From: Frode Aleksandersen <frode_aleksanders..@..tmail.com>
Date: 2010-02-01 07:01:28
Message ID: <46b801cb-b774-4b75-b834-4b0217aeaece@v25g2000yqk.googlegroups.com>
Parent: <5C6B1D8B3E194825A9F5AFC17EF8B975@Here>
Subject: Re: Minimum Windows 7 system for working
Date: 2010-02-01 07:01:28
Message ID: <46b801cb-b774-4b75-b834-4b0217aeaece@v25g2000yqk.googlegroups.com>
Parent: <5C6B1D8B3E194825A9F5AFC17EF8B975@Here>
Subject: Re: Minimum Windows 7 system for working
On Feb 1, 2:42 am, "David J. Littleboy" <davi...@gol.com> wrote:
> Translating itself shouldn't need a lot of hardware, so upgrading the OS
> probably makes sense for people who aren't doing something other than
> translating.
I think that depends a lot on your workflow. I use Trados mainly, and
that alone takes up quite a bit of resources. In addition in a worst
case scenario I'll have the following running:
- 2 dictionary apps/databases
- Outlook for e-mail in the background
- Word open with a file that contains translation instructions
- PDF file open in Acrobat with original source document and partially
translated target document
- glossaries open in 1-2 excel files
- multiple Firefox windows/tabs with searches and lookups
- VMWare running with 1-2 virtual machines (XP and Vista) for UI
lookups
If you remove VMWare from that list, you actually get a pretty typical
work setup for me, and that requires quite a lot of memory. I can no
longer get by with 4GB of RAM, but need around 6GB or so (I have 8GB
currently, so I'm fine). Having a fast cpu also make things run more
snappy. While I can and do use a laptop now and then that has lower
specifications, it's a bit of a pain to do so. Faster and better
hardware lets you do more at the same time, especially heavy multi-
tasking.
With that said, the OS doesn't really impact application speed, unless
your hardware is underspecced for it. If you have a new computer,
there's really no performance reason to run anything but Windows 7 -
you might even experience compatibility issues with some hardware if
you try to use XP. Not all computer makers provide XP drivers anymore,
so make sure you check that fully if you really need to use it for
some reason.
/frode
> Translating itself shouldn't need a lot of hardware, so upgrading the OS
> probably makes sense for people who aren't doing something other than
> translating.
I think that depends a lot on your workflow. I use Trados mainly, and
that alone takes up quite a bit of resources. In addition in a worst
case scenario I'll have the following running:
- 2 dictionary apps/databases
- Outlook for e-mail in the background
- Word open with a file that contains translation instructions
- PDF file open in Acrobat with original source document and partially
translated target document
- glossaries open in 1-2 excel files
- multiple Firefox windows/tabs with searches and lookups
- VMWare running with 1-2 virtual machines (XP and Vista) for UI
lookups
If you remove VMWare from that list, you actually get a pretty typical
work setup for me, and that requires quite a lot of memory. I can no
longer get by with 4GB of RAM, but need around 6GB or so (I have 8GB
currently, so I'm fine). Having a fast cpu also make things run more
snappy. While I can and do use a laptop now and then that has lower
specifications, it's a bit of a pain to do so. Faster and better
hardware lets you do more at the same time, especially heavy multi-
tasking.
With that said, the OS doesn't really impact application speed, unless
your hardware is underspecced for it. If you have a new computer,
there's really no performance reason to run anything but Windows 7 -
you might even experience compatibility issues with some hardware if
you try to use XP. Not all computer makers provide XP drivers anymore,
so make sure you check that fully if you really need to use it for
some reason.
/frode