I need help

[Joel Bookhammer]

Thanks Rick for the info, weather it be a packaged PC or a "custom" built one as long as it meets my needs of editing a large amount of photos it works. The main reason I havent gotten away from Adobe and went to Aperture is that I do alot of graphic layer work on the photos as well, and as far as I know Aperture is sorta like lightroom in that regards.


Thanks Again


Joel

[Joel Bookhammer]

Im finding alot of systems out there for "gaming" are they also good for photoshop work as well?


Thanks


joel

[40Doodle]

Im finding alot of systems out there for "gaming" are they also good for photoshop work as well?


Thanks


joel
<div style="clear: both;"]</div>

Joel,


A "gaming system" will actually contain some of the same things that would be good for your system. A decent gaming rig will have decent Memory (performance &amp; capacity), Disk Drives with good performance/capacity, higher end video cards and a powerful processor that is Quad Core, etc. There can be a few areas of over-kill too for what you need. Things like SLI Video cards which means you are running two video cards that are communicating with each other and driving higher frame rates for video is one example. A Gaming rig may also come with a case that is over-the-top for you, but there too can be some goodness. These higher-end rigs can also produce a fair amount of heat, so a case that does a good job of dissipating heat is a good thing.


When I was at HP's website yesterday, I saw a very nice deal on their Voodoo Blackbird system with some significant savings that would fit your budget. Most PC Manufacturers will have systems that are a next notch below Gaming rigs and will be identified as high-end Media Systems or some such description. That is probably the target spot for you if you go with a PC.


I have never owned a Mac, but can tell you that most of the graphic designers I've encountered in business run Macs. Some of that has to do with the software they use in their profession and I think some of it is also related to having really good Monitors for color control, etc.


Rick

[Joel Bookhammer]

Thanks Rick I will have to look up that system (VooDoo).


Sense my budget has increased now is the time for all the Mac lovers out there. How is the Macbook Pros Screen? Another big concern of mine with the operating system is the screen. A laptop would be nice, but correct color is a big concern.


Thanks


Joel

[Tim]

Yeah the iMac is still your best bet. Not only is it great for handling photos, but its an overall great machine that will last you a while. If you get the 2.66GHz 24 inch one, you get a huge HD, 4 gigs of ram, a huge screen. its only 1500. Then PS CS4 which is 700 on apple's site. then an extra HD, probably external, would run you about 125 for 1TB. Thats about 2500 dollars and a pretty sweet setup.

[Joel Bookhammer]

Hey Tim do you have one? If so how easy is it to calibrate the screen to a print? Thanks for all the help.


Thanks


Joel

[Tim]

Hey Tim do you have one? If so how easy is it to calibrate the screen to a print? Thanks for all the help.


Thanks


Joel

I don't have one, I have a macbook, but thats because I'm a student and laptop makes more sense right now. I plan on getting an iMac as my next system though. I have never calibrated my monitor, but the sRGB and adobe RGB seem to be accurate enough for me not to notice any difference.

[40Doodle]

One othert thought Joel with regard to your budget. I don't know how much you own and how much you need to buy for this project, but as a NAPP (National Association of Photoshop Professionals) member, you can glean enough discounts on stuff to more than pay for the $99 membership fee and have money left over in your pocket.


For example NAPP members (through May 31st) get 20% off products from the Adobe store (like Photoshop, Lightroom, etc). There are lots of companies that participate with NAPP to provide discounts to their members on Hardware, Software, Training, etc. MacMall for example has NAPP member prices on MAC products. I joined NAPP last year when I wanted to upgrade to CS4 and have more than paid for my membership with their member discounts on things. The magazine is very well done with lots of learning help and their website has tons of tutorials that also very well done (free for members).


Just some food for thought and here's NAPP's website:


NAPP





Rick

[IAMB]

Macbook Pro has a decent screen... but it's still a laptop. If you go that route you'll probably end up want a regular desktop monitor (I ended up shelling out for one after about six months anyway). Your best bet is the iMac, since you can get all the toys you want and the configuration you want and still stay within budget. If you go with the Macbook Pro and just a 20 inch monitor you're pretty close to your limit already. Laptops are great, but it'll end up costing you more in the end. The only reason I have a laptop with desktop accesories instead of a regular iMac is that I have to take my laptop to my lab every day (much easier than having two separate systems to work on).