Hard disks

You need a hard disk on your computer to store the operating system, the programmes you use and the files you create.

Disks come in different sizes - the larger the disk the more you can store. Always back-up work on a second disk.
The size of the disk needs to be large enough to hold the operating system ( between 500mb and 16gb depending on the system ) and the programmes you install.

Operating Systems:
Linux with GUI interface 4gb
Windows 7 16gb
Apple Snow Leopard 12.5gb

Programmes:
Gimp on Linux 50mb
Photoshop on Windows 1.5gb
Photoshop on Mac 2gb

Digital image files saved as tiff.
10"x8" image approx 20mb
16"x12" image approx 50mb

Saving 40 16"x12" images will use 1gb of disk space.

Exteral storage will be needed to keep large numbers of images, This can be on DVD or removable (USB) hards