Desktop for Digital Media and Graphic Design

Macs are the thing in the GD world. It's what most of her friends and future employers will use in the GD world use so I would head over to apple and pick one that you are comfortable with. Hopefully she'll be able to use her student discount to get the Adobe programs she needs.

I'm assuming the DV is because of price. Full disclosure, I am very much a Windows/Android guy, but you can't deny Apple has carved out a niche in the Graphic Design world. Not that a Windows machine can't do the same, and for cheaper. But, because of the Mac's prevalence in the GD world, that is what she is likely going to want or will ultimately end up getting once she can afford to if you start her off on a Windows machine.

Consider buying the parts for your system (processor, GPU, RAM, case) on PC PartPicker and having your local Computer Repair guy put it together for $100. I did and it worked out great. It's easier than you think. Drop-ship the parts directly to him from Amazon or whoever you buy them from.

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Digital Media and Graphic Design

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This is pretty broad.

You don't need too powerful of a machine for Adobe Illustrator but you would if you are editing 4k video or rendering in 3D software.

I'm a fan of a powerful Windows machine with an Nvidia gpu. My co-worker is happy with his Macbook Pro for most things but he can't take advantage of the newer/better gpu renderers we are upgrading to.