Full Careers
Buying a computer for a career change?
I am looking for advice on buying a new computer. I am currently a technical writer, but I am enrolled in masters degree program for math teaching. I have a Dell laptop that I use from work, and a slowly dying Insignia desktop for personal use. When I bought the desktop two years ago, I spent about $500 because all I needed it for was email, the internet, and the basics. Now I am considering buying a machine that can handle Mathematica and LaTeX, and eventually I'm hoping to work with Adobe InDesign or a similar package. I plan to continue to use my writing skills while developing my math and programming knowledge. I like the work of Edward Tufte and may try to learn some of his techniques. I am just looking for a starting point. I don't know whether to lean towards a desktop or laptop. Many people (including Tufte) have suggested that I buy a Mac. I don't have a budget for the new machine yet, so I'd like to know what I should consider and what it may cost.
Public Comments
- A laptop give you mobilty but cost more than desktop. You should check what are the system requirement for all the software you are going to use now and future. Then you can just buy a computer that meets the minimum requirement. If you going to get a new computer. I would suggest that the computer have a minimum of 2 GB ram. ($1000 will get you a very good notebook and room to handle future software upgrades) The cheapest way for you is just add more ram to your old desktop.
