Graphic designers have been using computer technology since desktop publishing (DTP) came along in the 1980s. This has pushed all graphic designers to at least get acquainted with computer hardware.
What is desktop publishing (DTP)? In the 1980s it was a common term for digital publishing systems. These systems were developed to replace large, specialized design and compositing systems in prepress.
Graphic designers rely heavily on computers, whether they’re Windows PCs or Apple Macs. Whatever computer a graphic designer uses, they choose the best computer they can buy. Graphic designers rarely go for cheap computer hardware.
In the 80’s, Macs were the only choice graphic designers and printing. Almost all design layout and graphics software was only made for Macs, or even if the software could be used on Microsoft Windows PCs, it was much more reliable on a Mac. Also, at the time, Macs were associated with the various technologies used in prepress, and Windows PCs just weren’t a practical choice. Modern versions of Mac OS X and Windows now allow graphic designers to use design software on either a Mac or a PC—they no longer have to choose between them.
Many graphic designers aren’t IT experts, and deciding which computer to buy can be quite daunting. Of course, if money isn’t an issue, the decision would simply be to buy the most expensive Apple Mac or Windows PC. But most designers can’t afford that. In fact, some creative professionals only have budgets for used equipment. What really matters to these graphic designers are issues that regular computer users don’t even have to worry 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 mix of Macs and PCs, and both laptops and desktop computers fall into this category. But as with any product that a consumer buys, whether they use a desktop computer or a laptop is really the designer’s personal preference. It is important that the user/graphic designer has the right software for the type of computer he/she intends to buy.
The top 5 computers for graphic design are:
Mac Pro desktop
The Mac line of computers is still widely favored by most graphic designers. According to Apple, the latest Mac Pro features the all-new quad-core Intel Xeon “ Nehalen ” processor, which makes a graphic designer’s job a whole lot easier. Apple further states that the new Mac Pro is up to 1.9 times faster than its predecessor. Each processor has an integrated memory controller that enables the processors to access stored data in the computer’s memory faster while reducing memory latency by up to 40 percent. This feature saves designers a lot of time in their work.
MacBook Pro laptop
The MacBook Pro laptop is available in 13, 15 and 17 inch sizes. It features powerful NVDIA graphics and LED-backlit display that makes editing graphics easier and clearer. This latest model has a battery life of up to 8 hours (for 17 inch version). It is powered by the Intel Core 2 Duo processor.
Dell Studio XPS desktop
The Dell Studio XPS Desktop features the Intel Core i5 and i7 processors. If you want to work with intensive video or 3D editing, you can upgrade to 16 GB Dual Channel DDR3 SDRAM. But the base memory of 3GB allows you to edit photos, create vector or raster designs with ease. Its high-resolution ATI graphics card produces clear, precise and pristine graphics – just what a graphic designer needs.
Toshiba Qosmio laptop
The Toshiba Qosimo is an affordable solution to your graphic design needs. It is powered by either the Intel Core i7 or i5 processor, making it easy to create flawless graphics. It features a high-end NVIDIA GeForce graphics card that ensures you can see every pixel and image you edit clearly. It features 6GB of DDR3 1066MHz memory and 1GB of GDDR5 discrete graphics memory.
HP Pavilion Elite desktop
The HP Pavilion Elite Desktop is an affordable computer. It’s powered by either an AMD Athlon or an 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 computers come with true 64-bit Windows 7 for the latest technology. The RAM ranges from 4GB to 9GB, which guarantees smooth and effortless operation of the high-end graphics you are using.
