|
|
|||
|
||||
|
| |||||||||
|
|||||||||
Below are the parts that make up our dream computer. We'll note both the bare minimum for running today's software and also what we really feel you should buy to be happy. None of these picks is influenced by the manufacturers as most of this is stuff we've either bought for ourselves or will buy as we need new equipment. Where possible, we've provided links so that you can order the equipment.
Since a computer is not just a box, but also a number of peripherals that all work together, we've also listed a number of other related products.
The ComputerThere are several decisions to make when buying a PC. The first is to choose which chip to buy. At today's prices, we wouldn't suggest anything less than a Pentium IV or Athlon XP. |
Click for Product Details
Computer Systems |
Operating SystemIf you truly want the best performance, you want Windows XP. Unlike the Windows 9x and Me series which is just an extension of 16-bit DOS, Windows XP is completely 32-bit. You will sacrifice compatibility with a very small number of programs, mainly games and low-level utilities, but you'll find that your graphics software will run much more smoothly. Almost all new computers offer you the choice of installing Windows XP. Go with it, you won't be sorry. |
Click for Product Details
Windows 2003 Server Operating Systems |
MemoryDon't even consider buying a new machine with less than 512 MB. With the price of memory today, it is best to buy as much as a machine can hold. 2 GB is not overkill if you will be working with large graphics files. For those with 128 MB or less in your current machine, it is well worth upgrading as soon as possible. |
Click for Product DetailsFind memory for your system! |
Hard DrivesNowadays, you want to seriously look at SATA drives. Firewire and USB 2.0 are the latest and greatest connection technologies that provide a fast external connection, numerous devices and reasonable cost. Your main hard drive should be at least 200 GB on a new machine. Getting larger drives usually doesn't cost much more so give it strong consideration. The speed of the drive is affected by the revolutions per minute (RPM) and the amount of onboard cache. We definitely recommend you stick with 7200 RPM drives or faster. External drives are very handy for backup purposes and for transporting large amounts of data between machines. |
Click for Product Details
Internal Hard Drives |
Other DrivesWe all know how quickly you can run out of hard drive space. And there are plenty of removable drives where you can store extra files. Everyone needs a CD-ROM drive and DVD drives sure come in handy for a number of different things. No matter what type of drive (or media) you need, we've got a link for you. Nowadays, the most important storage medium for data transfer is USB Flash Drives. These include USB keys that plug directly into a USB port and cards for your camera or PDA. No matter the need, bigger is almost always better. |
Click for Product DetailsBlank Media
CD-R and CD-RW Media Drives
USB Flash Drives An error occurred. Please try later.An error occurred. Please try later.An error occurred. Please try later. |
Video CardsBeware of the bundled video cards. They may look great on paper, but their drivers are often buggy. This is the number one cause for problems in CorelDRAW. If you are crashing frequently, it is probably not Draw, but your video drivers. We are huge fans of cards based on the nVidia GeForce chips. They are the fastest 3D cards on the market, support dual monitors and have good driver support. There are two major connector types for connecting a video card to your PC motherboard. The fastest is the AGP port and should be standard equipment on machines made after 1999. Note that AGP comes in speeds from 1x up to 8x. So make sure the card you select is matched to the speed of the connector in your machine. Older (or low-end) machines use the standard PCI slots for video cards. Coming soon are PCI Express based cards that are even faster than AGP! |
Click for Product Details |
MonitorsSize is important! A 17 inch (or larger) monitor is a must when working with graphics software. Buy bigger if at all possible. After all, aren't your eyes worth it? Also very important is the dot pitch. The smaller the better. |
Click for Product Details
20" and Larger Monitors |
Networking ProductsNearly every computer is connected to a network today. For some, that is simply a connection to the Internet. For those with a broadband connection, you may want to get a router so that the connection can be shared with multiple computers. Or you could simply need a hub to connect multiple computers. If the computers will connect via wire, you would need networking cards in each machine and cable to connect it all. Finally, there is wireless networking and that gets a bit more confusing. Wireless as a whole falls under the "802.11" standard. But this standard is subdivided into a number of other standards. 802.11b is the most common in use today but it is limited to 11 Mbps. Some variations of it can theoritically get to 22 Kbps. 802.11a is much faster, but not in wide use. Lastly is 802.11g which is backward compatible with 802.11b and has the speed of 802.11a. The links at right will give you the information you need to get the parts for your network. |
Click for Product Details
802.11a Computer Wireless Networking Products |
Input DevicesNotice we didn't call this category mice? Mice will hurt your wrist! And drawing with a brick on a string is not very natural. Get a tablet!!! You probably won't be able to find them in your favorite stores, so we've got them all listed at right. For those who insist on having a mouse in addition to a tablet, the Microsoft Intellimouse is the best. One of the focuses of Graphics Unleashed over the years has been software, with particular emphasis placed on the CorelDRAW Graphics Suite. From time to time, hardware has been discussed. I've decided to formalize this a little bit. With each newsletter, I'll pick one type of hardware and discuss it in more detail. I'll also make recommendations for what I think are the best choices in the category. I'm going to start this off with a discussion of graphics tablets. There has already been mention of the offer to get a free tablet as part of a CorelDRAW X3 purchase. This is a great offer and is a great way for someone to get started with tablets. First, let's talk about the benefits of using a tablet. If you think you have to give up your mouse, touchpad, trackball or other pointing device, think again. The tablet can work together with your other pointing devices. Some of you have probably learned to draw reasonably well with your current pointing device. Wouldn't it be easier if you had a pen in your hand? That is more natural than drawing with a bar of soap or a pool ball. Lastly, a tablet is much easier on your body than a mouse. Using a mouse all day can lead to carpal tunnel. I won't say a tablet eliminates the problem, but it can certainly minimize it. Pretty much all software can use a tablet. I can't name a single title that doesn't work. Some things like games, don't work too well with a tablet, and I have a mouse attached for situations like that. It is as simple as putting the pen down and picking up the mouse. Some software can take advantage of special features in a tablet. Both CorelDRAW and Corel PHOTO-PAINT have features that only work with a tablet. Corel Painter IX is the software that probably takes best advantage of a tablet as it makes artists feel like they have a brush in hand. The next question is what brand and what size you should get. When I first got a tablet, I used a Kurta and really liked it. Kurta doesn't make tablets any more. It was probably about ten years ago that I switched to Wacom, and I wouldn't even think of using anything else. They make the best tablets. The only possible advantage to other brands would be a lower price. Don't cheat yourself as the cost savings is minimal at best. Then we should look at size. Some people like a large surface so they can make long strokes with their hand. Others prefer a smaller surface so they don't have to make long strokes. Plus a smaller tablet takes up less desk space. The largest tablet I've used was 12 x 12 and the smallest was 4 x 5. I personally think the big one is way too big. I currently use 6 x 8 tablets on both of my machines. I still have a 4 x 5 and would have no problem using it if needed. Wacom has two lines of tablets. Graphire tablets are the lower priced line. They don't support as many levels of pressure, and they don't have a few higher-end features. Intuos tablets are the high-end line, and they are the best tablets you can get. Not all users have a need for the extra pressure settings and extra features. Below are links to the various Wacom tablets. I have listed them in order of increasing functionality and price. |
Click for Product DetailsAn error occurred. Please try later.An error occurred. Please try later.An error occurred. Please try later.An error occurred. Please try later.An error occurred. Please try later. |
ScannersAt right are listings for scanners. Simply looking for the lowest price could be a big mistake. This doesn't mean you can't find a very good scanner for under $200 and probably lower. Ultra-high resolutions aren't as important as having at least 36-bit color depth. Attachments for scanning transparencies don't work nearly as well as having a dedicated slide/transparency scanner. The easiest connection today is a USB 2 equipped scanner. It will still work on a computer with USB 1.1 and the speed is much faster if you have USB 2 connections. Lastly, the software driver provided with the scanner is extremely important as it controls the input into your favorite image editing software. We've used both the Hewlett-Packard and Canon software with great results. |
Click for Product Details
Flatbed Scanners |
Sound and VideoA few years back, sound cards were a very important add-on component for computers. Now, there are very few vendors who offer sound cards yet users are using more sound every day. The reason that the add-on cards have dropped in popularity is that computer vendors have added sound capabilities to motherboards. For some users, this is adequate. As graphics are one part of a multimedia world, it is important for content creators to have a good sound card. Right now the best sound cards are in Creative's X-Fi family of cards. Four separate cards are available. As you move up to the more expensive cards, there are a lot more features available. If you are simply playing and editing sound on your computer, the XTremeMusic card is a great solution. The sound quality is nothing short of amazing. One of the coolest features is the ability to take a stereo source (music, movie, etc.) and turn it into surround sound. If you listen through headphones (even cheap ones), it sounds as if there are five speakers spaced at a distance away from your head. If you haven't heard it (I have), it is very hard to believe. In many instances. it provides better surround sound that having real speakers. For users who need to record sound, the X-Fi Platinum provides added features. It also includes the I/O Drive that puts many of the inputs and outputs for the card in one of your free drive bays. Gamers will want the X-Fi Fatal1ty FPS card. More features are included that let you get the most realistic sound out of the latest games. Finally, the X-Fi Elite Pro is the top of the line. For users doing high-end recording, this is the card you need. |
Click for Product DetailsAn error occurred. Please try later.An error occurred. Please try later.An error occurred. Please try later.An error occurred. Please try later. |
PrintersThe most important thing for a proofing printer is that it contains PostScript. For color printers, we prefer the Tektronix/Xerox Phaser solid ink printers. They provide great quality color in large quantities at a low cost per page. For those of you looking for inkjets, the various models from Epson give you the most bang at a very low cost. Consumer Reports likes the HP. |
Click for Product Details
Color Laser Printers |
SoftwareIf you are looking for software, some of the most popular categories are listed at right. For other software and training listings, visit our Training Page. |
Click for Product Details
Bestselling Software |
Bookmark this page on del.icio.us
Digg this page on digg.com
Submit this page on reddit.com
Search Technorati for links to page
|
Press the Subscribe button at right to receive our free CorelDRAW Unleashed emagazine! Each issue is full of top notch tutorials from the leading CorelDRAW experts worldwide. It will definitely increase your productivity. |
|
