# What computer shall I buy my stepdaughter? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 10, 2009, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-computer-shall-i-buy-my-stepdaughter/499344 "2009-06-10T16:34:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2009, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-computer-shall-i-buy-my-stepdaughter/499344/1 "2009-06-10T16:34:04Z")
For various reasons, I have a little extra money this quarter. I have decided to spend it on **Cinderella the Rhymer**. She’s been using one of my cast-off computers and could use a new one. She’s a photographer and digital artist and has to hate the one she’s using now; I only ever use my computers for word processing, spreadsheets, and light web surfing, and the cast-off she has is slow even when using Word. I don’t want to spend more than $1500. Thoughts? ---
**Author:** ![Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8edcca/32.png) [@Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superfluous_Parentheses)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2009, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-computer-shall-i-buy-my-stepdaughter/499344/2 "2009-06-10T17:10:32Z")
Macbook? You can even get a macbook pro now for less than that. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2009, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-computer-shall-i-buy-my-stepdaughter/499344/3 "2009-06-10T17:32:29Z")
What does she have now? It may be better to get her a decent monitor and a professional graphics card. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2009, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-computer-shall-i-buy-my-stepdaughter/499344/4 "2009-06-10T17:34:50Z")
What software is she going to use or would like to use? All you’ve given us is to go on is digital photography which suggests a need for RAM. If she isn’t opening up 8 sessions of explorer she doesn’t need a quad core. $1500 would buy a decent notebook with 4 gb and Adobe PhotoShop. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2009, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-computer-shall-i-buy-my-stepdaughter/499344/5 "2009-06-10T17:37:32Z")
NM ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2009, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-computer-shall-i-buy-my-stepdaughter/499344/6 "2009-06-11T05:38:20Z")
Couple of things to keep in mind: - The choice of monitor may be more important than the computer itself. Size and resolution are important, but also the [type of LCD panel](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TFT_LCD#Types) used. Most monitors use TN panels, but if you pay extra for a PVA or IPS panel, the difference can be significant. Unfortunately the type isn’t often listed in the specs, but if you choose a monitor with a 178-degree viewing angle you’ll probably end up with a PVA or IPS panel. Dell sometimes has good deals on IPS and PVA displays, e.g. the [2007FP](http://slickdeals.net/?sdtid=1388133&u2=http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/products/Displays/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&cs=19&sku=320-4687) (IPS) and the [2408WFP](http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?sku=320-6272&cs=04&c=us&l=en&dgc=BF&cid=7421&lid=197378&acd=10466193-1225267-u0t1361583f0fp0c0s558) (PVA). - Allocate some money for software first. You’ll probably have to ask her what she needs. If she wants/needs a new Photoshop license and is not eligible for student discount, that’s almost half your budget right there. ---
**Author:** ![footballisplayedwithyourfeet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9f8e36/32.png) [@footballisplayedwithyourfeet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/footballisplayedwithyourfeet)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2009, 9:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-computer-shall-i-buy-my-stepdaughter/499344/7 "2009-06-11T09:03:44Z")
Second Macbook, if she is working with graphics/design she will surely appreciate the design of the macbook (pro); also appearantly macs role at this kind of stuff (based on hearsay…) ---
**Author:** ![Ducktail](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/43a26b/32.png) [@Ducktail](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ducktail)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2009, 9:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-computer-shall-i-buy-my-stepdaughter/499344/8 "2009-06-11T09:15:46Z")
Third Macbook. I don’t do much heavy-duty graphics work, but based on recommendations from graphic artist acquaintances, Macs are far superior to PCs in this respect. Also, I’ve found that my Macbook functions better than any PC ever did–I’ve had it a year and have never once had to cold-boot it, which was a once-a-week occurrence back when I had a Dell. ---
**Author:** ![storyguide3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@storyguide3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/storyguide3)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2009, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-computer-shall-i-buy-my-stepdaughter/499344/9 "2009-06-11T14:13:39Z")
> [@Ducktail](#): > > Third Macbook. I don’t do much heavy-duty graphics work, but based on recommendations from graphic artist acquaintances, Macs are far superior to PCs in this respect. I must politely disagree, based on my experience in printing, design and pre-press. Macs **were** superior but that hasn’t been the case for many years. PC platforms are just as good with graphics and can be superior, depending on the graphics card used. Macs got entrenched early on in the design community and there has built up a culture of assumed Mac superiority for graphics in that community ever since. I’ve dealt with both platforms and Macs are no better than PCs for graphics work. Photoshop is Photoshop, no matter where its running. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2009, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-computer-shall-i-buy-my-stepdaughter/499344/10 "2009-06-11T14:15:26Z")
I also nominate a MacBook. I just like Macs better than PCs. (I have Office for Macs, so I have Word, Excel and Powerpoint.) ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2009, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-computer-shall-i-buy-my-stepdaughter/499344/11 "2009-06-11T14:19:10Z")
I’m a Microsoft gal, but I recommend a MacBook as well. If you have that much money to spend on a computer, then get the best of what’s around. And do get her a copy of Photoshop as well. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2009, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-computer-shall-i-buy-my-stepdaughter/499344/12 "2009-06-11T14:22:46Z")
MacBook. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2009, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-computer-shall-i-buy-my-stepdaughter/499344/13 "2009-06-11T14:41:23Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > I’m a Microsoft gal, but I recommend a MacBook as well. If you have that much money to spend on a computer, then get the best of what’s around. > > And do get her a copy of Photoshop as well. I don’t think you can get both for under $1500, unless she qualifies for an upgrade version or a student version of Photoshop.