It's kinda like Christmas! Need some buying advice ASAP!

patmcfar8patmcfar8
Posted:
in General Discussion edited January 2014
So here's my situation: Just accepted a new position as an in-house Graphic Artist at a large hospital. Since it's a new position, I have to order ALL new stuff. Here's the kicker, they're giving me a "blank check" to do so.



So, I'm thinking dual 1.25 ghz PM, 22" Cinema Display, 800mhz TiPB w/Airport Base, loads of RAM, large format color printer, scanner, etc.



And of course software like Quark and InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, MS Office, etc.



Anybody have any advice or ideas? Thanks.
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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 28
    thuh freakthuh freak Posts: 2,664member
    get me one too.
  • Reply 2 of 28
    progmacprogmac Posts: 1,850member
    that's awesome that you get to start with a blank slate like that. No dealing with past technology and crumby budgets. Count yourself lucky!



    Do they know how much this will all cost?
  • Reply 3 of 28
    patmcfar8patmcfar8 Posts: 84member
    That's what the director told me, "You've got a blank check to get whatever you think you need." I'm gonna try to keep it under $20k.



    Software is expensive and I'll have to get 2 sets for the 2 computers.



    I'm pretty stoked about the whole situation and getting all new stuff is just icing on the cake.
  • Reply 4 of 28
    thegeldingthegelding Posts: 3,230member
    airport basestation
  • Reply 5 of 28
    pscatespscates Posts: 5,847member
    If I was in that position, here's what I'd do (not interested in breaking the bank, even if it's a "blank check"):



    Get the fastest PowerMac I can (to make it last and seem worthwhile a couple of years from now...who knows, by 2004 Apple might actually break the 1.8GHz barrier )



    I'd probably go ahead and get a dual 1.25GHz G4.



    But I'd get the 17" Studio Display.



    I'd put more money into software, utilities and a good scanning and printing set-up.



    I wouldn't break the bank on hardware "goodies" alone, because it's just a tool. Any G4 over 800MHz or whatever is FAST. I would simply get the fastest available just so it has more "legs" over the coming years.



    And I'd stuff it with 1GB RAM.



    Not sure of the work you'll doing (print vs. video? print/web mostly? print exclusively? Info along those lines might play into our suggestions a bit...let us know what type of work you'll be doing exactly).



    I'm assuming, hospital and all, it'll be primarily print-based stuff?



    A speedy G4, tons of RAM, a nice printer for proofing and a good monitor.



    Oh, and Pantone swatchbooks!



    Software, that's a no-brainer. The usual Adobe stuff.



    Probably need to decide between InDesign and QuarkXPress at some point.



    Also, font management.



    Are you going to be using OS X or running OS 9? If using 9, ATM Deluxe is wonderful. But Adobe isn't making it for OS X, so I've had to adapt to Extensis Suitcase.



    Oh yeah: what about fonts themselves? I nice typeface library is always good.



    And stock photography? Or does that get bought on an "as needed" basis? I know PhotoDisc, Comstock and all those places sell medical and health-oriented stock photo CD collections, so...



    You shouldn't have any problem keeping it "under $20,000".



    I wouldn't even get a laptop. And if I did, it would simply be a mid-range 12" Combo Drive iBook. JUST for shuttling stuff or doing quick road work. I wouldn't think I'd be doing the bulk (or anywhere close) of my work "on the road" or away from my work G4, so maybe just a simple iBook for communication, light work, etc.



    But that's just me. I'm not much of a gear/spec-hog, so...



    A modest man with modest needs...



  • Reply 6 of 28
    patmcfar8patmcfar8 Posts: 84member
    Good points.



    Primarily printed material. They already have a website guy, so none of that. Maybe some minor video production in the future.



    Pantone books! Wow, thanks for reminding me.



    I agree that the 1.25 might be a little too much, but I want it to last a while so now that I have the chance, I'll get the biggest and best.



    Wouldn't you get a 22" Cinema Display if you could?



    I want to start off in OS X only. Crazy huh? It is for me, because while I know OS 9 like the back of my hand, OS X is still new in relatively unknown. I use it on my home TiPB, but all of my work computers are OS 9.



    Smae for Quark and InDesign. I love Quark and know it well, but since it's not OS X yet, I'll be learning InDesign. But I'm still getting a copy of Quark just in case.



    Fonts... I'm a little unclear on how fonts work in OS X compared to OS 9. They have a large library, but it's all for OS 9. Will they work in OS X?



    Gotta have the laptop! It's a big company. Over 2,400 employees and several buildings that are 95% PC. Having a TiPB is a must to take ideas and presentations all over the place.



    Anything else?
  • Reply 7 of 28
    ghost_user_nameghost_user_name Posts: 22,667member
    no, i'd get a 23".



    22 is piddly shit in comparison.
  • Reply 8 of 28
    emaneman Posts: 7,204member
    [quote]Originally posted by Jonathan:

    <strong>no, i'd get a 23".



    22 is piddly shit in comparison.</strong><hr></blockquote>



    But do you really think it's worth that much more money?
  • Reply 9 of 28
    pscatespscates Posts: 5,847member
    Yeah, fonts you have in OS 9 totally work in OS X. I have many Adobe, Fonthaus, Image Club, Letraset, etc. typefaces and they are available to me in OS X.



    I do know that OS X handles fonts A LOT differently than OS 9 (so much so, that I don't even fully understand it all quite yet), but it doesn't really matter if I'm using a utility like Suitcase. I simply keep all my fonts at the root level of my Mac, in a folder called (oddly enough) "Fonts".



    Then I use Suitcase to activate and deactivate them at will. Same with ATM Deluxe in OS 9.



    I've never been a "put all my fonts into the Fonts folder..." kinda guy. First, I've got too many and I'm not a big fan of having font menus that are six miles long and take 12 minutes to scroll through!







    DEFINITELY budget for a font utility like Suitcase, ATM Deluxe or whatever. Being in the graphics field, we tend to deal with more typefaces than the average student or home user, so it makes all the sense in the world to invest in some good font management software.



    <a href="http://www.extensis.com/suitcase/18g.html"; target="_blank">http://www.extensis.com/suitcase/18g.html</a>;



    I can't find it there anymore, but a while back Extensis had a really nice section on their site where they went through and explained the differences in how OS 9 and OS X handle fonts (where they're stored, how they're accessed, etc.). Also, Macworld magazine did the same thing earlier this year (was in 2002, I know that).



    Do a search at their website for the article.



    As for the other question, the 22" IS nice, but for some reason, I really like that size/resolution of the 17" Studio Display. That's $1499 difference too.



    I've been a Quark guy too (since about 1994), but because of its non OS X-native condition, I've migrated softly to InDesign and have been using it most of 2002, when I do need to do page layout.
  • Reply 10 of 28
    nebagakidnebagakid Posts: 2,692member
    Well, i would add on some bluetooth adapters, just for the hell of it...hmmmmm.... Maybe get also the DVI-&gt;ADC converter so you can have another monitor. I would choose two 17" inchers or one 22 and one 17...i think the 23 is just wayyyyy to big... it takes to long to scroll across. Hmmm.... maybe an Xserve????



    So many choices you have, also get a good scanner and a good printer and ...wait.... are you sure this is not a test from your company to see if you will keep it simple?



    IF NOT: Go to the Apple store and ask for a new PowerMac LOADED! and a new PowerBook LOADED... also, get three monitors : 2 for the Desktop and one for the Book.. eh? <img src="graemlins/smokin.gif" border="0" alt="[Chilling]" />
  • Reply 11 of 28
    mgossettmgossett Posts: 85member
    Better yet:



    Get $20k in cash, go an Apple store, open up the trunk of your car and say, "Fill 'er up!"



    -Mike



    PS- This works much better if you have hundred dollar bills falling out of your pockets the whole time
  • Reply 12 of 28
    thuh freakthuh freak Posts: 2,664member
    [quote]Originally posted by thuh Freak:

    <strong>get me one too. </strong><hr></blockquote>



    [quote]Originally posted by patmcfar8:

    <strong>...I'll have to get 2 sets for the 2 computers...</strong><hr></blockquote>



    sweet! i'm getting a new computer.
  • Reply 13 of 28
    digitalandresdigitalandres Posts: 115member
    I'd agree on getting 2 monitors for the desktop. You don't need one for the TiBook though.



    As for the setup, ya, Id grab a dual 1.25er, biggest BTO HD and RAM configs, and if you're doing video, you'll likely need external HD's still.
  • Reply 14 of 28
    patmcfar8patmcfar8 Posts: 84member
    LOL!



    I'm leaning towards the 22" Display, Dual 1.25ghz and an 800mhz TiPB with an Airport Base Station. And all the OS X software for both of them that I can think off.



    But, now I need to figure out what large format printer and scanner to get. I'll want to be able to print up 22x28 posters and scan reflective and slides. Any more ideas?
  • Reply 15 of 28
    paulpaul Posts: 5,278member
    check <a href="http://forums.appleinsider.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=2&t=001304"; target="_blank">here</a> it is more economical to get 2 17"ers with the $200 rebates and DVI-ADC adaptor then 1 22"er..... plus you get more pixels....
  • Reply 16 of 28
    serranoserrano Posts: 1,806member
    My votes for dual 15 or 17's.
  • Reply 17 of 28
    mac writemac write Posts: 289member
    I am not in the print/graphics Indreustry, now know much about this stuff, but here are my ideas to get the best deal.



    Go for the 1.25GHZ PowerMac Stripped dwon from the Apple Store (well keep the SuperDrive, and Radeon 9000). then go and buy the RAM, and extra Harddrives from a different place, This will save you alot of moeny, since Apple Store charges alot of more for this stuff.



    Go with Dual 17 Apple LCD's with an Extra Radeon 9000. It will come with another ADC Connecter.



    Also are you getting a tablet? The SuperDrive should come in handly for archiving projects, since graphics files get big.



    There my 2¢
  • Reply 18 of 28
    resres Posts: 711member
    The color accuracy on most LCDs is pretty bad. Since you are doing print you might want to consider getting a 20" CRT and Pantone calibration software.
  • Reply 19 of 28
    serranoserrano Posts: 1,806member
    [quote]Originally posted by Mac Write:

    <strong>Go with Dual 17 Apple LCD's with an Extra Radeon 9000. It will come with another ADC Connecter.</strong><hr></blockquote>



    The 9000 has dual outputs. 64mb split, 32 to each monitor.
  • Reply 20 of 28
    sebseb Posts: 676member
    You've gotten a good bit of advice on hardware, so I'll let you ponder that. Unless you want me to suggest two 22" displays.



    Whatever you do, I'd get AppleCare. For an extra $250 or whatever, it'll be nice to tell the higher-ups that all of this expensive stuff you got is covered for three years. It'll make em feel better - plus it's just good insurance (it may save your butt some day). It works out as a small cost, relatively speaking, compared to the amount you're spending.



    Must be fun going through configs at the Apple store eh?



    And don't forget, if you need this stuff soon, you probably won't have the dual 1.25's for at least a month, probably longer. So if you need it soon...
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