Best Computer for Product Design Technology Students - Part 1 - Hardware

PDT and other technical Industrial Designers are effectively tied to microsoft Windows by Software packages, Solidworks, Rhino, and Algor. (Mac Rhino is in beta and has been for years, and solidworks have talked about a mac version, but don't expect it soon.) The combination of 3D CAD and Photoshot, means that we need fairly high end machines to work.

If I were currently working as a professional designer, I would have the PC below, and this is also what I would recommend for UWE PDT students. I've tried having a mac, but found that the software and hardware limitations of a mac, and the PITA of duel booting means that I've returned back to PC's.

Current Recommended Specs - 11/2011:
- Intel i5 or i7 processor (or equivalent)
- 4GB of Ram (or more)
- 500GB hard drive (preferably 1TB+)
- 500MB Dedicated Graphics Card (Preferably 1GB, NOT integrated graphics - 3D CAD needs a dedicated graphics card)
- Windows 7 - 64bit Operating system

Here are some machines that would do nicely:
15" Laptop - Something like this Acer-5750G, i7, 15.6" screen, 4GB Ram 1TB Harddrive.
22" or larger Desktop - Acer z5801 all in one, £830. 24" touch screen, i5, 4GB Ram, 1TB Hard drive, 1Gb dedicated graphics. (This one also has a TV tuner - perfect for Student room).

Don't buy bottom end machines and don't scrimp and save, I've done that before, and it's a false economy, it's probably got to last you 4 years. Buy a brand you've heard of, I currently favour Acer machines, our previous one lasted 7 years, a chepo machine died in 3 years.

Essential Additional Hardware:
- USB key 8Gb or 16GB Write your name on it, and save a text file on it with your name and contact details.
- External Harddrive for regular backup. If you have a laptop, then a large -1TB desk based external harddrive to back up everything. If you have a desktop you can get away with a smaller prtable hard dr to carry projects into work. 250Gb+.
- Mouse

Nice to have hardware:
A4 Scanner - the Canon LiDE range are ultra thin and well designed - Highly recommeded. Not essential though, as you can use the scanners in the department, or with good cross lighting, use a digital camera.
A3 Printer - I recommend Canon again - Pixma Range. Buy it in the second year.

PC's can be brilliant work horses but they need setting up (usually takes an evening), a little bit of management and they need monthly enema's to keep the performance snappy. Tune in for Part 2 - Software, how to Pimp your windows.