Computer Recommendations

Well, the birthday fairy (my husband) gave me a blank check for my birthday to configure my dream machine for digital imaging.

Some background: We take about 2-3 dive trips a year and take about 1000 photos and about 10 hours of video per trip. I use Photoshop CS3 and Adobe premiere to edit. We will both be shooting Nikon D200's and are currently researching a new video camera...

I visualize a dual monitor sytem and a file archival system of some kind. I'm currently archiving by using portable USB drives, 1 for each trip and burned CD/DVD's.

I'm open to whatever suggestions others might have.

I've only used PC's for the past 20 years, mainly Dell, but am open to the conversion to Mac.

Its time for my old computer systems to be recycled.

Thanks for your help...

With my new machine, I got a 24" monitor and I have to say, I like it better than dual monitors. If I want to see one of my images at 1900 x 1200 I can :-)

Cheers

James

With my new machine, I got a 24" monitor and I have to say, I like it better than dual monitors. If I want to see one of my images at 1900 x 1200 I can :-)

 

Cheers

James

The only thing I've found that I like better than my 24 inch dell monitor is......when I added a second 24 inch dell monitor....

Archival system, I use a readyNas, but I'd use a drobo if I didn't already have the readyNas....

Something with either a fast dual core or a fast quad core (you said blank check), a ton of ram and 3G/sec drives would make for a realllly nice setup....

Once I got my 30" Apple Cinema display the 23" no longer gets used. I couldn't live without that display.

Well, the birthday fairy (my husband) gave me a blank check for my birthday to configure my dream machine for digital imaging.

 

Some background: We take about 2-3 dive trips a year and take about 1000 photos and about 10 hours of video per trip. I use Photoshop CS3 and Adobe premiere to edit. We will both be shooting Nikon D200's and are currently researching a new video camera...

 

I visualize a dual monitor sytem and a file archival system of some kind. I'm currently archiving by using portable USB drives, 1 for each trip and burned CD/DVD's.

 

I'm open to whatever suggestions others might have.

I've only used PC's for the past 20 years, mainly Dell, but am open to the conversion to Mac.

 

Its time for my old computer systems to be recycled.

Thanks for your help...

Someone just asked the same question on the DD website. Here is the same answer for you:

Take a look at a these articles. A bunch of the PC Enthusiast sites put these articles out every few months with guides for the best bang for your buck PC at several different budget levels. The TR guide has a handy link that will let you order one of their configurataions from NewEgg, which is about the best place to buy PC components.

Firing Squad Fall 2007 System Build Guide

http://www.firingsquad.com/hardware/fall_2...pc_build_guide/

TR's September 2007 system guide

Recommendations for building the right enthusiast's PCs

http://techreport.com/articles.x/13218

Being a Photo enthusiast, I strongly suggest getting 4GB of RAM and Vista 64Bit. Also you may not want to spend as much for a super high end video card as these articles suggest as they tend to be more Gaming oriented. Any ATI / Nvidia card in the $150 - $250 range is going to be great for image or video editing. Buy way more hard disk capacity than you think you'll need. 1 Terrabyte (1000 GB) minimum, and you'll have expansion capacity for much more.

Dave

If you're considering coming over to the dark side, play around with configuring your Mac Pro Quad Core on the Apple site, and build the toy of your dreams, dual monitors and all.

http://www.apple.com/macpro/

for a desktop: the HP blackbird002 or a voodoo omen

laptop: compal ifl 90

I thought that Windozes was the dark side.

I thought that Windozes was the dark side.

Nope. Your choices are Bill Gates who has given mega-billions for 3rd world health care, or Steve Job who screwed his own partners out of their share of the Apple IPO in 1980.

Please stay on-topic guys - no mac or pc bashing.

James

Personally, I would stop by your closest Apple store and play with a MacPro and the new iMac. Maybe even take your camcorder with you, plug it in and see how easy it is. Ask them about Final Cut and Aperture.

Next, go to your PC store of choice (Best Buy, CompUSA, Frys, whatever) and do the same on a new PC running Vista.

Which one do you like? Which one is easier to work with on drivers, color matching, RAW support, etc.

Compare the cost of an iMac 24" to a comparable PC, insure the PC has a DL/DVD drive 256MB video memory and is also dual core. Or, compare equal Dell/HP/whatever to a MacPro if you prefer...or perhaps a MacBook Pro.

To keep things fair, factor in the "upgrade"/conversion price for any PC software to get Mac software. This is where the Mac could lose since you have existing software thats paid for, I don't know what Adobe charges for the conversion but I know its possible. Also factor in the cost of an OS upgrade, assuming any PC you buy today will support the next version of Windows...so add maybe $200-300+ to the price? Mac OS is typically $129 for a single pack or ~$199 for a "family pack" (up to 5 computers).

If you decide Mac, buy it next month and get Mac OS X Leopard.

Personally, I am not a fan of Vista and think its a serious regression in usability vs XP, there is a reason MS has extended the time period that XP will be available for purchase. I have worked in IT for quite some time and make money off of MS products, but I avoid them on my time as I want something that just works without the headache.

Compare the cost of an iMac 24" to a comparable PC, insure the PC has a DL/DVD drive 256MB video memory and is also dual core. Or, compare equal Dell/HP/whatever to a MacPro if you prefer...or perhaps a MacBook Pro.

That's a great idea! I just did it.

MacMall: 24" new iMac, Core2 Duo 2.8, 2GB RAM, DL DVD, 256 MB video - $2194

HP.Com: 24" LCD, Core2 Duo 2.66, 2GB Ram, DL DVD, 256 MB video - $1579

So a very similar PC config was over $600 cheaper!

HP didn't offer a 2.8 Core2, but they did have a 3.0, or a Quad Core for $150 extra. I'd use some of the difference to upgrade to 4GB Ram and a second 500 GB hard disk for backups.

You can buy some sweet camera gear with the money you save!

That's a great idea! I just did it.

 

MacMall: 24" new iMac, Core2 Duo 2.8, 2GB RAM, DL DVD, 256 MB video - $2194

HP.Com: 24" LCD, Core2 Duo 2.66, 2GB Ram, DL DVD, 256 MB video - $1579

 

So a very similar PC config was over $600 cheaper!

Not quite equal comparisons. Which version of Vista? Does it include the multimedia software support that is included with ever Mac? Did it include antivirus software? I tried to price something on HPs site but was immediately turned off by the 500 base configurations (meda life, every day life, serial killer life, etc). I think couldn't find a model with a 24" LCD. The system I did get put together was $1958, but was still only 32-bit Vista. It shouldn't be so complicated to order something.

PC guys make me laugh. Again, apples to apples comparisons are key (pun intended?).

Personally, I paid a $2400+ "premium" to have a Mac. I have a work provided PC laptop, it sits in the closet and I purchased a Mac to use out of my own pocket. Sanity, time, and energy to spare now. Was it worth it? Yes, every day when my laptop wakes up instantly and I am able to do my job without software forced delays, and then it goes to sleep instantly when I put it to bed. Not a single blue screen since purchasing either.

Not quite equal comparisons. Which version of Vista? Does it include the multimedia software support that is included with ever Mac? Did it include antivirus software? I tried to price something on HPs site but was immediately turned off by the 500 base configurations (meda life, every day life, serial killer life, etc). I think couldn't find a model with a 24" LCD. The system I did get put together was $1958, but was still only 32-bit Vista. It shouldn't be so complicated to order something.

 

PC guys make me laugh. Again, apples to apples comparisons are key (pun intended?).

 

Personally, I paid a $2400+ "premium" to have a Mac. I have a work provided PC laptop, it sits in the closet and I purchased a Mac to use out of my own pocket. Sanity, time, and energy to spare now. Was it worth it? Yes, every day when my laptop wakes up instantly and I am able to do my job without software forced delays, and then it goes to sleep instantly when I put it to bed. Not a single blue screen since purchasing either.

I thought it was pretty equal. The HP does come with 15 month subscription to AV software. It was the Premium version of Vista which has all the MultiMedia software equivelent to what Apple provides. 64Bit is available at no additional cost.

If you don't like the ordering experience with HP, there are literally THOUSANDS of other online or retail businesses that will sell you what you want. Personally, I would build my own system for even less or go to a Local computer shop that will build to order.

There is no need to belittle and scorn people with a different preference than yours. You have watched too many Apple TV ads if you believe that the same experience is not availble on Windows PCs as well. My HP notebook resumes from from sleep mode in 2 seconds, and my desktop is even faster. I hit the sleep key and put my notebook in it's bag to take home and I don't worry about it. My Vista PC's run for months at a time without reboots or crashing.

Happy PC User (and Prius owner)