In about two weeks, I'll be getting a new computer for school. But since I also do graphics using Photoshop and a table, which type of computer, do you think, would meet all the requirments I would need?

I'm currently using a 2 year old Dell, thaat has since, stopped letting me host joinmes, join them, screen share on Skype, opening Chome oddly (every time I open it, something pops up about it "not being opened proproly"), and now, it can't handle my tablets driver.

I've tried everything in the book, even what Wacom customer support has suggest I do in the past. Nothing at all works; and shortly after, I get a notice saying, "Tablet driver not running."

So, if you guys could give me some help/suggestions on what type of computer I should get, let me know! I'm open to just about all suggesting, unless it's Dell. No Dell please. My first Dell caught fire.. This is my second one, lovely, right?

Hey! I'm SUPER partial to macs. I have 2 of them, and they are awesome for graphic design, most professonal designers use them. Plus they last forever and are super user friendly and easy to use. But they're expensive, so IDK if that's a factor.

Since I don't use them, I don't know about windows computers :(. I also have a Chromebook but it wouldn't work for what you want, it's just a netbook.

Second vote for a Mac - they are so amazing for uni. I got mine in year 11 and I'm now third year uni and its still going strong. 

The ONLY issue is if you are intending to study statistics or something that requires specialised programes at uni/school it CAN be difficult to find specific programes alas its getting easier. (This has only been in high level stats -.- but I just went to a computer lab on campus to do those bits) 

Alas overall I had a HP for 8 months before it died.. saved up and got a Mac and its lasted me almost 5 years.. SO worth the money - now I'm saving up for a new one because I want an updated one ^^) I even had my bag split while I was running to work (I'd been in the ER all night with a friend) and my stuff went EVERYWHERE ma laptop went sling across the ashphelt (leaving it scuffed on the corners) but IT STILL WORKS!! They're just fabulous! 

Totally agree on the Mac suggestion! Though I would definitely recommend buying AppleCare if you can. The battery on my first Macbook randomly fried itself just after I'd had it for a year, and they replaced it for me for free. (The battery cost significantly more than the AppleCare plan.) I had my Macbook for a little over four years before it suddenly died, and it lived through all four years of college with me, including a semester in Japan. It was a world traveler. ☺ I replaced it with another that I've had for almost two years now. 

Also, check with your school to see if their IT program offers any kind of discount if you buy the computer through them. My university didn't give me a discount on the laptop itself, but the protection plan was extended and a little cheaper than if you bought it through Apple directly. Just a thought!

-is the black sheep-

I've never been a fan of Macs.  I've used them before for graphic design and I really don't see any difference than using a PC.  I much prefer PC over mac, and they are much more affordable.  You can get the same stats in a PC for half the price as a Mac.  IMHO when buying a Mac you are buying a brand name, and they charge accordingly.

As far as longevity goes.  I have an HP laptop I bought back in 2006.  It's traveled all over with me, and to this day I can still turn it on and use it.  That's 8 years! It wasn't used sparingly either.  For 5 years it was used for 4 hours a day to game on, as well as stream movies, browse the internet, and it was my sole work computer for over a year.  It did have some wireless issues early on, but they have since fixed and never happened again.

I currently use a Samsung laptop and I LOVE IT!  It's fast, compact, runs PS just fine, and has had a number of things plugged into it, and never once had an issue finding the software/firmware for it.  The only downside to it is that it doesn't have a high powered graphics card in it.  So if you are a gamer and you want to play any recent games it will not work.  It doesn't have the ability to run any game that requires Direct3D.  You can play other games on it no problem like Sims, World of Warcraft, etc just fine.

I also used a Dell XPS for my work lap top and I LOVED that computer and I hated that I had to give it back when I was laid off.  I know that wont mean anything with your past though. hehe

I'm a mac person myself... I prefer them over windows computers not because of the brand name or the specs. I like the interface of the mac. I think it's much more user friendly and I think the design of the OS and the computer itself is more visually appealing. I'm currently working on a fully upgraded 15 inch mac book pro and I LOVE it. My first mac lasted me about 6 years before it started to have some pretty serious issues and then I accidentally spilled a drink on it :p I still have my second macbook and it's still running perfectly well. I only got this fancy pants one because my parents offered it as a birthday/christmas/graduation present (I also got a sweet discount through the apple education store) :p My older one is around 3ish years and it still runs great, I mainly use it as my traveling/school computer since I'm too terrified to take the new one anywhere haha

I've had horrible luck with windows computers.. they always had a bunch of issues and didn't last long for me.. plus not having to buy virus protection for a mac is a nice perk. I don't have much else to say for windows computers since every one I've experienced (my own personal computers as well as family members computers) sucked and I will never ever switch back. The price is worth it for me since in my experience they last longer, they're easier to maintain and I just happen to prefer them overall.

The only 'downside' to my new computer is that it has an HDMI port, so I plug it into my TV and steam movies and TV shows all day and night.. lmao

In response to the virus protection...

I purchase Kaspersky virus protection for my 3 computers.  During cyber monday it costs me at most $15 a year.  That's $5 a computer/year.  I would hardly call that an expense. :)

Virus free since 2003! (well since earlier than that, but it rhymed so I went with it)

I had a HP TX2 for 8 months before it was slower than a wet welp - reformatted the thing and it was alright.. but still just going down the toilet. 

Sold it and got my mac & Haven't looked  back.. Also I think you're paying for more than just the brand name - they are just so fluid.. everything is just where its suposed to be.. Also they sell the mac trackpads as a mouse for desktops - thats how amazing the thing is!! I get so so frustrated using standard computers now haha

Edit: you should still have antivirus on a mac ^^ Sophos is great and freeeeee :)) 

Yeah, I still pay for Norton on my Mac. It's gotten to the point where viruses ARE made for them since so many people have them, and I've had one once on a mac (although it wasn't "active"). So I wouldn't recommend going virus protection free.

Oh, if I could have afforded a Mac, I would have gotten one!! I've never wanted a computer as much as I want one of those, lol!

But, I went with an HP, and so far, I love love love it! I'll be doing school at home, so, I won't have to cart this thing around, as I went from a 15' so a 17'. Not sure if that was smartest for me, but, hey, the 17' was for sale for the same price as the 15' was, win? idk.

And, I did get discounts for being a student when buying the computer.

Hopefully next time I need a new computer, I can get a Mac!! I've had an iPhone since the 4 came out and love them to death. I've played on few Macs before and I like how their set up.

I don't care much how different Windows 8 is from Windows 7, which is what I had on my Dell.