Computer Tips

Operating system ::

• Windows XP Professional (not Home) or Vista, if you must
• Mac OS X (10)

Choose one of these, based on your personal preferences and experience. Other operating systems may not provide the ability to run software you will need as a graduate student.

In the College of Journalism and Communications, most faculty use Windows, but there are also many Mac systems in use here. (The Documentary Institute is all Mac.)

If you already own a computer with another operating system, it MAY NOT be necessary to change it.

Laptop/notebook vs. desktop ::
The primary issue is portability vs. price.

After that, the most significant differences are:

• The desktop screen may be larger or easier to read (depending on price); see below.
• The desktop may have more hard drive capacity.
• The desktop is easier (and less expensive) to expand or upgrade in the future.

Weight: There are laptops that weigh less than 3 lbs. Lighter ones cost more. The total weight will be important if you are carrying it around campus. Make sure you include the battery weight in your consideration.

Hardware ::

• Hard drive capacity: Buy the biggest you can afford. Not less than 100 GB (laptop). For a desktop, look at 200 GB and up.
• RAM: Buy the most you can afford. 1 GB will be fine for most applications, but if you edit video, sound, or photos for print media, you should have more. If it's only a matter of $50, get 2 GB.
• Processor: Intel and AMD make the processors used in most current computers, including the new Macs. A 2 GHz processor is fine. The fast ones are greater than 2 GHz.
• CD or DVD drive: 24x (and up) is a good speed for a CD drive. 8x (and up) is fine for DVD. If the drive is "writable" (CD-R) you can burn CDs; almost all can do this today. "CD-RW" means you can use rewritable CDs (which cost more than plain writable CD-Rs) -- but blank CDs are so cheap, who cares? Combo CD-DVD drives are common now. Most can write to blank DVDs; these cost more. Just make sure you have something that can read from a CD (to install software). The ability to write to (burn) a CD is very useful.
• 3.5" 1.44 MB diskette drive: These are obsolete.
• Networking, e.g. Ethernet (requires a wire to connect).
• Wireless networking, i.e. 802.11 or IEEE 802.11n wireless. You SHOULD have this on any laptop/notebook. Make sure it HAS wireless, not just "wireless capability."
• Bluetooth is NOT wireless networking. It allows your computer to communicate with other Bluetooth devices.
• Modem, 56 Kbps (built in). If you have high-speed Internet at home (e.g. DSL or cable modem), you do not need a built-in modem. Modems might be obsolete now.
• Speakers: You probably want them, so get them when you buy the computer. On a laptop/notebook, they are built in. You can use any Walkman headphones with a laptop.
• Mouse or pointing device: You can always buy a replacement if you don't like the one that came with your desktop. The "input device" on a laptop is built in, but you can add a mouse if you like. Test the laptop's input device in a store before you buy to see whether you hate it.
• Batteries: The "battery life" is very important for a laptop. Compare the manufacturer's claims and expect the actual "life" (functional time until it needs recharging) of the battery to be LESS than the manufacturer says it is.
• Power supply: An A/C adapter comes with a laptop/notebook so you can plug it in; it also recharges the battery.

Ports and jacks (connectors) ::

• USB: Usually there are at least two USB ports, and today they are "USB 2.0" (MUCH faster than plain USB, or USB 1.0). You can add a USB hub if you need more USB ports later. You should own at least one USB "flash drive" or "thumb drive" to carry files with you -- these come in sizes from 256 MB up to 2 GB at least.
• Serial: Not used much now.
• Parallel: One parallel port is normal; used to connect to some printers; most printers today use USB 2.0.
• Video: This is where you plug in the monitor; for a laptop, use it to plug in a projector to give a presentation, or a connect to a big monitor at home.
• Modem: RJ-11 (plug in a normal phone line) -- not necessary if you do not use a modem.
• Ethernet or LAN: RJ-45 (plug in a network cable).
• Infrared: Some printers and other devices use this, but not many.
• Microphone: Audio in or "mic input."
• Headphones/speakers: Audio out or "line out."
• Memory card slot(s): Your digital camera probably uses a "flash memory" card. There are numerous types or formats for these cards, such as Compact Flash (CF). They are NOT interchangeable.
• IEEE 1394/FireWire/i.Link: Used for video editing and some high-speed external hard drives. Not essential if you never shoot video.
• S-Video: You might use this to play DVDs from your notebook computer on your TV, or to use in video editing. Not essential.
• Docking: Sometimes you get a "docking station" with a laptop/notebook; it provides some of your ports on an external device.

Monitors and screens ::

Computer screens are measured in both inches (diagonal, like a TV) and resolution. Another consideration is the dot pitch or contrast ratio, which indicate sharpness.

Most people today set their screen at one of these two resolutions:

• 1280 x 960
• 1024 x 768

There are higher resolutions, such as 1600 x 1280. (These all have an "aspect ratio" of 4:3, but for widescreen DVDs, you would want an aspect ratio of 16:9, or 1280 x 800. The 15-inch MacBook Pro is 1440 x 900, a 16:10 aspect ratio.) Resolution refers to the width and height of the full screen in pixels, which are the dots of light that make up the image on a computer screen. A screen measurement in inches tells you nothing about resolution.

Flat screens (LCDs) vs. CRTs: The flat screen has become standard. There is no flicker and no glare on an LCD.

CRTs: A smaller dot pitch means a sharper image; a dot pitch of 0.25 mm or less is good. (Refers only to CRTs.)

LCDs: Contrast ratio applies mainly to LCDs; a ratio of 400:1 is very good. A higher number is better than a lower number.

Laptop/notebook screens: The size in inches of the laptop screen affects the overall size and WEIGHT of the laptop, so before you decide you want a giant screen, find out how much it weighs! You want "active matrix" (TFT) because that is brighter and sharper than "passive matrix." All new laptops have active matrix screens.