Doesn't much matter, once you get past the basics..

The iMac is the best low end editing computer, but not that much bettr than any decent windows machine..

By "decent" I mean 1 GB of RAM, and a 100GB hard drive, and a built-in DVD burner and a few USB 2 ports..

If you pick a laptop, built-in WiFi,m but all the new machines have this anyway..

Zealots can convince you that millions must be spent; not really..

As for software, the intelligent thing to do is start with Adobe Photoshop Elements for the Mac, or Phitioshop Elements 5 for Windows. Look on the package currently there's Elements 5 for XP computers and Elements 5 for Vista. Pick the right one..

Photoshop CS is overkill except for computerfreaks and graphic designers and people doing their own CMYK conversions, which photographers should not be attempting anyway..

BAK..

Do youdself a favor. Buy the biggest, flattest, fastest monitor you could afford, and then buy computer along the lines BAK suggested. Or even slightly less powerful, if that means better monitor..

P.S.An old joke:-How to drive graphics designer nuts real fast?-make him work on a LCD monitor..

Ok, current LCDs aren't that bad, in fact some designers now _prefer_ them, once colors started to stay more or less the same over wide angles, but it is still something to pay attention to if you decide you need laptop...

Nyce_1 wrote:.

I haven't started yet, but when I start editing my photos, whatshould I use to do so: laptop or desktop? Mac or PC (I am in nottrying to start WWIII)?.

Laptop or desktop is a personal preference. A laptop will give you portability but also less computer for the money, and usually less upgradability..

My own preferences for a photo editing machine would be:.

1. Large screen with good color accuracy..

2. Lots of hard drive space (and ways to back up the stuff on the drive(s))..

3. Fast at displaying photos and doing basic edits (e.g., brightness/contrast/crops) on JPG files..

For this purpose, even a machine with a 800 MHz PowerPC G4 (or 1 GHz Pentium 3) and a halfway decent graphics card (for their time) is fast enough..

But if I wanted to organize thousands of RAW files in Aperture, then I'd need to get something a lot more recent, preferably a Mac Pro with two dual-core CPUs, and an upgraded graphics card..

Or, would it be best if I build my own computer?.

The main advantage of building your own computer is to be able to spend more $$ to get better parts (that are a better value). Basically, this option is for people who know exactly what they want, and who can provide some of their own tech support when things go wrong..

My budget is around $1800..

You might want to look at the 20" and 24" iMacs. Both have fairly large displays and support an extra external display. You can upgrade the amount of video RAM, if you order on the Web and upgrade at the time of the order...

... and if you can afford it, get an external hard drive (about 100 UK for 500 GB) to keep copies. Once you start processing large numbers of RAW files your disk space will melt away. Disk space is so cheap now that it's not worth not doing..

Apart from that, as others have said, it doesn't make much difference what type of computer you use, even the cheapest models available now are more than capable. A good, big monitor that you can colour-calibrate (so that what you see on screen is exactly the same colour as comes out of your printer) is more important.Mike..

I am not sure I would agree with some of what is posted. I note you plan to buy the D80. I have one. My take:-.

1. If you have the space go for a desk PC a) better value b) much more upgradeable c) it is very difficult to get a good notebook screen d) a touch pad gives very poor control compared to a mouse..

2. You do not need a super graphics card for still photos. Any of the better ordinary ones will do so need to up the spec..

3. Consider getting two internal drives. Read and write speed to disk is still one of the biggest hold ups on most PCs. I copy from my SD cards to my D drive then across to my C drive so I immediately have the safety of a backup copy. My D drive is also set as the cache for Nikon Capture NX which speeds the programme up spreading the load..

4. If you are serious about photography you are likley to want to shoot RAW (especially if shooting in challenging conditions). It is commonly (but not universally!) acknowledged that Nikon Capture NX gets the very best out of Nikon RAW images. It works in a different way to PS as it works non-destructively on an image (You can save many different versions of the same image in one NEF and switch between them to compare in seconds). The downside of that is it runs slowly without lots of memory. I upped the memory to 2GB in my 3.5 year old well spec'd Pentium 4 2.8Mhz to good effect.

That is what Vista would recommend anyway..

5. Dual core or maybe quad core. When I watch the performance stats on my PC I can see the CPU is fully occupied for quite a few seconds processing photos. I would love to speed that process up. I will one day!.

6. As for operating system well I only have experience of Windows. I have XP Pro and will only change when I change PC. I have no plans to do that for at least a year. Vista is a liitle too new for me..

P.S. NX works on both Macs and PCs.

Chris Elliott.

*Nikon* D Eighty + Fifty - Other equipment in Profile.

Http://PlacidoD.Zenfolio.com/..

Very good points..

Hm... Nice idea about 2 HDDs, but that means custom-built, somethig OP may or may not be up to..

As for CPU... You know, slow CPU gets you there, only later. Poor monitor ruins both your photos AND your health. I'd trade dual core for better monitor without a second thought..

Ok, I would be probanly endlessly mentally whining about slow performance afterwards. But I'd do it anyway...

Ablack wrote:.

Very good points..

Hm... Nice idea about 2 HDDs, but that means custom-built, somethigOP may or may not be up to..

No need to custom build it is easy enough to fit a 2nd hard drive yourself. I took one out of a work PC that was being scrapped..

As for CPU... You know, slow CPU gets you there, only later. Poormonitor ruins both your photos AND your health. I'd trade dual corefor better monitor without a second thought..

You can always keep your existing monitor and upgrade separately..

I deliberately did not say anything about a monitor. I am using a Iiyama HM903DT 19" inch CRT VDU which has a maximum resolution of 1920 x 1440. I run it at 1600 x 1200 to avoid flicker (and make print readable). You will gather I largely agree with you..

One day I will get a decent LCD widesceen but my present set up does what I want..

Chris Elliott.

*Nikon* D Eighty + Fifty - Other equipment in Profile.

Http://PlacidoD.Zenfolio.com/..

Chris Elliott wrote:.

Ablack wrote:.

Very good points..

Hm... Nice idea about 2 HDDs, but that means custom-built, somethigOP may or may not be up to..

No need to custom build it is easy enough to fit a 2nd hard driveyourself. I took one out of a work PC that was being scrapped..

That voids warranty, doesn't it?.

And while fitting 2nd HDD may not seem much to, say, me now, somebody's else mileage may vary. You need to locate appropriate slot on MB, plug cable correct way, then fit in hard drive, with M/S jumper set properly then again correctly plug cable, then another one... Then BIOS... It's not easy if you do it first time, without motherboard plan in a cramped case and knowing you can break things either mechanically or with static. I still remember how I was afraid when I did it the first couple times. And I'm not technophobic sort of guy, I love to tinker with things...

Ablack wrote:.

Chris Elliott wrote:.

Ablack wrote:.

Very good points..

Hm... Nice idea about 2 HDDs, but that means custom-built, somethigOP may or may not be up to..

No need to custom build it is easy enough to fit a 2nd hard driveyourself. I took one out of a work PC that was being scrapped..

That voids warranty, doesn't it?.

You are looking for problems that do not exist. This assumes a) the warranty expressly prohibits opening the case. I am far from sure they are that specific. What if you want to add extra RAM? Does that void the warranty? b) you have a problem during the warranty period - I never have c) that you send it back for warranty work still with the D drive in situ! d) that the mfrs make a fuss about it..

If you are that fussed about the situation buy something like a Dell that is built for you anyway or fit an external firewire drive.

In any case the OP expressly said he was considering building for himself (I might give this a try. Never done it. It assumes I am replacing the present system while it is still running perfectly and thus not in a hurry and that I have 40 hours or whatever to spare!).

And while fitting 2nd HDD may not seem much to, say, me now,somebody's else mileage may vary. You need to locate appropriate sloton MB, plug cable correct way, then fit in hard drive, with M/Sjumper set properly then again correctly plug cable, then anotherone... Then BIOS... It's not easy if you do it first time, withoutmotherboard plan in a cramped case and knowing you can break thingseither mechanically or with static. I still remember how I was afraidwhen I did it the first couple times. And I'm not technophobic sortof guy, I love to tinker with things..

In my experience all PCs have a spare wiring harness ready for a D drive. You simply plug it in. If it is a new drive you may have to set the dip switches in accordance with the mfrs instructions. That is it. Check it out with the cover still off. It should show in Windows Explorer and write to it read/from it.

(You may have to buy a caddy. It is best to set up the PC with the cover off and plan to leave it like that for a weekend to give yourself time to find one if you need one from a PC store or an old PC. I did not bother with a caddy. I managed to attach it to the subframe with a couple of spare screws. Would not want to move house with it like that but it is fine sat under my desk..

If you are not happy doing the work get a PC store to do it for you - or a knowledgable friend - if you trust him!.

Chris Elliott.

*Nikon* D Eighty + Fifty - Other equipment in Profile.

Http://PlacidoD.Zenfolio.com/..

Well, all my computers since 1996 were either customs or bought used and upgraded beyond all recognition, so I don't know if warranty does or does not allow you to open the case. (But I had one monitor with fuse(!) you couldn't replace without breaking "warranty void" seal. And yes, it had blown. It was long ago thou, maybe things are different now. ).

Maybe I really do overcomplicate things quite a bit... Certainly installing HDD is not rocket science nor it requires inhuman dexterity, but it's not a matter of "just plugging" it, unless it's external drive. And I once really fried vidcard by static. (not an expensive one, thanks.)..

All are strictly my opinions....

64 bit. The main advantage is that you can install more than 4 GB of memory. (ok, IIRC there were some "workaround" MBs, but... It was just that: workaround. ).

It may be also faster than comparable 32-bit processor, but only if both OS and software are not just recompiled, but redesigned to use advantages offered. I personally would wait a year or two maybe, until that would _really_ spread. On the other hand, Vista now supports it, but I don't know if PS does. If both answers are "yes" it might be useful..

Multi-core. Here software is even more important. Depending on the way it is designed advantages may vary from effectively nil to several times faster. So, check that too...

Buried in the answers is reference to touch pads and mice..

Remember, you can buy a wireless mouse for a notebook computer; my mouse broke the other day and it was awful trying to work with the touchpad..

In favor of a notebook you can take your pictures to other places, and plug into someone elses's monior or projector..

We're discussing buy anothr computer, and last night's discussion took us back to a 17 inch Dell portable with 2GB of RAM, but we also want to edit little videos..

BAK..