Digital BW, The Print

Well, here are some ideas from a 5dmk2 Windows user.

I have a Vista 64-bit system, now service pack 2, and have very few problems. Mostly, a few old pieces of software that don't run perfectly (Cryptainer LE is one - it works, but needs a few extra clicks to get anywhere). I had no problems with Vista 32-bit but 64-bit is better for working with those big 5dmk2 files. Specifically I have no color management problems. (Be sure any Web posts identifying problems are recent - we are now on SP2 for Vista and it is a reasonably mature system. Some of the stupid things in it will be fixed in Windows 7, which will be coming in the next year or so.)

The issue moving from XP to Vista, and from 32-bit to 64-bit, is drivers for your hardware. Before you decide, go to the manufacturers' Web sites for each of your peripherals (don't forget the monitors if they, like the Eizos, don't use Windows native drivers) and download the appropriate Vista drivers just to be sure they are available.

I would then recommend you go to a good PC repair-and-sell store (make sure it is a good one) in your area and get a desktop system built to order. Get a quad-core processor if you can afford it and all the RAM you can afford - let them recommend amount and type. I also recommend you buy two big new internal hard drives, one for system and one for data, and have them install your old internal drives so you can get to the data including the downloaded Vista drivers and profiles, email, etc. from the old system drive. (Usually the cost of moving data is most of the price of a new hard drive.)

Hope this helps,

  - susan

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Louis Dina" <lou@...> wrote:
>
> I need some advice. My 6 year old computer (WinXP) just crashed and I need a new one.  It was getting slow anyway. I'd consider a Mac, but all my software is PC and I have never even used a Mac (they also seem very expensive). I have a limited budget (like to keep it under $2000 if possible. I have monitors and external USB hard drives for backup). I don't need a "state of the art screamer" but I do need a faster, more powerful machine to comfortably process 21 MB RAW 5DmkII files and one that works well with my Canon 6100 printer. I figure 200-300 MB files will be a routine thing in Photoshop (currenty using PSCS2 and LR2.3) Color management MUST work properly.
> 
> I've never used Vista and am a bit gun shy. I have heard there are problems with its ability to retain monitor calibration data, etc, and that color management may be an issue. I have also read about problems getting the Canon drivers and plugins working. A new machine will have some flavor of Vista, but which one? And is XP compatibility mode part of the standard Vista system? Does Vista require any new software or can I use my old Windows XP software?
> 
> Suggestions on computer make, deals, CPU, amount and type of RAM, hard drive size and type, video card, etc, would be appreciated. I'd like the video card to have two connections and two video lookup tables for my two Samsung monitors. Any other advice would be appreciated. I'm way out of touch on what to buy and don't want to make a big mistake.
> 
> Thank You,
> 
> Lou Dina
> 
>  
> 
> p.s. I have posted this email to a few other forums.  Thanks for understanding.
>