Reference
For authoritative, unbiased, reviews of Mac-compatible hardware + software, visit: MacWorld's Reviews site
Buying Guide
Initial Thoughts
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We have listed a selection of hardware and software for students in our program. When is comes to a scanner and camera, please feel free to do your own research. If you find a product which you think better suites your needs, please don't hesitate to diverge from the list. Also, it is not crucial that you arrive on the first day of class with all this equipment. You can come to class to learn more and make your decision during the first semester. In semester one, we do assume you have little or no experience on a Mac, so don't worry if you have never used one when you get here. That said, the sooner you buy a Mac, the sooner you will get your feet wet. The uninitiated user may benefit from experience gained before classes start. |
Please make sure when purchasing products as a student, that you get education pricing. This sometimes represents a very large discount. Apple has educational pricing on their computers. Some accessories and perpherals don't have discounts. Apple's Canadian Education online store is the place to buy. Please make sure you are at the Canadian store, at the Education area. For computers, please make sure you have at least 4 GB of RAM (memory). When buying a portable (laptop), a separate monitor, keyboard and mouse are needed for working for extended periods. Apple sells these items, but generic models are also compatible, usually less expensive and lesser quality. You can always visit "Best Buy" or "Future Shop" for these. |
Printer
If you are looking for a printer, there are many things to consider. Generally, a laser printer is more expensive to buy, but less expensive per output. Ink Jet printers are the reverse. They tend to be less expensive, but each output is more expensive. With the laser printer, you tend to not have colour. Ink jet does. Optimally, you would buy one of each! If you buy only one printer, buy an ink jet, you may also want to consider a large format model. In the Graphic Design program, we pring many projects at larger sizes.
Back Up Hard Drives
Backing up your files is crucial when your work resides on your computer's hard drive. The risk is that your computer's internal drive would suffer a failure. In such a case, all your data could be lost. Recovering data from a failed drive is very costly and not at all guaranteed. The solution is to buy an external hard drive and copy all the contents of your internal drive to it. There are many external drives on the market. The cost can be as low as 75 cents per gigabyte. MacWorld has a really good site to help you decide what type of drive you should buy.
Your local computer store, or any big box store are all good places to buy. If you think you may eventually purchase a second or even a third drive, you may consider sticking with a specific brand. The benefit is that you could stack them on your desk.
You do not need to purchase backup software. If you purchase a new Mac, it will be included.
Buying Guide
- Laptop Computer
- The speed and capacity of laptop computers is growing so quickly, they can be used for graphic design work. It hasn't always been this way. Today's portable computers are all you need to work in the industry. The benefit of such a computer is that you can take your work with you. You'll be able to work on your own machine during class, avoiding having to copy files back and forth from the classroom computers. Any of the 15" portables on this page will do the trick.
- Desktop Computer
- Apple's iMac comes with a huge screen and power to boot. If you don't feel the need for portability, this is one fine choice. The screen is super bright. The all-in-one design surprises all new-comers with its compact design. Yes, it's all inside that slim enclosure. Take a look.
- Printer
- During your three years in the Graphic Design program, you'll be printing many, many projects. You have the choice between trudging to the Publishing Centre to pay for each print or buying your own large format inkjet printer. The cost of the printer may seem excessive at first, but you'll soon come to appreciate the convenience and cost savings. I've had all kinds of printers through the years. Epson printers have always been best to me. It's your choise, but if I were you, I'd take a gander at these fine units.
- Digital Camera
- See this site and this one for more on digital cameras.
- Scanner
- Scanners are almost a dime a dozen these days. If you need technical info which type of scanner to buy, this is your best option. Keep in mind that you also have access to the scanners in the classrooms. Buying one shouldn't be first on your list. If, for some reason, you've made up your mind to buy and all-in-one, buy an Artisan from Epson and no other.
