[Quinn]

So, for Christmas, I'm being treated to a new computer with any and all programs I'll need for web design.

I'm thinking a Mac ("desktop" computer). I'm not sure how much memory space or ram space I'll need. Chances are, I'll have several programs open at once such as Photoshop, Flash, and probably a video editting program, plus the internet and a few other things.

On that note, here's my questions:
1. What features would I need on a Mac computer in order help me? (Memory space, ram space, processing something or another [I don't know too much about computers, themselves], etc.)
2. What programs do you suggest?
--> I'm looking at Photoshop, ImageReady, Adobe and/or Macromedia Flash (if Macromedia is still being sold), Freehand, Dreamweaver, and some sort of video editting program... and many more things that'd help out with graphic design, .swf formats, maybe even .mp3 formats, and web design.

Any suggestions?

[pgo]

Web design is easy - all you need is a text editor (whatever OSX's equivalent to Notepad is).

The other stuff...not so easy. It all depends on how heavy your workload is going to be.

For example, the graphic designers at my office usually have Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator running all at once. They do fine with 2GB of RAM. They also do Lightwave 3D rendering on their Windows PCs. They do video editing on a 3 year old Mac Pro.

Macromedia stuff is still being sold under the Adobe name, but I don't know why anyone would buy anything besides Flash. Freehand is inferior to Illustrator and Dreamweaver is overkill (at least for the price of the thing). ImageReady no longer exists - its functions have been moving into Photoshop for several versions and they finally killed it off. Also it's pointless to buy anything but a bundle from Adobe. The individual apps are something like $600 apiece - or you can get 6 all at once for $1500.

If you're looking at a desktop Mac, the iMacs start around $1200 and the Mac Pros start around $2500 (that's without a monitor/keyboard/mouse). Probably, you'll be fine with an iMac.

So, if you bought a $2000 iMac and all the software you mentioned (let's say starting with Adobe CS3 Design Premium, Final Cut Studio - probably overkill, and a decent text editor like TextMate) you're looking at roughly $5,000.

Hope you've got some money. Building a production-level Mac desktop ain't cheap!

[superdude_1981]

photoshop, notepad and filezilla for FTP purposes!

[Quinn]

Thank you, both.

So Dreamweaver isn't really necessary at all, you're saying? I know how to code, and I can build web sites, but I figure it'd be a good resource to have. Although, I can always look at tutorials to expand my coding knowledge...

I dunno. I mean, what's the pros and cons of having Dreamweaver? And what are some alternatives?

[iblastoff]

if you can already code then why would you want dreamweaver? i don't get it. plenty of free text editors with syntax highlighting out there. just curious what have you been using so far to build websites if you don't have any adobe apps etc?

[freelancr]

Lots of the software you mention have 30 day free trials, have a play with them and see how you get on as buying them all just for the hell of it is a waste of money. Here is what I have and it cost me a grand total of £0.00:

Operating System: Kubuntu Linux
Web Server: Apache / PHP
Database: MySQL
Text Editor: Kate
Image Editor: GIMP (or you can use Pixel / Inkscape / Xara)
3D Modelling: Bender
FTP Client: Filezilla
Browser: Firefox / Opera
E-Mail: Mozilla Thunderbird
Office: OpenOffice

Broken Kode | Linux for the Designer

[soopafly]

If money is not an issue, which sounds like it isn't:

- Adobe Master Collection (too much to list)
- Final Cut Studio 2 (video editing, DVD authorizing)
- Yummy FTP (FTP client)
- BBEdit (text editor)
- MAMP (Apache, MySQL, PHP local server environment)

This is all you need to be a happy designer as far as software goes

[John Good]

there is a thread about mac software

forget about dreamweaver, if you want to buy, textmate is your best friend.

[Heka1]

Dreamweaver is nice, it has more simple and clean functions then a text editor does. I use it in conjunction with firefox like I would note pad or text pad, I still code all of the time in text pad when ever it is quick updating and I use dreamweaver for the designing phase (a simple f12 for testing it quick in different browsers). it also seems like you are trying too much stuff with little actual knowledge of their uses. also freehand is not dead, it is now being re focused for development of AIR application designing (check out adobe AIR for more information) also try to get a focus on what you want to do. if you want to be a interactive designer then go that route, if you want to be a graphic designer then go that route don't try to do them all because you won't be as successful. people want masters of topics, and not a jack of all trades and master of nothing.

[Quinn]

Wow. Thanks, everyone.

Yea, I'm a bit skeptical about Dreamweaver. Esp. since the newest version supposedly comes with no manual. You can get it on eBay, but it's extremely expensive (for a manual), and it's called "The Lost..." something. Handbook? I forget.

But again, thanks. This should be more than enough help.

[KleverSolutions]

Everyone has their own opinions about these things... You just have to find something you like. For example, I use vim and gimp. Both are great bits of open source software. Unfortunately they both have a learning curve. All you really need is a text editor, preferably an one with that supports syntax highlighting. Gimp is great for image work, it has most of photoshop's capabilities but, again, its got that whole 'poor documentation' thing going for it. Regarding Dreamweaver and other WYSIWYG editors, you should steer clear since they generate sloppy markup. It makes fine tuning a nightmare. They also tend to be a crutch.