I can recommend Dell Precision. I have had the Precision 450 Dual Processor with 2GB memory for three and a half years now, all internal hardware preinstalled (factory installed), except one extra (my old) hard drive. I have never had a better or more reliable PC (although my home assembled PC comes close ;-) ).
I expect to be using this computer for at least a couple of years more. Bodvar On Dec 9, 2007 11:23 PM, Dov Isaacs <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Ashley, > > Dell is fine although my experience is that you are better off > if you buy the "Dell Precision Workstations" as opposed to the > stuff they hawk for the low-end, casual users. The "workstations" > tend to use more "generic" parts as opposed to > married-to-the-motherboard > specialized-for-Dell el-cheapo components. They have tremendous > upgradability and much better support (often stateside as opposed > to someplace exceptionally offshore) as well as very high performance. > > Note that Dell just replaced the whole Precision Workstation line with > new models, the T7400, T5400, and the T3400. The primary difference > between the models is capacity for expansion, power supply capacity, > and case size. (The T7400 has a massive case; the T5400 and 3400 easily > fit vertically under a desk or can be ordered for desktop horizontal > use.) > The T5400 is probably the best compromise unless you need multiple > terabytes of storage or really extreme processing needs using the 64-bit > versions of Windows. > > Assuming that your processing needs are use of FrameMaker 8, Acrobat Pro > 8 > typical e-mail and web browsing and perhaps also Illustrator and > Photoshop, > I would recommend that you not necessarily spend the extra $$$ for > multiple > processors or even the highest speed processor (a single > two-point-something > gigahertz dual or quad core Xeon will do fine). I would recommend that > you > get the full 4 gigabytes of memory as well as a video card such as the > nVidia FX570 (at a minimum) that supports "dual link DVI" such that if > you > ever want to splurge on a very high resolution 30" monitor, your video > card will directly support it (the Dell 30" LCD monitor is down to about > > $1300 now!). In terms of disk, it costs a bit more, but the SAS > (serially > attached SCSI) disks at 15000 rpm make a tremendous difference in > performance - unless you are effectively running a server, a single 300 > gigabyte 15000 rpm SAS driver will do (although you can put multiple > such drives in the chassis). > > A single DVD burner will do fine. > > I would MOST STRONGLY advise you NOT to go with Windows Vista at this > point > unless you are a real glutton for punishment. Until Microsoft works out > the > kinks with both Service Packs 1 and 2, expect major anguish. All these > high end products are still available with Windows XP Professional SP2. > Likewise, stay away from the 64-bit versions of the operating systems. > They > are still a "work in progress" (including Windows XP 64-bit edition) and > > just too many drivers and programs just don't work quite right with > them. > I would say use of any version of Vista and 64-bit Windows for typical > desktop applications should be held off for at least 18 to 24 months > unless > you don't value your own time. These Dell Precision Workstations can be > fitted with many more gigabytes of memory and will support 64-bit > editions > of Vista if you need such support at that time. (Note that presently, > other > than having the support for more memory, there is not anything important > to > be gained by use of the 64-bit OS. Most applications are still 32-bit > only > and under the 64-bit OS, they run in emulation mode and can still only > access > 2 gigabytes of memory at a time! > > Wireless mice can be nice! But I would be very cautious of a wireless > keyboard. I would keep a cheap wired keyboard around for emergencies, > especially if you have boot problems. > > - Dov > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: framers Meredith, Ashley > > Sent: Sunday, December 09, 2007 12:34 AM > > > > I've just had a hardware failure that means I get to upgrade to Vista > Pro and the latest versions of > > FrameMaker and Acrobat Pro, as quick as I can get a new workstation > ordered. The only stipulation that > > my university makes is that it prefers Dell. I haven't been paying > much attention to hardware > > improvements lately, so I need to ask, does anyone have recent > experience with their offerings? I can > > pretty much have what I ask for, so which model of Dell desktop should > I specify? Which options? Are > > the wireless keyboard and mouse a hindrance? Also, would a SCSI drive > be much of an improvement over > > their default drive? > _______________________________________________ > > > You are currently subscribed to Framers as [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Send list messages to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > To unsubscribe send a blank email to > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > or visit > http://lists.frameusers.com/mailman/options/framers/bodvar%40gmail.com > > Send administrative questions to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Visit > http://www.frameusers.com/ for more resources and info. > _______________________________________________ You are currently subscribed to Framers as [EMAIL PROTECTED] Send list messages to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] or visit http://lists.frameusers.com/mailman/options/framers/archive%40mail-archive.com Send administrative questions to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Visit http://www.frameusers.com/ for more resources and info.