get a ferari laptop

 

I'd thought about the new 64 bit AMD, although I don't know of any software that will exploit the ability any time soon. Also, there are no 64 bit OS's at the moment.

 

If you know nothing about computers....and you are buying one....you are gonna get ripped off unless you start reading up.

cause you can spend $800 at dell/gateway/compaq or sony and end up with crap parts that only would have cost you less than 400 dollars to put together.

So, if you don't want to learn about computers...you are gonna have to fork up some money. I say buy some books or find a friend in Alaska and work from there.

 

My 2 cents on 64-bit computing...... Don't waste your money on 64-bit stuff just for the 64-bit'ness. Realize that AMD is charging a premium for their 64-bit capable processors, even before they have a solid software base. If you're going to buy an AMD processor, stick with a fast 32-bit only processor to retain the price to performance ratio.

The other thing about 64-bit computing is.... the product timing is still pre-mature. Very few people are fully decked out at 2 or 4GB of RAM using processes that use every single MB of RAM. If you buy a 64-bit processor in order to use more than that, are you going to spend that much money to load up the computer past the 2/4GB mark or did you just want the 'option'? By the time there is decent 64-bit software support (aka, non-beta Windows OS and apps), There will be faster and more evolved 64-bit capable processors, and 'maybe' RAM prices will have gone down further so that the RAM costs will be less than they are now.

Also note that there is a transition for computing next year, as PCI evolves to PCI Express, and a new case-standard (BTX) comes out. So what you buy today will probably be 'obsolete' sooner than the past 3-4 years. You should buy a decently capable system (I also would recommend building your own) and not worry about keeping up with the bleeding edge. If you can do that - you'll be happy with whatever system you get. Personally, I think a 2.4Ghz P4 800Mhz FSB w/ Hyperthreading CPU with 1 or 2GB of PC3500 DDR RAM overclocked to 3+Ghz would do nicely, along with a 7200rpm (or 10,000rpm) drive will be a good choice without breaking the bank, but that's just my opinion.

Also, ironwedge, as far as I understood, FCP (Final Cut Pro?) is Mac only... Although I just got a Powerbook G4 1.25Ghz and will try my hand at Final Cut Pro, I think you'll get more bang for the buck with a windows OS, very fast Harddrive, decent RAM and processor (faster Front Side bus is important - aka 533Mhz/800Mhz front side bus speed) and premier pro. Video editing will probably tax the system the most, as opposed to Flash/Dreamweaver development.

 

Customized Dell is a good way to go.. 4600 or 8300..

 

Have a system built for you if you don't want to do it yourself. Talk to the folks at a shop and see what they recommend. Tell them exactly what your primary uses are and the software you will be using and they can build around that.

 

Most people on this site (including me) could build you a PC that would KICK butt for under 3K. Someone should build you one.
As long as you have enough memory (a gig or over) and a good video card. Nvidia is making some screamin cards right now.

 

My recommendation: get a custom built or do it yourself, and go with Samsung for the LCD. Samsung are the absolute top quality LCD's I have used.

I have an allergy to computers built by big companies... I like to build it myself so I know EXACTLY what goes in and on it

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Drunken_Monk
Most people on this site (including me) could build you a PC that would KICK butt for under 3K. Someone should build you one.

 

switch to apple, the new G5.