like it.
But, I still plan on getting a Mac powerbook for the road. ;o)
Dianna |
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Brian Jackson, Photographer
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South San Francisco | CA | USA | Posted: 3:50 PM on 01.07.04 |
->> If you are going to build your own PC, I've only built the last 7 I've had :) Heck, one system started as a 268, and slowly morphed into a K6-2 system.
Ok, so, you need to head to www.pricewatch.com All the components you could ask for in a handy organized fashion. Not just PC's, but Mac stuff as well.
If you do build yourself, might I suggest a Shuttle XPC system (us.shuttle.com). I have 2 of these little boxes and they're nice. Micro-ATX board, onboard everything! 3 Firewire, 4 USB 2.0, video, sound, S-video out, 10/100. I have the SN41G2 & SK41G models, each with an AMD XP 2600+ chip, 1gb RAM.
Ironically, I just priced out the latest-greatest model(SN85G4 http://us.shuttle.com/specs_access.asp?pro_id=389) with 2GB Ram, 256meg AGP 8X video card, 80gb HD, DVD+/-R/RW, Athlon 64 3200+ chip, and 120GB external firewire drive for $1251. Oh, it also has an internal 6-in-1 card reader.
Good luck,
brian |
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Thomas Oed, Photographer
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San Diego | CA | USA | Posted: 6:02 PM on 01.07.04 |
->> If you want a really kick-A$$ system, I'd go for a Sony VAIO.... the machine I bought last year came with a Gig of RAM, 200GB HDD, and a 3.06 gHz Hyperthreading processor. USB 2.0 and FireWire built in, for all your toys, and lots of cool video editing s/w, if you ever play with that stuff. Also come with Photoshop Elements included.
Sony's HUGE on Video, with all their camcorders, so they optimize their systems for video editing, which is even MORE resource intensive than working with still photos. Tears through my batch processes like a hot knife through butter. Also came with a DVD burner standard. |
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