Opinion on the Right Computer

Just some opinions needed. I own an older G5 which works wonderfully but as you all know I am unable to load Aperture. Last year I purchased a Macbook. I also purchased Aperture at that time which is such an amazing program. Of course, it was not until after opening and loading Aperture on the Macbook that I ealized it was not the right computer for the program. Of course it runs very slowly and the size of the computer is not conducive to photography. While I am not a pro, photography is becoming more and more a significant part of my life.
My question is, should I just make the dive and by the new imac (24 inch) that can accomodate Aperture and work so much faster, even though there is are no other issues with my present imac.
Sorry to burden you guys with such an obscure question. Its just that I have a Nikon D200, 3 Nikon lenses, an fairly expensive printer and a less than optimum computer to do my editing.
Advice please.
Thanks,
Maria

Andreas,
Thank you for your response. I actually need to keep the macbook because I am a grad student and love the portability of the macbook especially since it has Microsoft Office and a bunch of other programs I need for school. If I were to get rid of anything it would have to be the older G5. I am quite content to do my photo editing at home on a desktop.
Maria

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Finding the right computer

I'm not that knowledgable on laptops and I'm looking to purchase one where do I start?

Credit goes to an Author by the name of Paul Tansey on BestBuy.com for creating this buying guide:
Laptop Computer Buying Guide
By Paul Tansey
There's no way around it: you need a computer at home. Computers make it so easy to stay in touch, stay organized, entertained and informed, it's a wonder we ever did without them.
With laptop technology advancing in leaps and bounds, there's no reason you can't take this power and convenience with you wherever you go, considering you can stay connected wirelessly just about anywhere these days. And most laptops can do anything a desktop can do, without the bulky tower and without forcing you to stay indoors. So just because you're working doesn't mean you can't work in the park!
There are about as many different kinds of laptops out there as there are ways to use them, so let's look at some key points that will help you decide which one is right for you.
If you want the basics...
Choose a model that has the features you need to everyday computing. Not for making crazy rocket science calculations or memory eating applications, but to do the things that make life easier, like e-mail, Web browsing and word processing.
Most models come with wireless capability, so you can grab a seat in any wireless Internet hotspot and surf to your heart's content.
If you travel a lot...
Many newer laptops are thinner and lighter than ever but still deliver heavyweight performance, packing all of the processing power, hard drive space and versatility you want into a thin frame that weighs less than 4.5 pounds. You'll pay a little more for the thin and light, but if you have to carry your laptop around with you wherever you go, you'll very quickly appreciate leaving the extra bulk behind.
If you're big on home entertainment, photos and music...
These top-end models feature big widescreen displays enhanced for crystal-clear, smooth video playback. The video cards, processors and operating systems are also enhanced for high-performance video and audio, with Media Center models featuring personal video recorder (PVR) capability, a built-in TV tuner, surround sound and multiple digital and analog video inputs.
PVRs will change how you watch TV. Pause and replay live TV, then skip back to the live feed when you're ready. You can also program your laptop to automatically record your favorite shows.
For your always-growing collection of images and music files, there are models that feature faster processors, more RAM and larger hard drives. They are also enhanced for displaying photos, and you have more options for getting your media into the computer, including additional USB slots and built-in memory card readers to swap images straight from your digital camera or other device.
If you're all business...
Professional Series laptops meet the demands your business requires whether you're working from home, in the office or on the road.
Since your laptop is your business, look for enhanced security features like a fingerprint reader, which allows only authenticated users to access it, and an encrypting file system to allow for file and folder encryption at the user level. Some include motion-sensing hard drive protection that safeguard the laptop's hard drive against damage from a sudden movement or drop - important to consider when going from meeting to meeting.
If size matters...
Laptops come in all shapes, sizes and weights. Many are now an inch thick or less, with absolutely every millimeter of internal space used efficiently. These thin laptops don't lose a step compared to their beefier competition, with just as much processing power and a screen size and keyboard that won't leave you feeling shortchanged.
As laptops get a little larger, the size of the screen also climbs. You can find high-performance Thin Film Transistor (TFT) LCD screen sizes ranging from 4.5" to 17" or more, most set up as widescreens.
If you prefer wireless freedom...
Nearly all laptops are capable of working wirelessly, with wireless cards and processors enhanced to perform when you're connected at a hotspot. Many laptops now include Bluetooth wireless for easy, safe, secure linking with a wide range of other devices, from handhelds to cell phones to wireless headphones.
Instead of confining yourself to your office or den, or inflicting a tangle of wires and computer components on your décor, you can set your family up with a network of wireless laptops. Everyone gets the access they need, when and where they want it. Plus, if you need your computer for work, you can take everything with you and not worry about leaving a file behind or denying anyone their computer time.
Multiple users can go online at once, and all of the same access protection can be installed to keep your kids away from online dangers. You can all use one central wireless printer and scanner for total convenience.
If performance is key...
Processing power can separate the handy from the incredible, so if performance is key, look for more processing power. Most processors will fall within the range of 1.0GHz to 3.0GHz, but different types of processors excel in different ways.
The Intel lineup starts with the Celeron® M, while the Pentium® Dual Core is peppier and more powerful. The top-of-the-line Centrino® chipsets feature Core™, Core™ Duo and Core™2 Duo processors with built-in wireless capabilities, improved power-saving capabilities and enhanced performance.
AMD also has a good range of processors. The AMD Turion™ 64 X2 and Turion™ 64 mobile technology is similar to Centrino® and adds wireless performance to their high-end processors with some supporting Bluetooth technology.
RAM is also an important performance factor and serves as the real-time memory that makes your applications run faster and makes it possible to work with huge files. RAM starts at about 512MB, but most models can be upgraded with extra memory. You can find some that can be upgraded all the way to 4.0GB, which comes in handy for demanding multimedia applications.
Many of the higher-end models will also include a generous amount of RAM built into the video card for smooth performance, especially for today's advanced 3D games.
Drives
Hard drive sizes vary considerably, from about 60GB (more than enough for basic computing needs) all the way up to 240GB, ideal for multimedia, home entertainment and games. Faster hard drives (measured in RPM) are better for quick access to data and for smooth video and game operation.
Optical drives - The DVD/CD drive is at least capable of reading DVD-ROMs and burning CDs, but more and more can now work with rewritable DVD±R/RW and even double-sided or double-layered DVDs. If you need better performance, look for write speeds in the range of 24x for CD and 8x for DVD.
Increasing the cool factor, optical drives on some HP computers are outfitted with a technology called LightScribe, which can burn a professional-looking label right onto your disc.
The softer side
The operating systems you can choose from will also impact performance, and will often include software to work with photos, multimedia or even TV.
Windows Vista features Windows Media Center, a multimedia powerhouse that lets you watch your favorite shows, enjoy prized photos and manage your music. In addition, Windows Vista has numerous enhanced security features, new interface elements and increased mobility for working with other users or devices.
The Apple® Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger also delivers great multimedia and networking performance and comes bundled with photo, music and moviemaking software.
Staying power
Battery life is also a consideration. Many manufacturers have been working to improve the efficiency of their systems to extend the amount of work you can accomplish per charge. This will come in handy on long trips or when you have to finish a project but can't find anywhere to plug in, like when you're on a park bench or a coffee house patio.
Accessories for protection and convenience
First and foremost, a laptop case will not only make it easier to carry around your computer and its related accessories, but it will also protect your investment. Laptop cases range in size, with some designed for style and others for capacity, and many for both.
A small laptop mouse will give you a welcome break from your current pointing device, making it easier to navigate your screen. They come in either wired or wireless versions. An extra power adapter - one in the bag and one for the office - and back-up battery are also a good idea, so you never get caught without power.
A flash drive that plugs directly into a USB port is an inexpensive and efficient way to transfer files. Pop one into your laptop case.
With a better understanding of what separates a good laptop from a great one, it's easy to find the right one for you.
Shop our current selection of laptops or check out our Laptop Finder.
*******DISCLAIMER********
I am not an employee of BBY in any shape or form. All information presented in my replies or postings is my own opinion. It is up to you , the end user to determine the ultimate validity of any information presented on these forums.

W520 the right computer for heavy statistical computing?

Hello,
I will be starting a graduate program that requires heavy statistical programming. I was looking at laptops that would have the right processing power. The W520 seems to fit the requirements and with the sale on currently I could get a really good one for around $1600. But I see a lot of potential problems listed on this forum. Would you still recommend it or should I look at an equivalent Toshiba or HP option?
Thanks for your help.

Stats, I wouldn't buy a W-series ThinkPad without it being on the market for several months to see if it has any significant problems. That's because Lenovo has had problems with pre-release testing for the past two generations of W5XX machines (see here, for example). But that's a good practice to follow when selecting any new computer.
The new Ivy Bridge processors don't significantly increase raw processing power, but they DO significantly REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF HEAT produced. That, in turn, effectively gives you significantly more processing power, because then a 15" laptop won't have to throttle back clock speed as much to prevent overheating. Plus cooler electronics live longer.
The same goes for the new mid-level graphics processors from Nvidia (i.e., their Kepler-based processors), which is what the new W5XX would likely use. So if you want to run CUDA or OpenCL-based programs that run on the GPU and greatly speed up processing (Mathematica being one major such program), then this may be a significant benefit to you.
17" laptops that have dual-fan cooling systems (one heatsink assembly and fan for the CPU, and then another for the GPU) provide more performance than 15" machines, because they're better able to cool the fastest processors. Lenovo used to produce 17" ThinkPads, but no longer does so. I'm not saying that you want to lug a 17" machine around, but this puts the 15" machines in perspective.
Intel's Thunderbolt interface, currently only available on Macs, will also be supported by Ivy Bridge, although not all manufacturers will implement it in their laptops. Lenovo is investigating whether to do so at last report, but hasn't yet publicly committed one way or another. Thunderbolt is significantly advanced over USB 3.0, although it's more likely to augment vs. replace USB 3.0 in the near term (in fact, some machines may provide USB 3.0 implemented through Thunderbolt).
Many of the new Intel/Nvidia processors will be released by the end of April. Laptop manufacturers will offer machines based on those processors in time for the back-to-school selling season, and earlier in some cases.
In any case, being a student, you're going to want a machine that will last you hopefully through your degree program. So you want something that you know is reliable, and that has enough performance to be effective throughout that period. Buy a warranty that will last through your degree program. I prefer buying on-site service with the warranty, because it provides faster and often more reliable repairs than depot service. Be sure to check out the discounted laptop pricing provided to your university. Plus your school may have a site license for Microsoft software and antivirus software that provides those things to you for free. I don't recommend the W520 to my clients for use in production environments, because of the spontaneous shutdown problem that Lenovo has failed to solve, and which can cause data loss. But your requirements may differ.
I'm an electrical and computer engineer, and have purchased, used and recommended many ThinkPads as well as desktops/laptops/servers from other manufacturers. I'm typing this on a ThinkPad, and have two other ThinkPads plus a couple of other laptops and a desktop from other manufacturers here that I use. Plus I've helped many new college students choose and setup their laptops for school (many of them ThinkPads), often on a consulting basis.
Good luck!
P.S. - FWIW, it's since been widely reported that new ThinkPad models T430, T430i, T530, T530i, W530, X230 and X230i have received PTCRB certification, which is for GSM/UMTS-equipped wireless devices.

I just bought a used apple 3 I phone but can't seem to find the right computer cable to go with it on this site. Can someone help??? I bough a off brand and it dosn't work.

Hi I can't find the correct computer cable that goes with my used apple I phone 3 on this site. Can anyone help??

http://store.apple.com/us/product/MA591G/B/apple-30-pin-to-usb-cable?fnode=45

Is the macbook air the right computer for me

im planning on buying an 11 inch 2013 macbook air
im mostly going to use it for gaming on Kerbal Space Program and properly Roblox.
im also going to use it for imovie and whatching youtube videos sometimes but i will likely use my iPad for that instead.

I own 11" and 13" Airs, and would not see why a user would buy the 11" for gaming or primary computer use, unless the size needed was a specific requirement.
If the 11" is for you, you know it. If you have doubts, then opt for the 13", always.

The Right Computer Game

I am looking to get a computer game from one of those sights where you download it. I'm looking for a multiplayer shooter, that will run on the pro. I like halo (from the demo) but can you play in user created worlds in that? my friend showed me how in conterstrike people make worlds where it looks like a fridge and all sorts of stuff....and it seems so never ending entertainment. can u have tat in halo if not what is best? thanks bye.

unreal tournament 2k4 seems to be exactly what you're looking for. I found a map which pits players in a huge bar room setting and they are tiny. its fun for sniping but gets old fast.
it has a demo which i believe is universal, i know the retail version is.
go to: http://www.macsoftgames.com

Hello there - I am sharing an iPhoto library across two accounts on the same computer - it works fine EXCEPT for Quicktime movies - they play on one account and claim I don't have the rights on the other - all permissions are on and ok?

Hello there - I am sharing an iPhoto library across two accounts on the same computer - it works fine EXCEPT for Quicktime movies - they play on one account and claim I don't have the rights on the other - all permissions are on and ok?

It should be in the Users/ Shared folder.
Back Up and try rebuild the library: hold down the command and option (or alt) keys while launching iPhoto. Use the resulting dialogue to rebuild. Note the option to check and repair Library Permissions
Regards
TD

HT203175 I plugged my iPod into the computer and it says that my iPod is synced with another iTunes library, but it's not. So all my music and apps are gone. What can I do to remind the computer its the right iTunes library and get all my stuff back?

I plugged my iPod into the computer and it says that my iPod is synced with another iTunes library, but it's not. So all my music and apps are gone. What can I do to remind the computer its the right iTunes library and get all my stuff back?

Same as you would if you bought a pc; copy everything from your old computer to your new one. Then you can just sync everything from the new computer, as you did with the old one.

I recently began using reminders in ical and downloaded the iPhone and iPad app. It works great. However, the reminders in ical on the COMPUTER is difficult to work with - thin long column on the right rather than in it's own screen. is there a reminders

I recently began using reminders in ical and downloaded the iPhone and iPad app. It works great. However, the reminders in ical on the COMPUTER is difficult to work with - thin long column on the right rather than in it's own screen. is there a reminders app for the COMPUTER that is more user friendly?

sgreenie,
If you are willing to wait, Apple - OS X Mountain Lion - Inspired by iPad. Made for the Mac explains that a "Reminders" application will be included in the next release of OS X.

I have copied over my music file to a new computer and the music shows on itunes but wont play. When I track where the song is located it is reading the wrong information. How do I change this as Edit Preferences has the right location

I have copied over my music files to a new computer and the music shows on itunes but wont play. When I track where the song is located it is reading the wrong information. How do I change this as Edit>Preferences has the right location?

Select one of the tracks with a broken link, press ctrl-i to Get Info. Say No when iTunes asks if you would like to locate the track, then look at the Summary tab for the location expects to find the file in.
Now try to locate the file in question. The two locations should give a clue as to what to do next.
Here is an example with a file I've deliberately moved from the new layout to the old pre-iTunes 9 layout.
This means iTunes is expecting to find the file at:
D:\iTunes\iTunes Media\Music\a-ha\Take On Me\01 Take On Me.mp3
but it isn't there because I've moved it to:
D:\iTunes\iTunes Media\a-ha\Take On Me\01 Take On Me.mp3
which is where it would have lived back in iTunes 8 (though the media folder would have been called iTunes Music back then as well).
If you can provide the expected and actual locations of a broken track I should be able to suggest the easiest way to resolve things.
tt2

Problem: While creating a project in iDVD, it plays perfectly on the computer, but after burning the sound is off. Video soundtrack is not in the right place. HELP!

Problem: While creating a project in iDVD, it plays perfectly on the computer, but after burning the sound is off. Video soundtrack is not in the right place. HELP!

Have you checked out the topics at the right in the More Like This section?
OT

I need better performance from my computer. Could someone point me in the right direction?

I do a lot of video editing for work. I am currently using the Creative Cloud, and the programs I use most frequently are Premiere Pro CS6, Photoshop CS6, and Encore. My issue is that when I am rendering video in Premiere Pro, and most importantly, transcoding in Encore for BluRay discs, I am getting severe lag from my computer. It basically uses the majority of my computer's resources and doesn't allow me to do much else. This means, that I can't do other work while stuff is rendering or transcoding. I had this computer built specifically for video editing and need to know which direction to go in for an upgrade to get some better performance, and allow me to do other work.
For the record, I do have MPE: GPU Acceleration turned ON, and I have 12GBs of RAM alloted for Adobe in Premiere Pro's settings, and 4GBs left for "other".
Here is my computer:
- Dell Precision T7600
- Windows 7 Professional, 64-bit
- DUAL Intel Xeon CPU E-2620 - 2.0GHz 6-core Processors
- 16GBs of RAM
- 256GB SSD as my primary drive. This is where the majority of my work is performed.
- Three 2TB secondary drives in a RAID5 configuration. This is solely for backing up data after I have worked on it. I don't really use this to work off of.
- nVidia Quadro 4000 2GB video card
When I am rendering or transcoding, my processor(s) performance fluctuates between 50%-70%, with all 12 cores active and being used. My physical memory is basically ALL used up while this is happening.
Here is where I am at on the issue. I put in a request for more RAM (32GBs), this way I can allot around 25GBs of RAM to the Adobe suite, leaving more than enough to do other things. I was told that this was not the right direction to go in. I was told that since my CPUs are working around 50-70%, it means that my video card isn't pulling enough weight. I was told that the first step in upgrading this machine that we should take, is to replace my 2GB video card with a 4GB video card, and that will fix these performance issues that I am having, not RAM.
This is the first machine that has been built over here for this purpose, so it is a learning process for us. I was hoping someone here could give a little insight to my situation.
Thanks for any help.

You have a couple of issues with this system:
Slow E5-2620's. You would be much better off with E5-2687W's
Limited memory. 32 GB is around bare minimum for a dual processor system.
Outdated Quadro 4000 card, which is very slow in comparison to newer cards and is generally not used when transcoding.
Far insufficient disk setup. You need way more disks.
A software raid5 carries a lot of overhead.
The crippled BIOS of Dell does not allow overclocking.
The SSD may suffer from severe 'stable state' performance degradation, reducing performance even more.
You would not be the first to leave a Dell in the configuration it came in. If that is the case, you need a lot of tuning to get it to run decently.
Second thing to consider is what source material are you transcoding to what destination format? If you start with AVCHD material and your destination is MPEG2-DVD, the internal workings of PR may look like this:
Convert AVCHD material to an internal intermediate, which is solely CPU bound. No GPU involvement.
Rescale the internal intermediate to DVD dimensions, which is MPE accelerated, so heavy GPU involvement.
Adjust the frame rate from 29.97 to 23.976, which again is MPE accelerated, so GPU bound.
Recode the rescaled and frame-blended internal intermediate to MPEG2-DVD codec, which is again solely CPU bound.
Apply effects to the MPEG2-DVD encoded material, which can be CPU bound for non-accelerated effects and GPU bound for accelerated effects.
Write the end result to disk, which is disk performance related.
If you export AVCHD to H.264-BR the GPU is out of the game altogether, since all transcoding is purely CPU based, assuming there is no frame blending going on. Then all the limitations of the Dell show up, as you noticed.

Can anyone point me in the right direction for the link to download Acrobat 9 Standard? I found the link to download 9 Pro but not standard. Old computer crashed and new computer does not have a CDR/DVD rom drive.

Can anyone point me in the right direction for the link to download Acrobat 9 Standard. I found the link to download 9 Pro but not standard. Old computer crashed and new computer does not have a CDR/DVD rom drive.

Hi,
Standard or Pro would be licensed through your serial number, the download link and downloaded file would be the same for both of them.
Pro or Standard would be determined after you put in your serial number.
Download Acrobat products | 9, 8
Thank You
Arjun

My computer died and I have the redemption code but it's already in use on the old computer. I need somehow change my CC to the new computer. Right now it's asking for a serial number but I am already a member...

I need to somehow transfer my CC over to a new computer. Right now it says the redemption code has already been activated and yes that is for the old computer. I bought a new one and I need it to be moved over to this one. How can I do this?

Creative Cloud Help / Install, update, or uninstall apps
http://helpx.adobe.com/creative-cloud/help/install-apps.html
Creative Cloud Learn & Support
http://helpx.adobe.com/creative-cloud.html

Ever since i plugged my iphone into the computer, all of my music has been messed up. The songs don't have the right album cover i guess they all just got mixed up somehow. i dont know but its annoying and im not sure how to fix it.

Ever since i plugged my iphone into the computer, all of my music has been messed up. The songs don't have the right album cover i guess they all just got mixed up somehow. i dont know but its annoying and im not sure how to fix it.

If not this:
iOS: Wi-Fi or Bluetooth settings grayed out or dim
If not successful, an appointment at the Genius Bar of an Apple store is usually in order.
Apple Retail Store - Genius Bar
Then
- Reset the iOS device. Nothing will be lost
Reset iOS device: Hold down the On/Off button and the Home button at the same time for at
least ten seconds, until the Apple logo appears.
- Reset all settings
Go to Settings > General > Reset and tap Reset All Settings.
All your preferences and settings are reset. Information (such as contacts and calendars) and media (such as songs and videos) aren’t affected.
- Restore from backup. See:
iOS: How to back up
- Restore to factory settings/new iOS device.
If still problem, make an appointment at the Genius Bar of an Apple store since it appears you have a hardware problem.
Apple Retail Store - Genius Bar

Opinion on the Right Computer

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