The Modern Hippy Male

Question:
How fast should a processor be for a laptop that would be used for programming and web design?

My Answer:
Well, I’m a Web / Graphics Designer and I went with a 2.2 ghz processor. That being said, it is also a quad core. Essentially what this means is that while there is still only one processor in my computer, it is split into four individual processors for the purpose of processing information. Basically it’s like 4 processors in one. This allows for a lot of multitasking and different programs to be open at once.

Also important would be the RAM, another poster here focused on that as an important point, and I believe so as well. I currently use 2 gigs of DDR2 RAM and sometimes have get low memory warnings while heavy in designing graphics. If money is no limit, 4 gigs+ would be best. However, you should be able to make due with 2 gigs. You would also be better served to go with a 64 bit operating system, this way if you decided to upgrade past the 32 bit cutoff for memory usage you will not need to upgrade your OS also.

If you would like help looking for a good deal / specific product I can be reached through my blog in the source section. I wouldn’t mind assisting you further.

Question:
How much would it cost to have a website like craigslist.com designed?
I want to create a classified ad type website similar to craigslist that would be nationwide but would be limited to specific industry related products. It would be membership based with a monthly, qtrly or annual fee to list items but free to search. But it would also have to be city or zip code search able. Like craigslist, it does not have to be fancy or with a lot of graphics. Photos can be added by the ad posters if desired.

My Answer:
It would be expensive.

However, I would ask if you have considered the effort to which you would need to go to, from a marketing standpoint, and the costs necessary to make a site anywhere near as popular as craigslist.org. This could quite possibly end up being more expensive then the design of the website to begin with. As you can read by visiting criagslist, they started as an email list of San Francisco events as a hobby by Craig Newmark in early 1995. They were then allowed to identify and fill a large niche that existed for free classifieds. This is what allowed them to skyrocket in popularity.

I do notice that you would be targeting a niche within the classifieds community, focusing on industry related products. But, are these products not already allowed on craigslist? If they are, what incentive would people have for paying to list with you, when they can list with craigslist for free?

As a Web / Graphics Designer with my own sites, this is one of the steps I have to go through when determining if it is feasible to continue with a specific business plan.

This is not intended to discourage, only to inform and provide some information based on my own schooling and findings.

Question:
How do you get something off Craigslist?
I’ve found a few good deals on craigslist and wanted to make an offer but the seller never gets back to me or returns any emails. I’m not sure if i should just wait or if i’m doing something wrong. I’m just afraid that by the time he responds or gets the message, he won’t be selling it anymore.

My Answer:
This is somewhat of a common problem. In fact, if you live and are searching in an area which has a lot of craigslist users, it’s more of a first-come-first-served thing.

I’m a freelance Web / Graphics Designer and I have been using craigslist to find work for awhile now. One of the best ways I have found to get the jobs is to be one of the first to respond. I wrote an ebook on a technique I used but never attempted to sell it, instead I posted it to my blog. I have listed the url to the post in the source section.

Also, if what you are looking for is a popular item, you may have some competition in the form of other people looking for the same ads. In this case the more quickly you respond to an ad the better. Keep in mind also that if you offer a lower price than what they are asking, and someone else has emailed and is willing to pay more, you may not get a reply as the seller is busy delivering his item and collecting his money.

In the end, it comes down to luck, speed, and your offer.

I hope this helped.