Technology
This is a whole lot of 'want.' without any real immediate need. But it gets it all out of my system. And hey, graduation is practically here.
Computer Hopes and Dreams;
I'd like a desktop. I shouldn't need to be moving whole computers around much for a while. The laptop was nice for school, but really it got transported more often as a music and web-music device and less for actual work. All in all it survived three years of being in and out of the studio pretty well. I believe i'd like a desktop.
I'd like it to have Windows 7. Not because i'm particularly excited about windows 7, but it isn't Vista, and most of the computer junkies i know don't hate it, and the 3D modeling program i'd like doesn't run on a mac.
I'd like this computer to have a substantial hard drive and processor. The June issue of Consumer Reports has a rating for desktops. Some of the highly rated game-performance-level machines have 1000 GB Hard drives. 750 is probably fine for my need, 500 GB might even work.
I'd like the desktop to be capable of two-monitor display, although i expect not to have two monitors for a while.
I would really like to have the operating system install disk, so that i can be sure i have the operating system without any extra software a retailer might add on to be 'helpful'.
One of the Consumer Reports reccomended computers is the Dell Studio XPS 8100. It has;
Core i5 650 processor, 3 GB memory, 500 GB hard drive, runs roughly $650.
A techy friend of mine suggested this thing from Newegg, an HP Pavilion P6320F;
AMD Phenom II X4 820 Processor, 8 GB memory, 1 TB hard drive, runs $680 without peripherals.
The 3D modeling program, Rhino, is not kept in stock at the school store [pout]
The school store is controlled by E-Follet, which partners with JourneyEd for software, and through them the program is available for about $170 stand alone, $400 packaged with several specialty rendering plug-ins. They will want verification of my student ID by fax or e-mail, though.
Future Jewelry Studio Hopes and Dreams:
Two things i need most to start composing an at-home lab, now that i won't be able to use the school equipment, are a flex-shaft and a torch. both are sort of long-term acquisitions, i haven't really got an acceptable place to use them at the moment. Using torches in apartments seems like a bad plan... anywho, for future reference;
Most of my supplies come in through Rio Grande. They offer two flex shaft kids, the basic Prodigy, which is a light-duty basic essentials flex shaft, and the Foredom SR kit, which is a heavy duty long-lasting motor and comes with an assortment of attachments and bits. The Prodigy runs $100, the Foredom $230, plus shipping.
Torches come in two sizes, tiny and acetylene. Tiny torches are good for wire work, but tend to fall short on heat needs for large pieces. Acetylene tanks are big, and the torches can be used for small casting if necessary, but it takes some patience and skill to use them for tiny things that might melt. I'd prefer a tiny, i think, but they are also more expensive.
Rio offers a super basic Tiny torch kit, which included everything but the fuel tanks, which are expendable and order separate. It runs $240. Their only acetylene offer is the Smith SilverSmith, which i think is our default torch in the school lab, and costs $340.
oh oh! and while we're in Want mode, a Wii or an XboX360 ^ ^* hey look! no cooking stuff on this list!
Computer Hopes and Dreams;
I'd like a desktop. I shouldn't need to be moving whole computers around much for a while. The laptop was nice for school, but really it got transported more often as a music and web-music device and less for actual work. All in all it survived three years of being in and out of the studio pretty well. I believe i'd like a desktop.
I'd like it to have Windows 7. Not because i'm particularly excited about windows 7, but it isn't Vista, and most of the computer junkies i know don't hate it, and the 3D modeling program i'd like doesn't run on a mac.
I'd like this computer to have a substantial hard drive and processor. The June issue of Consumer Reports has a rating for desktops. Some of the highly rated game-performance-level machines have 1000 GB Hard drives. 750 is probably fine for my need, 500 GB might even work.
I'd like the desktop to be capable of two-monitor display, although i expect not to have two monitors for a while.
I would really like to have the operating system install disk, so that i can be sure i have the operating system without any extra software a retailer might add on to be 'helpful'.
One of the Consumer Reports reccomended computers is the Dell Studio XPS 8100. It has;
Core i5 650 processor, 3 GB memory, 500 GB hard drive, runs roughly $650.
A techy friend of mine suggested this thing from Newegg, an HP Pavilion P6320F;
AMD Phenom II X4 820 Processor, 8 GB memory, 1 TB hard drive, runs $680 without peripherals.
The 3D modeling program, Rhino, is not kept in stock at the school store [pout]
The school store is controlled by E-Follet, which partners with JourneyEd for software, and through them the program is available for about $170 stand alone, $400 packaged with several specialty rendering plug-ins. They will want verification of my student ID by fax or e-mail, though.
Future Jewelry Studio Hopes and Dreams:
Two things i need most to start composing an at-home lab, now that i won't be able to use the school equipment, are a flex-shaft and a torch. both are sort of long-term acquisitions, i haven't really got an acceptable place to use them at the moment. Using torches in apartments seems like a bad plan... anywho, for future reference;
Most of my supplies come in through Rio Grande. They offer two flex shaft kids, the basic Prodigy, which is a light-duty basic essentials flex shaft, and the Foredom SR kit, which is a heavy duty long-lasting motor and comes with an assortment of attachments and bits. The Prodigy runs $100, the Foredom $230, plus shipping.
Torches come in two sizes, tiny and acetylene. Tiny torches are good for wire work, but tend to fall short on heat needs for large pieces. Acetylene tanks are big, and the torches can be used for small casting if necessary, but it takes some patience and skill to use them for tiny things that might melt. I'd prefer a tiny, i think, but they are also more expensive.
Rio offers a super basic Tiny torch kit, which included everything but the fuel tanks, which are expendable and order separate. It runs $240. Their only acetylene offer is the Smith SilverSmith, which i think is our default torch in the school lab, and costs $340.
oh oh! and while we're in Want mode, a Wii or an XboX360 ^ ^* hey look! no cooking stuff on this list!