A while back I wrote a post about what we recommend our majors purchase in terms of equipment. Things move fast in technology, so it’s time to update the info. So, what do new DMA majors need to purchase?
The short answer is: you don’t have to purchase anything, we provide everything you’ll need. And by the time you learn how to use your shiny new computer and whiz-bang software to its fullest, it will seem long in the tooth compared to the new stuff. That said, if you do have your own equipment, it will make your life easier.
So if you find yourself in the latter category, here are some important considerations:
Hardware
You’ll need a computer. There are two choices here: desktop or laptop. You’ll get more speed and storage from a desktop for a lesser price. You’ll get portability from a laptop. If you’re interested in video, audio, or 3D animation, a desktop will more likely satisfy your demand for greater processing power. If you’re more interested in graphic and web design, a laptop is probably better since you don’t need as much horsepower.
Considerations:
- how much RAM does the computer have installed, and how much/easily can it be upgraded? At this point in time, you’ll need at least 4 gigabytes of RAM memory. If you can get the maximum ram installed on the computer at the time you purchase it, do it. RAM is the best bang for your buck when it comes to buying a fast computer.
- does the computer come with a monitor (assuming it’s a desktop). If the screen can handle HD (at least 1080 pixels in height), that’s great. Make sure it’s at least 900 pixels high.
- does the computer ship with a network card? Wireless-N is fastest and pretty much the standard now, but wireless-G is ok.
- do you need a mouse/keyboard/speakers for the computer? Again, not a concern if you’re getting a laptop.
- how much storage does the harddrive have? Get at least 250gb. The more, the better.
Software
The most important software choice is operating system. There are three to consider:
- Windows. The preeminent OS is currently at its Vista incarnation, but version 8 is right around the corner. If you can wait for it, do so. It’s supposed to be much better than Vista. If you are interested in video/audio, this is probably not the OS for you. Our program relies heavily on Final Cut Pro for video production, and there’s no Windows version of this.
- Mac OS X. If you’ve taken a tour of our facility you’ll notice that mac is everywhere. We use it as our standard OS. By purchasing a Mac, you’ll have the same system running on your own computer as you use in the labs or see when watching demos. Another often overlooked advantage here is with fonts. Chances are, the fonts you design with on your Windows machine won’t always render or appear correctly when you bring them over to a Mac.
- Linux. Main advantage is it’s free, and if you’re on a very tight budget it can work for you. Biggest disadvantage is it doesn’t run Adobe, which is the graphic design software package we use every day. Unless you want to focus exclusively on web programming and development, Linux is probably not you’re primary OS. That said, it’s very easy to install Linux on a partition of your computer and run it as needed.
There’s no OS that’s better than any of the others, it just comes down to what works for your particular situation.
After the OS, there’s the productivity software. Microsoft Office is often cited as a prereq for college students, but I personally think you can get by fine with the free stuff from Open Office: http://www.openoffice.org/ . If you get a Mac, it may have iWork installed, which has great office software. Both packages can open and save Microsoft Office files. So IMHO, purchasing MS Office is a waste of money.
On the other hand, Adobe is crucial. As a student, you’re eligible for significant discounts. My favorite place to shop for discounted software is http://www.campustech.com/home.asp?sSrcCode=CAMPUSTECH. I would recommend the Design Premium edition: http://www.campustech.com/itemDetail.asp?ItmNo=44001031 as it includes Flash, Dreamweaver, and Fireworks, good stuff for your web design classes.
Storage
You’ll be making lots of stuff here, and you need to keep it safe and archived. Although we provide storage for student projects on our network server, these files are erased after you graduate. Therefore, buying an external harddrive is a good idea. A 1TB or bigger drive is a good investment. You should also grab a 4gb or bigger thumbrive for quick transfers. Newegg is a popular place to shop for this stuff.
Where to shop
Besides the places listed above, there are several reliable deal sites out there:
http://dealmac.com/
http://www.xpbargains.com/
http://www.techbargains.com/
If you’re planning to buy a Mac, you’re best off going to the Mac store in the Galleria mall and picking it up there. You qualify for an educational discount, so make sure to bring your student ID.
Good luck, and feel free to contact me directly for any advice: dunkleb@canisius.edu