Typophile - Not a Mac vs. PC question - Comments

I currently use a IBM/Lenovo

Sebastian Nagel — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 14:23:09 -0800

I currently use a IBM/Lenovo Thinkpad R60 with 2ghz Core2 Duo, 2GB RAM, 7200rpm hard drive, 1400×1050px screen (a compromise between space and size), Windows XP. When working local, it’s placed in a docking station, connected to a normal keyboard, mouse, large screen, scanner, external hard drive, etc.
I use it 70% local, and 30% mobile. If you are more mobile, you might want a T-series model, but the other series are quite ok as well.

Thinkpads are expensive, but much more affordable today, and they are robust, don’t look like pseudo wannabe “design”, but are streamlined for real usability.

They make plenty of Dells

Chipman223 — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 12:47:02 -0800

They make plenty of Dells and stuff now with the same quad-core processors that the Mac Pros use (although they use two), but in agreement with the second post, worry about the ram as well. 2gigs is fantastic. Maybe more if you’re doing motion (also, a better graphics card would help). I know you don’t want a mac, but my suggestions would be to look at the specs on the new mac pro, and find a PC with the same. It’d probably be about a grand less just to get rid of the apple logo.

António: So, based on your

Thomas Phinney — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 18:49:46 -0800

António:

So, based on your reply about screens and monitors, the other key thing I’d say is that you have the same screen need I do: at least 1200 vertical pixels of resolution to be able to do type design work efficiently right on your laptop. You can get a standard-ratio screen at 1600 x 1200, or a wide-screen at 1920 x 1200. But this factor alone will likely significantly narrow your choices - which is probably helpful.

John Hudson and others are correct about RAM on PCs. I’m not saying that more than 2 GB is completely wasted, just that the biggest functional jump and bang for the buck is going from 1 GB to 2 GB. If you make heavy use of Premiere, maybe even 4 GB would be useful.

Cheers,

Seems like i’m the only

Freeza — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 12:09:37 -0800

Seems like i’m the only Asus user :) I have a Asus G1s Laptop.

www.nunocoelho.com

I’m very happy with my PC

David Sudweeks — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 10:41:48 -0800

I’m very happy with my PC notebook. It’s an HP nc4010. I bought it used on eBay. These are the commercial line of notebook; think of it as a wholly different company from HP’s consumer line notebooks. I’ve had it for nearly four years. Support is handled over the internet and mine came with a three-year warranty, standard. If you’re looking for current models of these, just shop around. I believe the nc line is still going. If so, those are built the best.

I sold Packard Bell

Don McCahill — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 08:03:18 -0800

I sold Packard Bell computers for a time when they were still available in Canada. They had a horrid return rate. Also a disaster for service.

That doesn’t mean that they haven’t cleaned up their act in the last 15 years.

Wow...Packard Bell? Back

aluminum — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 07:10:06 -0800

Wow...Packard Bell? Back from the dead? When they were alive they were awful. Now that they are a zombie, I can’t imagine they’ve improved at all.

BTW, my boyfriend recommends

eeblet — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 22:57:40 -0800

BTW, my boyfriend recommends Toshiba of the brands you listed. He’s built several PCs, and is up on all that jazz. Good luck!

I was going to say the same

DanGayle — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 21:28:40 -0800

I was going to say the same thing about Packard Bell. I thought they were bought out by HP or Compaq or whatever.

I was not aware Packard Bell

cuttlefish — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 21:16:03 -0800

I was not aware Packard Bell was still in business. I have heard their hardware has a bad reputation, but that is not based on personal experience. They used to have a cute logo with a head, but it appears that they don’t use it anymore.

Simon I wouldn’t choose a

afonseca1974 — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 18:22:38 -0800

Simon
I wouldn’t choose a designer from is computer. I prefer his work ;-)

Found this here in Portugal. Anyone has experiences with this brand?

António

“one’s charging $90 an

eeblet — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 13:24:29 -0800

“one’s charging $90 an hour and toting a four year old HP notebook, the other’s charging $120 an hour and has a spanking new Mac Book Air - which would you pick?”

Sii, if I liked them equally, I’d pick the one without the Apple premium.

If I could afford a new, awesome, Mac, I’d get one - but it would be in spite of it being a status symbol. My focus is on usability and communication - if a client wants me to have a trendy haircut, designer jeans, and a MacBook, it’s just not gonna work out. This may also be why I can’t afford a brand new Mac. ;)

You mentioned ASUS.

DanGayle — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 00:39:41 -0800

You mentioned ASUS. They’re actually quite good because they supply the parts to a lot of the “branded” laptops. Quality hardware.

In fact, if you do a little digging, a lot of the big time laptops are really re-branded something or another.

For instance, Alienware machines are in reality just a few doodads and whatsits and glowing-eyed alien cases added onto other company’s hardware. Start comparing specs and Googling/newegg-ing/researching, and eventually you can find the source of the base computer.

If you can find it, many times you can save money due to the “brand” discount. Of course, you’re taking a humongous risk because tech support will be non-existent or Japanese :)

Everyone I know with a Dell

John Hudson — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 20:53:33 -0800

Everyone I know with a Dell laptop has had it fall apart in a couple of years, and it’s better to remove your eyes with a spoon than talk with their tech support.

I’ve heard such things. But I’ve been using my big Dell for three and a half years without any problems, and the couple of times I needed to call tech support the service was excellent. Now, I did pay extra for a business support account, and I did choose a high-end model with the best component options. Perhaps this makes a difference.

>So here apple computers are

sii — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 19:23:00 -0800

>So here apple computers are very expensive not only to buy but also in support...

You did ask “what do the pros use?” One of the reasons the pros have Macs is because it helps them hike their rates. Put yourself in the shoes of a client - two designers are pitching for a job - one’s charging $90 an hour and toting a four year old HP notebook, the other’s charging $120 an hour and has a spanking new Mac Book Air - which would you pick?

Not a Mac vs. PC question

afonseca1974 — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 15:51:47 -0800

OK, I’ve read with attention some Mac vs. PC posts here.
Dont want to add any other discution about it.
My question is:
Want to buy a PC laptop for graphic design/type design/multimedia development.
So I use photoshop/freehand (perhaps upgrad to illustrator...)/flash/premiere/dreamweaver.
What do “Typophile” pros use?
Brand and model...Pros and againt
Thanks in advance

Thanks
António