Famous Mac User Setup: Derek Punsalan
Derek Punsalan is a 24 year old freelance web designer living in Seattle, U.S.A. Derek is known for his work on his personal home on the web 5ThirtyOne, while writing for UNEASYsilence. His design work is very popular as he’s designed dozens upon dozens of sites on the web including his girlfriend Sylvia’s blog, iBoughtAMac, and UNEASYsilence.
View a zoomed in photo with increased resolution of Derek’s setup.
What does your current Mac setup consist of?
The main machine is a Quad-Core 2.66GHz Mac Pro with 8GB of RAM, one 250GB Seagate HDD, and 3 500GB Seagate HDD’s. The main display is a 30″ Dell (3007WFP-HC). Peripherals include a Apple Pro keyboard and a Logitech MX Revolution.
Why have you chosen this machine?
I wanted power, flexibilty, and virtually limitless configuration options. I also wanted a machine that I knew would be capable of growing with my needs for quite some time. Although the new 8-core machines are out, I’m confident that the quad-core Mac Pro will suffice for both work and play.
The 8GB of RAM is welcomed for Windows XP and Vista running side-by-side. I guess 4GB would suffice. But when the decision between a new display and more memory came up, I decided memory was far more valuable. Not to mention that the real bottle-neck on Mac Pro’s isn’t processing power, it’s memory.
What other Apple gear do you own?
Other Apple machines I have include a Core Duo MacBook, Core Duo Mac Mini, 12″ G4 PowerBook, an Apple TV, Apple Pro Keyboard, and a Mighty Mouse (wired & wireless).
What is your next planned upgrade to your workstation?
Anticipated upgrades will happen whenever Apple decides to come out with a 12.1″ MacBook Pro notebook. The 12″ PowerBook was a hit, it’s time for them to replace that aged machine to give the IBM X-Series users a run.
What do you think of Derek’s setup?
#1
Conner Downey → connerdowney.com
That’s a sweet setup. I want to buy a nice sized dell monitor, but probably a 20″ plugged into my Macbook. Anyway, that’s really cool, that monitor.
#2
peroty → arcticpalace.org/journal
That’s pretty cool!
I’m really enjoying this whole series! I love to see what other people use and what their workspace looks like. Keep them coming please. :D
#3
Paul Stamatiou → paulstamatiou.com
Derek has some bank.. N95, this setup, his EVDO. work must be good for him. =)
#4
Nick Danforth → nickdanforth.blogspot.com
Very nice!
Keep this idea up Glenn, it’s a lot of fun to see all of these nice setups.
I wonder if he’ll ever go for a 30″ ACD . . .
#5
William Wilkinson → www.williamwilkinson.com
Derek has a lot of really nice stuff…too much almost?
#6
Shawn Blanc → thefightspot.com
So that’s where the magic happens. Nice. He makes the Dell screen look good. And Paul’s right, design must be going good.
#7
Glenn Wolsey → www.glennwolsey.com
I sure will keep them coming, I have the next 3-4 in the series already to go, now’s time to pursue some more “Famous Mac Users.”
Exactly, it seems that Derek has a new gadget every few weeks - his Flickr Photostream is always kept alive with photos of new tech goodies.
He just purchased this 30″ Dell because it’s cheaper and better than the Apple Cinema Display in his views, so I don’t think he’ll be switching anytime soon ;-)
Oh William, one can never have too many tech toys ;-)
#8
Derek Punsalan → 5thirtyone.com
Thanks for letting me be a part of a the series Glenn. Concerning some of the previous comments concerning my "toys", I really don’t have that many. If something is of no use for me or my current needs, I usually pass them on to others ;)
* Dell > Apple Cinema Display! I would be far more content with a single 30″ Dell than two ACDs.
#9
Marvin Sum → 50volts.com
Hey Glenn,
Another nice interview. Perhaps you could ask them what kind of apps they use? 8GB of memory seems extreme to me.
#10
Glenn Wolsey → www.glennwolsey.com
Sure, I’ll incorporate this into future interviews. Maybe Derek could elaborate on that if he sees this comment?
#11
Derek Punsalan → 5thirtyone.com
8GB is welcomed for Windows XP and Vista running side-by-side. I guess 4GB would suffice. But when the decision between a new display and more memory came up, I decided memory was far more valuable. Not to mention that the real bottle-neck on Mac Pro’s isn’t processing power, it’s memory.
#12
Glenn Wolsey → www.glennwolsey.com
The underestimated bottleneck on machines these days, especially Pro machines is the RAM and Hard-Drives.
I’ll be putting 3-5GB or RAM in my Mac Pro, and also use a Raptor 150GB as a boot drive.
#13
Chris ‘MyAppleStuff’ Marshall → www.myapplestuff.com
Another good job, and Glenn I see what you are doing here! You are just preparing us to be blown away with your Mac Pro and dual 30″ set up :-)
Derek - when you get a minute dig out the email I sent recently re a skin?
#14
Paul Stamatiou → paulstamatiou.com
Raptors are louuuudddd. I had two RAID-0′d in my old PC setup and everytime they did anything.. CLICK CLICK CLICK and when they weren’t doing anything WHINEE. They are wannabe server disks and act like it. Incredible performance though.
#15
Glenn Wolsey → www.glennwolsey.com
Haha, I wish my display setup would be that amazing. I’ll be going with either a 23″ Apple Cinema Display, or a 30″ Apple Cinema Display. If I get the 23″ I’d look into the possibility of getting another at a later date.
They are really that bad, it’d still be loud with the tower under the desk 2-3 feet away? My second option was using the stock 250GB as a boot drive, and a 500GB for data.
#16
Chris ‘MyAppleStuff’ Marshall → www.myapplestuff.com
As discussed the 23″ gives a lot of desk real estate. More than enough if acting as a single screen. Two would be awesome (that is my long term plan) so I would aim for two 23″ if you can. IF Apple bring out a new one soon great, but unless the design is really different from the current one, one new and one old could be a good combination.
#17
Frank Cantu → www.macrecon.com
Very cool setup, Derek. More pics would’ve been great, though.
#18
Jack Sauer → jacksauer.com
Nice Derek, I never knew he ran a Dell screen… For a designer I thought he would favour the style of the Apple Cinema Display…
P.S. Glenn we gotta chat about DNS my friend, I will ring you later…
#19
Stephen → iheartmacs.com
I’m curious to find out what iSight mount was used to attach the iSight to the top of the Dell display. I have the 24″ Dell display, and I haven’t managed to get my old iSight mounted.
#20
Derek Punsalan → 5thirtyone.com
I had an iSight mount kit from Apple. The standard magnetic mount used for the ACDs works perfectly because the top and bottom of the Dell display on the 30″ are metal.
#21
Andreas → xgrape.net
Beautiful setup indeed. I love how Dell’s monitors just keep getting prettier and prettier. It’s no ACD, but it’s close enough!
#22
zzap → zzaps.com
What does he use to get that soft ambient light on the right of the image you posted? And is there any place we can see a pic of his workstation in a higher resolution?
#23
Derek Punsalan → 5thirtyone.com
The ambient light is nothing more than a mini desk lamp pointed towards the wall. The highest resolution of that image is here.
#24
Boris LauWow Derek, that is one gorgeous setup! Must be pure joy to work in such an environment.
Thanks for the highest resolution by the way!
#25
Glenn Wolsey → www.glennwolsey.com
I’ve added the link to high-resolution image added to the article, along with the things you had to say about having 8GB RAM installed :-)
#26
Blair BeckwithDoes this guy really classify as famous? I’d kill for a picture of Woz’s setup!
#27
Dustin → www.dustincook.ca
Famous in terms of Mac users I think..