What is the minimum Mac requirements for graphic design student?

Question

My daughter will be Graphic Design major and needs a mac. I don't want the Apple Store salesman to tell me what I need, so I'm coming to you! Also, will her Mac work on our existing wireless network (windows?) What about her printer?

Answer 1

Macbook pro will be the best option. Prices starts from 1,999.00 (it is great for graphic designer as it offers great processor speed and ram size)to $3000 depending on your budget. Apple also offers student discount. Your apple computer will definitely work with your window's existing wireless, the only problem is, apple does not support third party products including wireless, but it is not difficult to figure it out as apple offers you knowledge base articles for third party products unless you are using Airport Base Station as a router, you get full support.

Most of the printers work with apple computers, you just need to download a driver for mac computers from the printer manufacturer's web site. It's also a best idea to check your printer vendor for the compatibility.

Some information from apple for your convenience:
Latest Intel mobile architecture
Powered by the most advanced mobile processors from Intel, the new Core 2 Duo MacBook Pro is over 50% faster than the original Core Duo MacBook Pro and now supports up to 4GB of RAM.2
Leading-edge graphics
The NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT delivers exceptional graphics processing power. For the ultimate creative canvas, you can even configure the 17-inch model with a 1920-by-1200 resolution display.
Next-generation wireless
Featuring 802.11n wireless technology, the MacBook Pro delivers up to five times the performance and up to twice the range of previous-generation technologies.4

Connect. Create. Communicate.
Quickly set up a video conference with the built-in iSight camera.3 Control presentations and media from up to 30 feet away with the included Apple Remote. Connect to high-bandwidth peripherals with FireWire 800 and DVI.

Designed for life on the road
Innovations such as a magnetic power connection and an illuminated keyboard with ambient light sensor put the MacBook Pro in a class by itself.

Good luck!

Answer 2

Is she doing 3D modeling or rendering?

If not, she could "get away" with dedicated graphics and a a gig of RAM. Thoughif you're looking for something decent, you could still easially get away with dedicated graphics, but you will absolutly want 2 Gigs of RAM. The lowest speed of processor (that I found by quickly looking, so I might have missed a lower one, if I'm wrong someone please correct me), was 2GHZ, which would be fine, even decent.

If she is doing 3D Modeling and Rendering, that's gonna be pretty hefty. You're definatly going to need a graphics card, and I would suggest getting a desktop if possible (better options, and more upgradable for later).

Answer 3

so she will be using programs like adobe cs3 ? look at a macbook pro. it has a dedicated graphics card, which will help in performance. also make sure it comes with 2gb. or memory to run smoothly and fast. macs can connect to wireless networks, and almost all windows peripherals will work with a mac. hope this helps -Jake

Answer 4

depends on ur budget, which u don't state.

main things are the processer and memory. the faster u can get the better. a 2nd hard drive is nice option also.

as for ur net, depends on the router... mac has rj45 so thats no issue.. and you can get airport card for mac etc.

as for printer, look at the makers site to see if mac os x supports it.

Answer 5

By "needs" do you mean the course requires it, or that she just wants one because it's "better" than PCs?

If it's the former, I'd recommend not taking the course at all, since Macs aren't better at all than PCs. Rather, they're almost equal, though Macs are extremely user friendly. Too user friendly for my taste.

If it's the latter, then tell her to just get a custom-made PC loaded with all sorts of graphics goodies. Usually a Dell XPS computer will do the trick. Remember, RAM, Processor, Hard Drive, and Graphics Card are ALL very important for this sort of work.

Answer 6

in case you downgrade to domicile windows XP, it may. and don't pay attention to the guy above me, XP is likely one in all the main versatile OS obtainable, different than for linux. the reason they do no longer launch anymore provider packs for it quite is as a results of fact they have already mounted any issues linked with it. in spite of the incontrovertible fact that it does no longer paintings with vista. fantastically with the ram that vista hogs. Vista is terrible and that i desire to advise staying faraway from it i desire to advise construction a working laptop or computer. it quite is common, and you'd be able to desire to genuinely stay under 500 in case you used lots of the factors out of your previous computer, like the hard rigidity, and so on. yet while its a computer you like, i could advise you shop your funds and google Hp Pavilion dv6875 specific version. it quite is priced low, and has some superb specs.