If you were managing a smally graphics oriented department what are some of the considerations to buying a computer graphics system?

1)  What type of output will be required--videotape, 35mm slide, laser printer, etc.?

2)  What type of graphics applications will be used in the laboratory??illustration, package design, presentation graphics, desktop publishing, animation?

3)  Who is going to use the software??artists, managers, secretaries?   Full-featured paint programs are usually found in art departments.  Solid modeling, presentation graphics, desktop publishing, and animation are not limited to traditional art departments.

4)  What software features are needed to meet graphics requirements ?? free-hand drawing, business charting, picture scan-in capability, 2-D or 3-D animation?
 
5)  Must the software run on existing computers designed for normal office productivity programs (spreadsheets, word processing) or will additional hardware components be necessary for graphics?

6) Learn as much as possible about the software available.  Don't rule out software beyond your budget or needs.  High end software can be used as a yardstick to judge the features of lower priced software.  By looking at high end systems you can draw up a list of features you will like to have in your system.  Look for these features in lower priced software.  Just because a package sells for $5000 doesn't mean that it is 10 times better than one selling for $500.  High end features can be found in less expensive software.

7) Read reviews in trade magazines.  Go to regional and national graphics conventions.  Look for featured "shoot-outs" (product comparisons) among competing software packages.

8) Do field research (informally) at companies that use the product you are thinking of buying.  Talk to the artists and managers using the software and find out if they have an problems.  Talk to the artists and managers using the software and find out if they have had any problems.  Ask them if the program lacks any important features.  Finally, consider purchasing additional peripherals that are needed to fully support the software.  Digitizing cameras that bring video images into the program, high resolution film recorders for creating 35mm slides, and laser printers may be needed before the software is fully "up and running."

9) Buy mailorder or directly from manufacturer or software publisher when possible.  Try to negotiate a cite license for the whole company if you will be using several copies of the same application.

10) Would you select the software or hardware first?  Why?