The best computer for graphic design
Ever since Desktop Publishing (DTP) appeared in the 1980s, graphic designers have been using computer technology. This has pushed all graphic designers to master at least the computer hardware.
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, specialized prepress layout and composition systems.
Graphic designers rely heavily on computers, whether they are Windows PCs or Apple Macs. Whichever computer a graphic designer chooses to use, he will opt for the best computer he can buy. Graphic designers rarely choose cheap computer hardware.
In the 1980s, Macs were the only choice for design and printing. Nearly all design, layout, and graphics software was developed just for the Mac, or even if the software could be used on a Microsoft Windows PC, it was much more reliable on a Mac. Also, at the time, Macs were associated with the different technologies used in prepress and Windows PCs just weren’t a practical option. Today, modern versions of Mac OS X and Windows allow graphic designers to use design software on a Mac or PC; they are no longer forced to choose one or the other.
Many graphic designers are not IT experts and making a decision about which computer to buy can be quite daunting. Of course, if money is not an issue, the decision would be to simply buy the more expensive Apple Mac or Windows PC. But most designers can’t afford to do that. In fact, some creative professionals have budgets just for second-hand equipment. What these graphic designers really care about are problems that regular computer users don’t even have to think about. These are printer color accuracy, monitor calibration, hard drive speed, and external storage devices for gigabytes of data.
Recent studies show that the top 5 computers for graphic design are a combination of Macs and PCs, with both laptops and desktops falling into this category. But like any product a consumer buys, it really is the designer’s personal preference whether they will use a desktop or a laptop. The important thing is that the user / graphic designer has the right software for the type of computer he wishes to purchase.
The 5 best computers for graphic design are:
Mac Pro Desktop
The Mac line of computers continues to be preferred by most graphic designers. According to Apple, the latest Mac Pro features the new quad-core Intel Xeon “Nehalen” processor that makes a graphic designer’s job much easier. Apple further claims 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 faster access to data stored in the computer’s memory, reducing memory latency by up to 40 percent. This feature will save designers a lot of time when doing their work.
macbook pro laptop
The MacBook Pro laptop comes in 13-inch, 15-inch, and 17-inch sizes. It has high-performance NVDIA graphics and a backlit LED display that makes graphics editing easier and clearer. This latest model has a battery that lasts up to 8 hours (in the 17-inch version). It is powered by the Intel Core 2 Duo processor.
Dell Studio XPS Desktop
The Dell Studio XPS Desktop Computer features Intel Core i5 and i7 processors. If you plan on doing 3D or video-intensive editing, you can upgrade to 16GB dual-channel DDR3 SDRAM. But its basic 3GB memory will allow you to edit photos, create vector or raster designs with ease. Its ATI high definition graphics card creates clear, precise and flawless graphics, just what a graphic designer needs.
Toshiba Qosmio Laptop
Toshiba Qosimo is an affordable solution for your graphic design needs. It is powered by the Intel Core i7 or i5 processor, making it easy to create flawless graphics. It has a high-end NVIDIA GeForce graphics card, ensuring you can clearly see every pixel and frame you edit. It has 6 GB of 1066 MHz DDR3 memory and 1 GB of GDDR5 discrete graphics memory.
HP Pavilion Elite Desktop PC
The HP Pavilion Elite Desktop PC is an affordable PC. It’s powered by an AMD Athlon or Intel Core processor ranging from a quad-core X4 630 (Athlon) to a six-core i7-980X Extreme Edition (Intel). All HP Pavilion Elite Desktop PCs come with genuine Windows 7 64-bit for the latest technology. The memory ranges from 4 GB to 9 GB, which ensures smooth and effortless operation of the high-end graphics you use.