Best Photoshop Computer for under $1000

I just purchased a brand new Dell PC along with a monitor etc for under $750. (tax & shipping incl) I also use PS 7.0 and I was mostly concerned with how much hardrive, RAM, and whether it came with an integrated graphics card or an upgraded graphics card. The processor is 2.4ghz, 256RAM, 80 GB hardrive and a non-integrated 64MB GEForce graphics card w/ TV-Out. This exceeds the limits I was aiming for and didnt break the bank either. I chose a DELL b/c that is what we use at work and I use 3 different graphics software at once to perform my job and the Dell PC performs incredibly.

Whatever you get, make sure you get XP.

Crap. That's twice he said that. I'm toast.

Well Chris wasn't always XP friendly, so don't sweat it.

WIN2K doesn't have any bugs that cause my system to fail. The system is on at least 14 hours a day, seven days a week (I have two of these machines). My only complaint with XP is that it just does not respect 'manual' settings for networking. My backup computer has XP so it always seems to be missing from the network occassionally where the two WIN2K computers are always there.

ID,

My backup computer has XP so it always seems to be missing from the network
occassionally where the two WIN2K computers are always there.




Funny you should say that. I have a laptop running XP on the network, but mostly to share the DSL. It can't be seen, nor can it see, other puters on the network either. I always figured that one day I'd muscle through it and figure it out, it's just that that day hasn't arrived yet <grin>. I'm still in win98SE btw; I've been stable as heck, I reboot once a day and haven't seen a BSOD in about a year. I know it's time, but I'd rather wait until I have enough dough to upgrade PC's instead of having to try to upgrade 7 PC's to XP with a license pack. So I'm nervous about PS8 - if it doesn't run (or run well) on Win98, then the upgrade costs me significantly more.

Sigh.

Peace,
Tony

You do have the NetBios protocol in your network configuration don't you?

I have had no problems with XP shares on my networks.

I still don't like the default look of XP and won't be happy if they do away with the classic settings but it is just as fast and stable as 2K ever was with more driver compatibility.

jimmanning,

Go with a Dell Dimension (4600 or 8300) or Dell Precision workstation 360 if you want more memory a more business like configuration (XP Pro) and a longer warranty. Be sure to check both the home and the small business configurations if you go with the Dimension Series. Always customize the featured systems you can save $100 or more that way.

Photo,

You do have the NetBios protocol in your network configuration don't you?




I've never spent the time in XP to play, which is what I was saying - one day I'll muscle through it, but that's where I'd look first. So the short answer is "no, not in XP, only in my existing win98 PtP".

Tony,

About upgrading to a new OS. It just isn't worth it anymore. These days it is cheaper and easier (all things considered) just to buy a new computer with the newest OS. Brand new everything with warranty as well as still having the old one as a spare.

I have seen far too many people spend way too much money on OS upgrades, new CD recorders, etc. only to have the old original hard drive crash or a power supply die on their old slow computer. The sad part is they could have kept the old computer and bought a new one for the same price of doing minor upgrades that don't do a lot to improve performance on older systems anyway.