Buying a New Computer

In buying a new computer, you must always ask yourself the main purpose for your computer usage. Is it for office work? Emails and shopping online? Graphic illustration? Photo editing? Is it for editing videos? The answers you give will determine your approach to buying a computer.

So, there are basically 4 type of buyers:

1. Email and web surfers
2. Office workers
3. Graphic artists
4. Video editers

In order of strength of the computer, this list goes from least strong (and therefore least expensive) to strongest computer (which is usually the most expensive.

1. The emailers and web surfers may get the cheapest computer they can buy. Any new computer will be strong enough for this. If you are looking for a laptop, there are the small, 10” screen laptops that are so light and portable, it’s amazing. And the people in the 40’s+ group should not worry about straining their eyes. This notebook computer was made that the words on the screen are very clear and not too small. The processor inside this machine is not so strong and therefore not suitable for graphics. But they only cost about $250-$300 in the USA and about 1500 NIS in Israel.

2. Office Workers – this group is essentially the same as group 1. Any new computer will do fine – even the small 10” notebook. However, since office workers are heavier users of computers than emailers, people are generally more comfortable with a larger screen. Interestingly, a desktop computer with a 20” screen or even a 22” screen is no longer a luxury and is sometimes almost the same price as a smaller screen. So, why not? In a laptop, a 15.5” screen is very comfortable as a desktop replacement. If you use excel a lot, you should make sure to get a wide screen which will give you 34% more screen real estate.

3. Graphic Artists – here is where you have to begin to think carefully about which computer to buy. What is important to consider are the following:

Processor speed – this is described differently for Intel and for AMD.

i. Intel – the higher the number, the stronger the machine. E.g. T7500 is stronger and better than T5500
ii. AMD – this has a system of a name, a letter and a number. You have to know which name is stronger than the other. For example, Athlon is very old. It’s at least 3 or 4 years old. Turion is newer (and therefore stronger). Phenom is even newer.

Graphics card – AKA graphics adaptor – AKA screen card – in Hebrew, this is called a cartis mossach. Every computer comes with a graphics card built in and the main memory of the computer shares its memory with the graphics card. However, for graphics and video editing, it is wise to purchase a separate graphics adaptor with its own memory, as much as possible. You can spend $50 extra on a graphics card and you can also spend $1000 on a screen card. Generally, the upper end screen cards are used for 3D gaming and for video editing. But graphics programs run much faster and better with a dedicated graphics adaptor.
Memory – AKA Ram – the more memory you have, the better and faster your computer works. Since memory is pretty cheap, it’s wise to have 4 gb. That being said, I’ve seen computers still working fine with 2 gb. But I wouldn’t buy a NEW computer with only 2 Gb today.

4. Video editors – everything I wrote about graphics is true here in addition to the following:

More – however much more you get, the better things will run. Since video play about 25 – 30 frames per second, it’s very rough on the computer. So, more memory better graphics adaptor better processor
2 hard disks. You should always have a second hard drive that is used for the video editing. The main hard drive (C) is in use by the program and windows so you need a separate hard drive which is only used by the program
Big hard drive. One one-hour video can easily use hundreds of gigabytes while you’re doing the editing.
Extra screen or 2. Big screen – it’s hard to work without at least 2 screens. Some people use 3 screens. And the bigger, the better
If you don’t spend $500 and up on a screen card, you may waste hours (or days) finishing your video and saving it.

Posted in General Computer Issues, Graphic Design, Video Editing.

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By compuskills – July 4, 2010

Programming vs. Graphics

I was recently asked the following question. Should I send my daughter to study programming or graphics?

To my mind, there are great advantages to each career choice today – graphics or programming. With programming, there are jobs available right now, and young married girls can really support themselves. Of course, you know there are few jobs available that are less than 8 hours per day (which is definitely a serious consideration with children). Graphics has tremendous flexibility as well. Whether she is creative, methodical and exacting, etc, she can always excel in graphics in creative work, page layout (books, magazines, forms, brochures, etc), and many other areas. In addition, it’s not מחייב to work full time – there is tremendous flexibility in it. Also, people can support themselves with graphics – PROVIDED that they move beyond the entry level jobs of 25 nis per hour which requires them to excel beyond what the mediocre student achieves. There are 1000s of mediocre students of computer graphics who are not worth more than 25 nis per hour. The ones who go beyond are the ones who are a) committed and work very hard b) study design in addition to the programs c) may or may not be very creative d) it’s definitely a plus to study the most current programs which most schools are not current right now (we got special permission from misrad haTamat to run our program using the most current programs – InDesign and Illustrator in addition to the rest of the programs which is scheduled to overtake the market immediately (we knew last year that Freehand was being retired and Illustrator would replace it and we were the first school to teach it – other schools have just now turned to us to teach their teachers. Also, we’ve been teaching InDesign for OVER 10 years (!) and the Israeli schools have only heard of its existence in the past few years and they are still not up to speed on it).

To summarize, either is a good option right now.

I would like to let you know about a related field – web design. You may say “no, nothing with web”. However, please just realize that working in programming is pretty much the same thing and intertwined with web design. Web design involves using the artistic programs from computer graphics and applying it to websites. In addition, there are the topics and programs special to web design – HTML, dreamweaver, flash (a wonderful multimedia program), and javascript which is a light programming language which intertwines with HTML. Today, there seems to be a comeback to web design and in our current course, we will iy”h be working with real companies toward the end of the course who plan to hire some of the students. I do not recommend web design alone because it is volatile – today there are jobs but who knows what will be tomorrow? However, it must be done in addition to computer graphics. There is a greater possibility of earning serious money in web design.

A related question may be: do you like Algebra or Geometry? I loved Algebra much more than geometry. I also am creative and love art (but I can’t draw – I can design which goes well with graphic design where you don’t necessarily have to draw). It’s hard to say. The ones who love Algebra and/or geometry usually love the thrill and challenge of programming – they find it exhilarating. The girls who are bad at math and/or scared of it and logic have no place in programming. Most people either like the maths or the arts – but not both. So, it’s pretty easy to decide. But I have met many people who like and are good at both programming and at graphic design and would find a place in the workforce for either – or both professions.

Posted in Graphic Design, Jobs & the Job Market, Programming.

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By compuskills – July 4, 2010