🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <4bt6dj$n7@steel.interlog.com>, fotta@interlog.com (F.Otta) wrote:
>I'm need of a MAC, new or used to augment my PC-based workstation. I
>will need to use the standard Desktop Publishing apps (Quark, PShop,
>Illustrator). The machine doesn't need to be state-of-the-art, just a
>solid, workhorse. 

Fair enough. If you're going to be working with those programs, though,
you'll want a PowerMac. Buying an 040 Mac today is financial suicide, and
the time you save with a PowerMac will more than offset the time spent
waiting for the 040 to do its thing. And don't forget -- Copland ("System
8") will run ONLY on PowerMacs that have the PowerPC chip from the
factory. An 040 Mac that has been upgraded with a PowerPC upgrade card
will not work.

>I am unfortunately not familiar enough with the multitude of MAC
>models to make an informed decision as to what I should buy. My budget
>is around $2000 though I could go higher if really necessary.

$2000? Forget it. You'll easily spend that much money on RAM. If you're
going to be withing with XPress, Photoshop and Illustrator, (ESPECIALLY
Photoshop) you'll need lots of RAM. Figure a PowerMac 6100 with 40-MB of
physical RAM would be a _minimal_ configuration for those programs. Two
16-MB SIMMs will easily cost you $1000, and a 6100/66 with its base 8-MB
RAM (if you can find one -- they're discontinued models) will cost you
about $1200 or so. Add a good keyboard ($150), 17" monitor ($1000), and
software (Xpress $660, Illustrator $390, Photoshop $560) and you're
already near the $5000 mark -- and you'll only have 8-bit color available,
not very good for serious Photoshop or DTP work. A good but basic 24-bit
video card and required NuBus adapter will cost you another $700 or so. Oh
yeah -- the 6100/66 ships with a meager 350-MB (approx) hard drive so
you'll be wanting something larger (more $$$).

You seriously may want to rethink your budget. The 6100/66 is the least
expensive PowerMac you can buy today. You CAN buy a PowerMac that has more
features to it (i.e., better on-board video which would negate the need
for a video card) but it will cost you more than the 6100/66.

And don't forget about a printer. Kinda pointless to have a DTP station
without one, no?

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