Digital camera's are "hot". And since I have been an IT-professional for over 25 years, people ask me questions about what computer hard- and software to buy, so they can file, edit and print their digital images. I wrote this article to answer some of the hardware related questions. For the software related questions I wrote a different article which is behind this link. I hope these articles will help to get you on your way.

Computer hardware changes very fast, almost by the day! What you buy now, can be outdated tomorrow. Therefore, this article needs to be updated frequently, or it will be of no use to you. This article has been written on February 6, 2008.

So what kind of hardware would you need to file, edit and print your own digital images? I think the following list will give you a good estimate. Don't take it too literally though, the parts mentioned here are what I would buy if I were in the market for a new computer system. If you want a Gigabyte motherboard, because you don't like Asus, that's your choice! Anyway, back to the list: All prices mentioned are the average prices the items were going for in the Netherlands at the time of this writing, in Euro's and including taxes. Have fun;-))
 

• Computercase to put everything in: Cooler Master Centurion 5 Black, 55 Euro
• Power supply Asus Atlas A-55GA 550 watt, 79 Euro
• Motherboard, I like the Asus P5B Premium, which has onboard S-ATA for 6 devices, Raid, LAN, sound, Firewire and USB 2.0, it uses socket 775 and can hold up to 8 Gb. of DDR2 memory, 169 Euro
• An Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 processor, 229 Euro
• Graphics programs are very hungry sons of ... so we'll go for a 4 Gb. DDR2-1066 memory kit, a good brand will set you back about 200 Euro
• A harddisk for the operating system and all programs, Maxtor Serial-ATA 250 Gb, 55 Euro
• A second harddisk where we put all the datafiles, Maxtor Serial-ATA 500 Gb, 105 Euro
• There are lots of ways to make backups, one option is a third harddisk, Maxtor Serial-ATA 500 Gb, 105 Euro
• A leftover from the 17th century, a NEC floppydrive, 15 Euro
• A perfect way to store your images is on a DVD writer, for instance the Pioneer DVR-212D dual-layer +/-RW, 35 Euro
• A very decent videocard from Asus, the EN8600GT SILENT/HTDP, TV-Out, 2x DVI-I, PCIe*16, 512Mb GDDR3, 115 Euro
• Optional speakersystem for a bit of quality music while you're working, Altec Lansing or Creative, about 75 Euro
• A keyboard and optical wheelmouse, Logitech and Microsoft are very well made, 39 Euro. If you want wireless, add about 30 Euro
• An excellent 20 inch TFT screen from Samsung, the SyncMaster 206BW (1680x1050/DVI), 249 Euro
   
• Optional flatbedscanner, an Epson Perfection V500, USB 2.0, optical resolution 6400x9600 dpi, 48 bits, 269 Euro
• And last but not least, a printer. There are dozens of great printers out there, so don't hit me if this is not your choice:
  A4 size: Epson Stylus Photo R800, USB 2.0, 5760x1440 dpi, 319 Euro or Canon Pixma iP6220D, USB 2.0, 4800x1200 dpi, 129 Euro
  or
  A3+ size: Epson Stylus Photo R1800, USB 2.0/Firewire, 5760x1440 dpi, 575 Euro or Canon PIXMA Pro 9000, USB 2.0, 4800x2400 dpi, 679 Euro

Asus P5B Premium motherboard

Okay, this is my list of favourites. And before you start bombing me with email, I know this is an above average system, I also know that you can be up and running with less expensive equipment (or with more expensive equipment...), but there are a few things you have to keep in mind: The famous "weakest link" rule applies to all computer systems. There's no point in buying the fastest processor available, if you're going to put 1 gigabyte of slow memory in right next to it! Motherboard, processor, memory and videocard are like the four corners of a diamond, they should match perfectly. If you want to save, do it on the following items: Buy one harddisk instead of two or three (but don't forget to make backups!!), forget the speakers and put the ol' WWII radio on your desk, buy a 17 inch TFT screen instead of a 20 inch (but do get a quality one!). And last but not least, you'll get great quality prints from one of the cheaper Epson or Canon printers.

Happy computing!