Quote Originally Posted by Trevor Ash
If you plan on spending a good amount of time on the computer editing images you may want to set your target right around:

* A "modern" name brand motherboard (ASUS is good!)
* 2GHz processor or better (Athlon's are a good deal)
* High Quality 1GB of RAM (1.5 is even better)
* A couple 7200 RPM hard drives of substantial size (one to back up the other)
* A 19 inch or larger high quality monitor.
* Adobe Photoshop (any version from 4.0 up)
* CD-ROM burner (multi format DVD burner would be even better!)
* Windows XP Pro or Home (doesn't matter which, just make sure you get XP)

It's important that you buy good quality fast hard drives because they will make more of a difference in your day to day activities than an extra 1G of ram or having a 3GHz processor.

I'm probably leaving some stuff out. Either way, maybe this will help you as a guideline. Your specific needs will help you further in your decision process.
You didn't mention the graphics card. You don't have to have the latest most powerful card because these are optimised for animating 3D images and your need is for static 2D images. Just make sure you have at least 32MB of memory on your graphics card so you can do at least 1280*1024 true colours on your 19" monitor.

BTW - if you want to be a real purist you take a CRT monitor not an LCD flat screen. The flat screens still aren't up to the classic monitors in terms of accuracy of colour.

If you go for DELL you can forget about ASUS motherboards and AMD processors because DELL doesn't do them. Buy DELL if you live out in the boondocks and you just want to have the lorry drop off your PC and you plug it in and have helpful telephone support with no problems. The other stuff is for the enthusiasts who have a PC integrator nearby so you can go in and choose what you want and mabe go back a couple of times because something isn't compatible (happened to me last month).

Charles