: Which version of the Mac computer is most appropriate for students studying graphic design? My daughter is going to be a Freshman at Liberty University this fall. We are interested in knowing

@Holmes874

If she gets into 3D work at all a dedicated graphics card would be handy.
A built-in screen also comes with a known colour profile too.
From there - does it need to be portable (15" Retina MacBookPro), or is a desktop OK (27" iMac)?

Maxxing out memory is wise; buying a TimeMachine external backup disc is wiser.

Software - Adobe CC, and think about Font management software too - like FontExplorer; and a bookmark to FontSquirrel while she's studying.

Talk to her about the perils of software (including type) piracy, and you're away.

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@Shelley591

If the school recommends specific hardware and software, then that's what you should use.

If they don't, then it doesn't really matter.

Generically speaking, get the fastest laptop you can afford and max out the RAM and Hard Drive. But even the cheapest MacBook will likely be fine.

As for software, Adobe Cloud Student Edition is likely all she needs.

But it also depends on the school. I don't think I touched design software the first year of art school at all. It was all learning to draw and design fundamentals.

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@Murray976

It doesn't matter.

Any Apple computer capable of running the current operating system (10.10 - Yosemite) will work just fine. Literally any OS10.10 system. Any specific model is fine - iMac, MacMini, MacPro, MackBook, MacBookPro -- any of them will work. By the time she's ready for something more (if she ever even needs more), the technology will merit an upgrade anyway. Just buy whatever is in your budget.

If you are looking at used systems... then going back as far as a system which runs OS 10.8 should be okay for a few years still. Because all systems running OS10.8 can be upgraded to system 10.10 (provided they have the RAM). No one can predict the future though.

The school should tell you if software is needed - but in general... a subscription to the Adobe Creative cloud most likely (be certain to check student pricing).

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