Computer spec for web design & DTP and Mac or Windows?
Discussion
Dear All, following my recent query on web design services I have decided to do it myself with something like Xara Designer 365. I need new hardware though as I only have a 4yr old laptop - so need advice on how high a spec 'All-in-One' PC I should get and whether this should be Apple Mac or Windows?
All advice appreciated!
All advice appreciated!
Not trying to make a business of it - just need a nice website and flyers for my wife's new business. May need to tag on e-commerce functionality to it as well.
Derek Smith said:
You are just doing this for yourself and not making a business of it?
The simple but unhelpful answer is the best you can afford I suppose, but you don't need anything special. Just fast and with a lot of memory. Mac or Windows; whichever you prefer. The latter will be cheaper for the same performance. I'd go for a fast internet connection. I've got BT Infinity and the faster upload speed is a boon.
One thing with a desktop is that you can get a decent processor and RAM. Everything else you can upgrade as and when you need to. I've got the same desktop I had in the mid 90s. All I've changed is everything, but it was done in stages. I would never have bought the one I have now as a fully made up one. Much too expensive to justify. I'm going for an SSD in the summer.
Lots of storage with an external HDD for back up.
After years of using Webplus (and other) web authoring software I've recently changed to Wordpress. For the cost of the annual upgrade I can buy a new theme each year. It is not as much fun, but I can't see myself going back.
The simple but unhelpful answer is the best you can afford I suppose, but you don't need anything special. Just fast and with a lot of memory. Mac or Windows; whichever you prefer. The latter will be cheaper for the same performance. I'd go for a fast internet connection. I've got BT Infinity and the faster upload speed is a boon.
One thing with a desktop is that you can get a decent processor and RAM. Everything else you can upgrade as and when you need to. I've got the same desktop I had in the mid 90s. All I've changed is everything, but it was done in stages. I would never have bought the one I have now as a fully made up one. Much too expensive to justify. I'm going for an SSD in the summer.
Lots of storage with an external HDD for back up.
After years of using Webplus (and other) web authoring software I've recently changed to Wordpress. For the cost of the annual upgrade I can buy a new theme each year. It is not as much fun, but I can't see myself going back.
My laptop is an Asus N56vz 4242. Snappy name!! 
Product Features
Screen size (Inches)
15.6
Screen Resolution (pixels)
1920 x 1080
Operating system
Windows 8
RAM (Gigabytes)
8192
Hard disk capacity (Gigabytes)
1000
Processor
Intel
Processor series
Core i7
Processor number
i7-3610QM
Processor speed (Gigahertz)
2400
Number of USB ports
4
Battery life (Hours)
3.5 (rubbish I know)!
Graphics card brand
nVidia
Graphics card model number
GeForce GT 650M,
Graphics card memory (Megabytes)
2mb
It has a blue ray player and great speakers. Windows 10 now.
Product Features
Screen size (Inches)
15.6
Screen Resolution (pixels)
1920 x 1080
Operating system
Windows 8
RAM (Gigabytes)
8192
Hard disk capacity (Gigabytes)
1000
Processor
Intel
Processor series
Core i7
Processor number
i7-3610QM
Processor speed (Gigahertz)
2400
Number of USB ports
4
Battery life (Hours)
3.5 (rubbish I know)!
Graphics card brand
nVidia
Graphics card model number
GeForce GT 650M,
Graphics card memory (Megabytes)
2mb
It has a blue ray player and great speakers. Windows 10 now.
I bought a 24" Samsung screen today and the laptop seems to be running Xara Designer and Serif Pageplus 9, pretty well! It has an I7 processor already. Not bad for a 4yr old machine.
Many thanks for all the advice on this thread - much appreciated!
Many thanks for all the advice on this thread - much appreciated!
RobDickinson said:
Your laptop isnt too bad tbh
8gb ram is a little light, and 1tb hdd would be better as an ssd.
you can plug in a bigger screen and just use that
Otherwise look for a recent i7 with 16gb ram and SSD
8gb ram is a little light, and 1tb hdd would be better as an ssd.
you can plug in a bigger screen and just use that
Otherwise look for a recent i7 with 16gb ram and SSD
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