OK, VERY basic computer question

[Verytricky]

The best bet IMO is to plan the programs you are going to use, see how much RAM each one uses, and calculate the minimum amount of RAM that you will need to run the programs you want to run. Then install 2 GIG of RAM.

[mxsailor]

I agree with the 2 gig of RAM. RAM is cheap.
Stick with Mac OS X. It's been a 64 bit operating system for years and automatically allocates RAM to active applications. So you can have a dozen applications open, and the RAM is used for the app you're working with. Switch apps, the data is saved to a cache file on the hard disk and the memory is available for the active app. Mac OS X is Ferrari compared to any Windows OS.
I run a small publishing company and do all my design, production, image processing, finances, marketing and a 400 page website with a Mac Mini Dual Core with 2 gig of RAM and a 19" monitor. I also do music recording (I'm a jazz guitarist/keyboardist) and digital film with the Mini (movies of my sailing adventures).
The thought of trying to do all this with a Windows box riddled with viruses gives me the shakes.

[Cleetus]

Well
I bought a PC. But don't fear Mac folks! I kept my Mac. I did figure that a PC would be easier so here's what I got:

OptiPlex GX620 DT with Int Broadcom® GbNIC
Intel® Pentium® D Processor 820 (2.8GHz,DC,2X1M,800MHz FSB) 628DD
Operating System(s)
Genuine Windows® XP Professional, SP2, with Media XPP2E
File System
NTFS File System for all Operating Systems NTFS
Memory
2.0GB DDR2 Non-ECC SDRAM,533MHz, (2DIMM) 2G2N52
Monitors
No Monitor NMON
Video Card
256MB ATI Radeon X600, Dual Monitor DVI or VGA, low profile 256DVI
Boot Hard Drives
160GB SATA 3.0Gb/s and 8MB DataBurst CacheTM 160S2
Dell USB Keyboard, No Hot Keys, English, Black EUSBK
Mouse
Dell USB 2-Button Optical Mouse with Scroll, Black USBOK
Audio Solutions
Integrated AC97 Audio INTSND
Speakers
DellTM A225 Speakers, Black A225
Removable Media Storage Devices
16X DVD+/-RW,w/Sonic SoftwareTM andCyberlinkPower DVDTM,no Media DRM16N
Lead Free Motherboard
RoHS Compliant Lead Free Chassis and Motherboard ROHS
Hardware Support Services
3 Year Limited Warranty plus 3 Year NBD On-Site Service U3OS

Now, some of this is greek to me but most makes sense and considering I used a friend, cashed in on some favors and managed to keep it at just a hair over 1k I think I did OK. I'm away at work this week but it's sitting in my house waiting to be set up and taken for a test spin

Lets keep our fingers crossed!

[Tim B]

Take it for a test-spin in Windows??? That's like taking out a sports car with a rev limiter.

Since you're a Mac boy, have you considered Linux? We are slowly getting more software for design work, and there is a huge amount of general software around too. Not to metion the obvious fact that KDE 3.5 is faster and more stylish than Win XP. I have just installed Mandriva 2007 (which was released at the start of the month) and I must say, It is VERY impressive. smooth, slick, fast, and it lets me do all the software developement I want to do. Much better than MSs latest offering in my opinion.

Cheers for now,

Tim B.

[jim lee]

We run everything with Macs, it just makes life easier.

We keep one isolated PC for running the few (Maybe 3) programs needed that only run on PCs. Solidworks, PCBexpress.. That machine is kept isolated and not allowed on the internet exept for a very limited set of sites it needs. (Like ordering custom PC boards etc.)

Watch out running Windows on the Intel Macs. From what the geeks are telling me, this could open up your door to the wonderful world of windows virus. (Yeech!)

-jim lee