Forum Moderators: not2easy
Also, if you ran into any configuration/compatibility issues, e.g. with the "latest" gear and older stuff, I'd like to know.
Maybe I should list what I want and see if anyone sees potential problems?
I've been waiting years for a major upgrade with new kit, and 2008 may be the right time to go for it.
TIA,
p/g
My Dell 30" Widescreen - I use another aside of this too. Total godsend for working with multiple applications, especially when they use lots of palettes, eg. Firefox + Dreamweaver + Illustrator.
My wireless logitech laser mouse (+ charging dock - couldn't do with all the waste batteries).
I use a tablet at work - from Wacom. Makes Illustration and Photo-shopping that little bit more fluid.
An Large Format Printer - Wireframes and initial ideas just look so much better presented on A3 Flats (when there's no screen for pitch work).
For the Computer Itself - I love working on a Mac Pro - fast, efficient and looks damn good too. But just as happy on my home Windows Box - choose a platform you prefer, for what ever reason and then get plenty of RAM and the best processor you can find + as many goodies as you can afford.
I'd recommend some kind of automated back-up device too, but that's a whole other thread.
A decent scanner, copier, fax, printer for day to day jobs - I have a wonderful Pixma from Cannon that's always given me a great breadth of print options - from fairly fast copying to photo-quality print. I love it.
A wireless router/airport + laptop & docking station is my next upgrade. Need to make my work flow more accessible on the move.
Other things I love:
Wireless Skype phone
Nikon D70
Bose Speakers
And My Chair - good for my terminally slouchy posture.
Firefox & all the lovely plugins. It's Brilliant.
Dreamweaver - I hand code in here - I love the file/link management tools and the find and replace - I have not found a better development platform, for a design team.
Notepad ++ also like this for CSS and PHP.
Illustrator - All my site comps, wireframes and brand work is done in here - simply love it - for me it's the most powerful design program and would be my most missed piece of design software. Vectors Rule!
Photoshop - for all the image and photo manips. Got to love it too.
Acrobat Pro - Got to be able to make and edit decent PDF's. For print and proofing.
Excel - Spreadsheets are just so damn useful. Well done Microsoft.
Basecamp - Project management software - excellent tool for time tracking, to-do lists and collaboration
Expression Engine - CMS of choice for us - allows a total control over D&D.
Picasa, for organising images & Flickr for access anywhere.
G-Mail / Outlook combo
> For the Computer Itself - I love working on a Mac Pro - fast, efficient and looks damn good too. But just as happy on my home Windows Box - choose a platform you prefer, for what ever reason and then get plenty of RAM and the best processor you can find + as many goodies as you can afford.
Read something about certain configs that don't (can't) capitalize on anything more than 4G RAM. Photoshop?
I'm thinking of extra RAM like 8G or 16G for multi-tasking. So I can have Photoshop processing large files and have other programs working at the same time, too.
Does the latest CS3/Photoshop make full use of the 64-bit architecture of the new Xeon 8-core Mac Pro? Or are there any other CS programs that don't?
The Mac Monitor seems good, but I'm thinking of going for an Eizo (CG221). Out-of-whack colors annoy me something awful. I don't mind the smaller monitor (22") if the colors are right.
Does the Mac Pro work well with wireless file transfer? I want to have images moving from a digital camera direct to the HD. Docking+transferring = dull+timewasting.
p/g
Xara 3D
Amara Banner Maker/Swish Max
EmEditor/Textpad( for coding still im not able to use dreamweaver or anyother WYSIWYG editors)
Firefox (and its plugins) - Just the perfect requirement for validating your sites.
It's nice to have a good camera accessible, a good videocamera, and a powerful videocard/memory/processor setup. In other words, if you want the best graphics machine, you're going to have the best gaming machine too.
I prefer Windows XP Pro still, over Vista or iSuck... I mean iMac. The right mouse button does wonders.
Other than that, a dual monitor or nice 26" monitor will give you plenty of room to easily lay out your images.
Oh yes, and I wouldn't get anywhere without Notepad!
Want: graphics tablet (have a Wacom knock-off but its crap), bigger screen monitor, new camera
Software: Dreamweaver MX (kinda old but still works), Adobe CS2 Premium (want CS3 Master), Frontpage 2003 (eew), other bits and pieces like WAmp Server, Corel DRAW 10, Office & the usual stuff
this suits me well as i jump between web and print design and the laptop can handle both with speed. portability is also good for visiting clients. a good all-round system, and the software is a bit dated but fine. upgrading to CS3 Master will cost almost £2000, which is a bit much when CS2 works just fine....
