Re: Hardware Requirements for a New Job

[Al Geist <al -dot- geist -at- geistassociates -dot- com>]

   Johnson, Tom wrote:

Hi Everyone,

I'm starting a new job very soon. My new employer has asked me for specificatio
ns for a new computer. I haven't kept up with the latest trends in processors a
nd the like. Does anyone have a suggestion for minimum requirements for a compu
ter?

  

   You can never have enough RAM or hard drive capacity....and if'n
   you're over 50, size does matter when it comes to the display
   (assuming you would be getting a flat panel and not an older CRT
   model).
   I think you need to look at both your working environment and the type
   of products you are expected to produce, both now and in the near
   future.  (Things always change once they get to know your abilities.)
   I use a 2.5 Gig P4 stuffed with RAM and a number of 80 Gig hard
   drives; however, my last and current positions allow me to work out of
   my home office.  At my prior position, everyone was assigned a
   laptop.  At the office, they connected to the servers via port
   replicators and 10/100 Ethernet.  At the home office, we connected via
   a VPN to those same servers.  This negated the need for huge hard
   drives, but slowed things down because most of the larger documents
   could not be downloaded and worked locally; however, with firewire and
   USB2.0, those hard drive limitations are minimized.
   If you go the laptop route and heavy graphics manipulation or video
   programming is involved, I would opt for one of the dual-core
   processors over a centrino-type processor, as much RAM as the system
   will take and a large screen.  Make sure you have both hard-wire and
   wireless networking capabilities.
   I would follow the same route with a desktop system (lots of RAM, lots
   of hard drive space, big flat panel display) and look at the dual-core
   processors from AMD in addition to Intel's offerings.  I've heard good
   things about AMD, but I don't have any person experience using an
   AMD-based system.
   Al

   --

   Al Geist
   Technical Writing, Online Help, Marketing Collateral, Web Design,
   Award Winning Videos, Professional Photography
   Voice/Msg: 802-658-3140

   Cell: 802-578-3964
   E-mail: [1]al -dot- geist -at- geistassociates -dot- com 
   URL: [2]www.geistassociates.com (online portfolio/resume)

   See also:
   URL: [3]www.geistimages.com (fine art prints for home for office, and
   note cards for all occasions)
   "When they call the roll in the Senate, the Senators do not know
   whether to answer "Present" or "Not guilty.""
                            Theodore Roosevelt

References

   1. mailto:al -dot- geist -at- geistassociates -dot- com
   2. http://www.geistassociates.com/
   3. http://www.geistimages.com/
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