Samsung R710, Is it a good choise?

[alexflaco]

Hey guys,

 

I need to buy a laptop and economicly I am not doing very well but I do have around 1000 pounds to spend. I been doing a massive research and I am sick already of looking around. There is a big problem when the money to spend it is an inconvenience.

 

Well I decided to buy the samsung R710 because the specificationd are not that bad and it is into my budget.

 

I found more laptops with a similar specifications as the samsung but the prize is over the moon. Here are the specifications.

 

Samsung R710 - Core2 Duo T9400 (2.53Hz) 4Gb 320Gb Blu-Ray Player/DVDRW BT 17" WXGA+ HDMI VHP, nVidia GeForce 9300M GS 256MB

 

I am starting next week in an architect office after graduation and I will be doing modeling, renders and animations with 3D studio max 2009 or 9 and also using the adobe master collection.

 

Many thank for who will reply, it will be a great help for me and to get the right choise.

 

Edited September 26, 2008 by alexflaco

[AJLynn]

Looks like a powerful computer, but the obvious question would be, why do you need to buy a computer that can used for 3d work, when you're about to start a job and will presumably by provided with equipment?

[alexflaco]

Because I will have to wait for someone which is leaving next month and then I will be able to have a computer, in the mean time I can go this month to start but it will have to be with my computer.

 

The computer looks powerfull for the caracteristics but what you mean that maybe is not good, if the caracteristics are good it means that it will be good or what you thing it can go wrong.

 

Thank you AJLynn

[AJLynn]

I didn't say that. You'll need to make the judgement on whether it will work for you yourself - I don't know anything about Samsungs. I'm only questioning you buying it yourself when it's for work and you're a recent grad without much money - this seems quite unfair to me, and I think you should receive at least some compensation from the company for it.

[alexflaco]

I understand your point and I am with you. For the moment I am not going to get paid and it is just to make cv and of course to learn from profetionals.

 

It is very difficult to find a job so early after graduation so I have to take any possibility to get into the bussiness I like and I work so hard in the last 4 years.

 

My judgement is that the samsung it is a powerfull computer and it will fill my requirements.

 

Any sugestion on your experience with laptops that you can recomend me. As I said around 1000 pounds.

 

Thanks

[AJLynn]

I don't know the market in your area so just look at computers and make sure to check mail order sources. Really I'm only replying because I want to reiterate my position that your situation with the "employer" is ridiculous and they are taking advantage of you.

[Frosty]

your situation with the "employer" is ridiculous and they are taking advantage of you.

 

I second that. Recent graduates not realizing their own value is one of the reasons why salaries for recent grads are sometimes depressed.

 

Do your homework and know what you're worth. There are many architecture salary reporting options including archinect, AIA, salary.com etc. Stand up for yourself and earn a fair wage. I'll bet its a fair bit more than "free and oh yeah I'll bring my own computer too".

[FlyinHawaiian]

Hey Alex, maybe you've already done some hunting around and this was all you could get. A lot of us here have been working in the industry for a number of years and we've forgotten how competitive it is just out of school.

 

As a student in a competitive marketplace, sometimes, you've gotta get what you can take. (Especially if you want some experience to make the leap to a decent job.) I say, if this is a place you want to work at, then good on ya Alex! Way to sacrifice for the dream. You obviously need to balance sacrifice with sanity, so, if they start making you stay super late and they're still not paying you, then leave in a hurry. But if they're pretty good to you, and you learn a lot, there's nothing wrong with your situation. You just need to be able to subjectively assess what your skill level is after a bit of training, and then, after you've gotten consistently positive comments on your work from the boards here, have a frank discussion with your "employer/trainer dudes". Let them know how invaluable you've become and tell them that you feel you've more than paid them back for their free training, and that you appreciate it, but you're now looking for a paying job. If (they aren't fools and) you truly are invaluable, they'll hire you on the spot. If not, (and like I mentioned, your work must be good and pros on the boards must be giving good reviews to your work) then it's time to stomp the pavement and find someone who will value you for your skills. I've been down the same road and while there are some unscrupulous employers, you're the one in charge of your own career. Make the sacrifices, but don't let people take advantage of you.

 

(BTW, IMHO, that 256mb graphics card may be slightly underpowered for large scenes. I'd borrow another few bucks to upgrade up a little, if you want to be working with decent sized scenes.)

[FlyinHawaiian]

Ok, so I actually went and looked at your images you've posted and they're not bad. They could definitely use refining, but you seem to be at least in the "profitable as an entry level artist" zone. I obviously don't know all of the details, but if your "employer" isn't a huge company that you really want to work at, or a place where you think you might have a good, long career at, I'd find another place to work for free. I'd at least buy a computer for you to use if you were interning with me. So, it's up to you. Do you see a future with them? If not, plenty of people would be willing to take an artist at your skill level for free and at the very least, supply them with a computer. But whatever decision you make, be at peace with it and don't worry what other people think.

[alexflaco]

Thak you very much for your comments, I will take them on board. they really touch me personaly and I will take them into my advantage to be aware of which one will be my situation. This office is from a friend of mine and I got the feeling that if everything goes well I will have a stable position with him. He also graduated as a architect and he created his own company this year call cocoarchitecs with another architect friend of his.

 

We are kind of helping each other in a way because I will be able to bring my multimedia skills to the office and I will be able to learn more in the architect field.

 

I have got the good feeling that this non paid for the moment marriege will be in a positive way for me and my career.

 

Thank you very much for your comments again and I wish you all the best.