The Best Computer For Graphic Design

Since Desktop Publishing (DTP) came out in the eighties, graphic designers have been utilizing computer technology. This has pushed all graphic designers to become competent with computer hardware at the very least.

What is Desktop Publishing (DTP)? In the 1980s, it was a common term applied to digital publishing systems. These systems were developed to replace large, pre-press, specialist design and compositing systems.

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Graphic designers rely heavily on computers whether these are Windows PCs or Apple Macs. Whichever computer a graphic designer chooses to use, he/she will opt for the best computer that he/she can purchase. Graphic designers will rarely choose cheap computer hardware.

The Best Computer For Graphic Design

Back in the eighties, Macs were the only choice for designing and printing. Almost all design layout and graphics software was developed for Macs only or even if the software could be used in Microsoft Windows PC, it was much more reliable on a Mac. Additionally, at that time, Macs were associated with the different technologies used in the prepress and Windows PC was just not a practical choice. Today, modern versions of Mac OS X and Windows allow graphics designers to use design software either in a Mac or PC - they are no longer forced to choose one over the other.

Many graphic designers are not IT experts and making a decision on which computer to buy can be quite daunting. Of course, if money is not a problem, the decision would simply be to buy the most expensive Apple Mac or Windows PC. But most designers cannot afford to do that. In fact, some creative professionals have budgets for second hand equipment only. What really matters to these graphic designers are issues that regular computer users do not even have to think about. These are printer color accuracy, monitor calibration, hard disk speed and external storage devices for gigabytes of data.

Recent studies show that the top 5 computers for graphic design are a mix of Macs and PCs and both laptop and desktop computers fall in this category. But just like any product that a consumer buys, it really is the personal preference of the designer whether he/she will use a desktop computer or a laptop. The important thing is that the user/graphic designer has the appropriate software for the type of computer that he/she wants to purchase.

The Top 5 computers for graphic design are:

Mac Pro Desktop

The Mac line of computers is still widely preferred by most graphic designers. According to Apple, the latest Mac Pro features the all new quad-core Intel Xeon "Nehalen" processor which makes the job of a graphic designer much easier. Apple states further that the new Mac Pro is up to 1.9 times faster than its predecessor. Each processor has an integrated memory controller that allows the processors to have faster access to stored data in the computer's memory, with memory latency decreased by up to 40 percent. This feature will save a lot of time for designers when they do their work.

MacBook Pro Laptop

The MacBook Pro Laptop comes in 13, 15 and 17 inch sizes. It has high-performance NVDIA graphics and LED backlit display which makes editing graphics easier and clearer. This latest model has battery power that lasts up to 8 hours (on 17-inch version). It is powered by the Intel Core 2 Duo processor.

Dell Studio XPS Desktop

The Dell Studio XPS Desktop features the Intel Core i5 and i7 processors. If you plan on working with intensive video or 3D editing, you can have an upgrade to the 16GB Dual Channel DDR3 SDRAM. But its base 3GB memory will enable you to edit photos, create vector or raster designs with ease. Its high-definition ATI graphics card creates clear, precise and flawless graphics - just what a graphic designer needs.

Toshiba Qosmio Laptop

The Toshiba Qosimo is an affordable solution to your graphic design needs. It is powered by either the Intel Core i7 or i5 processor making it easier to create flawless graphics. It has a high-end NVIDIA GeForce graphics card, which ensures that you can clearly see every pixel and frame that you edit. It has a 6GB DDR3 1066MHz memory and a 1GB GDDR5 discrete graphics memory.

HP Pavilion Elite Desktop

The HP Pavilion Elite Desktop is an affordable computer. It is powered by either an AMD Athlon or an Intel Core processor that ranges from an X4 630 quad-core (Athlon) to an i7-980X six-core Extreme Edition (Intel). All HP Pavilion Elite Desktop computers come with genuine 64-bit Windows 7 for the latest technology. Memory ranges from 4GB up to 9GB which guarantees smooth and effortless run of the high-end graphics that you use.

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Hard Drive Enclosures and How to Choose One

What is a Hard Disk Enclosure and how do I use one?

A hard drive enclosure (sometimes also referred to as a Hard Disk Case or Hard Disk Caddy) is simply an external case that encloses a hard disk drive and turns it into an external device that can then be connected to your PC via USB, Firewire or eSATA.

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There are lots of external hard drive solutions on the market from companies like Maxtor, Freecom and Lacie but these solutions include the Hard Disk as well as the enclosure. Great if you just want to buy something off the shelf but, if you've got a hard disk that you have salvaged from an old PC then its significantly cheaper to buy an Enclosure and use the Hard Drive you have to create your own solution. There is nothing intimidating about using a HDD caddy, think of it as a tray that you slot the Hard Drive into (secured by a couple of screws) and with external connections that allow you to connect the enclosure to your PC. They are simple to use, great for recovering data from old Hard Drives and excellent for recycling old hard disks. There are a few options to consider when considering a HDD Enclosure:

Hard Drive Enclosures and How to Choose One

1. Hard Drive Size (physical not storage capacity): Hard Disks come in two basic sizes depending on whether they are designed to be used in a Laptop of Desktop (Tower) PC. A Laptop Hard Drive is described as a 2.5" whereas the drive from a Desktop PC is 3.5".

2. Interface: Most new Hard Drives are now SATA (Serial-ATA) disks but if you are looking to use a hard disk salvaged from an old PC its probably going to have an IDE interface (also described as ATA or PATA). The IDE interface is pretty easy to distinguish as it has 2 rows of 22 Pins along the connection interface. A SATA Disk will have to simple plastic looking connectors

3. Connection Type: USB & Firewire connections are the most common ways to connect a Hard Disk Case to your PC or Mac some newer cases also have eSATA as an option. Your choice of connection will often be dependant on the computer/devices you want to use your hard drive with and if you'rere not sure you can buy cases with multiple interface options but bear in mind these will cost more than say an enclosure that only connects via USB.

4. Number of Bays: Single and dual bay enclosures are available. A dual bay enclosure can take two HDD's and some support RAID so both hard disks can be set up to appear as a single drive or support virtual back-up options across both Hard Drives. With any hard drive, whatever the protocol, you also need to consider exactly what you are going to use it for, and consider these four attributes.

If you need any advice on choosing the right Enclosure then feel free to contact the team at USBNow

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