Which should i get? Massive decision.

revolutionrock

revolutionrock

revolutionrock

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Right, I am going to study Graphic Design at college amongst other things.

For the past months I have been saving and now have enough for a custom built pc (quad core, 4gb ram) but now I am being told to get a Mac. Purely because I am go to design. But I don't know which to get.

On an other forum i have been told over and over again , get the iMac. I just can't see the logic in this as i feel i would be having to upgrade in a few years time.

I then looked at the Mac Pro, whihc would take more time to save, but would obivously be worth it in the long run.

I hate upgrading computers, and i feel this new one i get, will last me till i finish university, so it has to be good :confused:
 
as above if there is a windows version avialable and you like the OS no reason to be forced into using a Mac.
 
I'd say that the iMac would last you through University, if you upgrade it to 4GB of RAM.

The 3GHz CPU is easily enough to run most design apps, and don't forget you'd qualify for the HE discount (14%), so it'd be even cheaper ;)

iMac, if you are set on going to Mac.
 
I would work out if mac is essential, what type of software and machines do they use at uni you are going to?

You will want something that is compatible with your work primarily over the next few years, but most machines will last the course of uni. They may be slower towards the end but still sufficient.
 
I am going to be using it for:

Football manager.
Music
Internet
Msn
All at the same time, and then
Photoshop
Illustrator
Photo Room.

Possibly mixed in with the above. I am a huge multitasker! I just want it to be future proof, and is it right that the Mac Pro is upgradeable?
 
I've been looking at this too.

Im thinking about getting the bottom Mac Pro, shoving 3rd party ram in there to get 4Gb, 8800GT then when the new chips come out 3.2Ghz Quads will be half the price and i'll wack 1 or 2 of em in if they are cheap enough.

Or, I'll wait until the MBPs are updated and get one of them....

Or just get a quad PC for engineering work...
 
I wouldn't get carried away until the people who originally told you that you needed to get a Mac gave some valid reasons :)
 
If you use the same apps for the duration of the course then any machine will do.

Not like the same technology with the same apps are going to slow down over time, is it? :confused:

An iMac will run Adobe Creative Suite 3 as fast now as it would in 2 years, providing updates don't borked it.
 
Yes I know this, but I want the computer to last.

I don't see the logic in paying £1000 for a iMac when a Mac Pro can be acquired for £1600 or so ?? And which will last a long long time (upgrades etc)
 
skeeny said:
Yes I know this, but I want the computer to last.

I don't see the logic in paying £1000 for a iMac when a Mac Pro can be acquired for £1600 or so ?? And which will last a long long time (upgrades etc)
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The RAM on the iMac could be upgraded, so providing you specced a decent capacity drive it would last just as long.

The £600 saving could easily fund software purchases, and it'd be easier to cart to university as everything is all-in-one, so to speak.
 
Yeh i agree.

But I think I would probalby live at home when i got uni(salford or manchester) so thats not an issue.

But your looking at £1400 for iMac 24" 4gb ram. I don't see the logic at all!
 
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I'd say it depends on your future plans really.

You may be better off buying a cheaper Mac, especially if your college has good machines, because if you do go into graphic design as a professional, possibly freelance, its at that stage that you are going to need a really powerful machine.
 
Nexus said:
I'd say it depends on your future plans really.

You may be better off buying a cheaper Mac, especially if your college has good machines, because if you do go into graphic design as a professional, possibly freelance, its at that stage that you are going to need a really powerful machine.
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But , ideally, i want the machine to last me untill i start work. So thats 5 yrs , and i cant see a iMac doing that?
 
I recommend the Mac Pro, more upgradable than the iMac. The Mac Pro uses different kind of RAM tho.
 
You can get a good 24" iMac off Apple Refurb for £899 (ish) and 4GB of RAm won't costs much (say less than £100) so that's a iMac that will be fine for 4-5 years easy for a cost of a 1K.

The Mac Pro will last longer sure, but will be overpriced for what you need, never-mind over powered.

The thing you have to ditch from years with a PC is the concept of "upgradeability" - but the Mac that does the job and then by another one in 3-5 years.

Oh and my brother worked for me as a Graphic Designer/Web Designer and ran Final Cut Studio, including a lot of time in Motion doing chromakey on large video files, Creative Suite CS3 and a bunch of other apps (such as Video Conversion with Visual Hub) on the old white plastic 24" iMac with out breaking sweat. It did so for the couple of years he had it for and I should imagine it would still be doing so today.
 
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