Mac or PC?

JordanDelap · #1 04-11-2008, 08:39 AM

Ok this is probably going to be a hard question for most of you to answer unbiased because most people are either microsoft fans or apple fans.

I want to record music in my bedroom, therefore i want a laptop, i already have a mixer, what would be best for me to get to record bass and guitar on, Mac or PC? and which models do you suggest?

Thanks, please don't turn this into a war between apple and microsoft fans.

mjolnir · #2 04-11-2008, 08:46 AM

On such a small scale I'd say it's really more a matter of personal preference seeing as both would do the job pretty well if set up right.

brianmharrison · #3 04-11-2008, 08:51 AM

mac all the way. They handle memory for programs better, they are more stable and you have access to more professional audio programs such as logic. Besides the new ones you can run windows on as well.....just my 2 cents worth.

Hughsie · #4 04-11-2008, 08:54 AM

Mac. Comes bundled with Garage Band, which is a great piece of recording kit.

chris.gotfunk · #5 04-11-2008, 08:56 AM

+1
I use an older (2002) mac powerbook 1ghz, 768gb and have no issues running garageband just to put down ideas and get some thought down. My mac has been amazing and it still runs perfectly. I will never own another PC because of the stability of my mac. Great computers for sure. Just a little expensive.
Peace,
Chris

PS. A macbook would be perfect for you. My suggestion, to save yourself some cash, get a refurb one from the apple site. Save you some serious dough that you can invest in another program if you wanted.

Quote:

Originally Posted by brianmharrison

mac all the way. They handle memory for programs better, they are more stable and you have access to more professional audio programs such as logic. Besides the new ones you can run windows on as well.....just my 2 cents worth.

double-muff · #6 04-11-2008, 08:57 AM

Mac is best for working on music, editing, photoshopping ect.

Windows is best for surfing the internet, watching movies, playing games ect.

so i say mac.

mothmonsterman · #7 04-11-2008, 09:03 AM

just for an all around Laptop i would say Mac,
Convinced work to pick up new macs for my dept.
Mac OS for personal preference and dual boot it with XP for work stuff.

Both do very well with everything if you know what you're doing.
Mac comes with w recording program already which is a plus you don't have to go looking for it.

though windows is still a very heavy OS if you ask me.

hunta · #8 04-11-2008, 09:23 AM

I work with both all the time and I'd have to say it's personal preference for the most part. Unless you have a piece of hardware or software that's Mac or PC only, it really comes down to what you personally like better. Most Macs (assuming not the Agere firewire ones) are great for audio, PC's are mostly not, but if you go to a specialized PC audio vendor like ADK which uses TI firewire chips, you can get a very good deal compared to getting a Mac. I have an ADK laptop with XP on it and I saved roughly $500 over an equivalent Macbook Pro. I prefer PC but if Macs were a better deal I'd have no problem using one.

mjolnir · #9 04-11-2008, 09:23 AM

There really are a lot of pros and cons on either side, and IMHO a lot of the disadvantages people preach about (again, on either side) are largely mythical, so to the OP it's really about which one tickles yer pickle better.

bullshark · #10 04-11-2008, 09:38 AM

I'd suggest a Macbook if you want to go laptop.

Not because of stability, it's fallacies. Not because you have access to more audio program, that's not only completely false, the opposite is true in fact, they are far more audio program and plugins available on the Window platform.

No, the thing is Mac simply has the better hardware when it come to laptop. The last crop of Window based laptop, save for a few boutique made ones, aren't very good, hardware wise, for audio work. And you can run Window on a Mac should you want to.

makaky · #11 04-11-2008, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by double-muff

Mac is best for working on music, editing, photoshopping ect.

Windows is best for surfing the internet, watching movies, playing games ect.

so i say mac.

that was true 15 years ago. Its all the same now. Both OS will drive you nuts from time to time

svtb15 · #12 04-11-2008, 09:50 AM

Chevy - Ford.. They will both get you to where you want to go eventually.. MAC- PC same thing in my opinion.
Currently i use PC.. But have seen as many crashes with MAC OS as i do PC OS in the pro studio environment

Slax · #13 04-11-2008, 09:52 AM

I use Linux to record myself...

stflbn · #14 04-11-2008, 09:56 AM

You can dual boot any new mac. They ARE PC's at that point and can run XP or Vista.

You cannot run os X on a PC.

Usually you will not need to, but it's a nice ability to have. There's been a few apps, or Librarian type applications i've used that were not available to mac, or vice versa.

Very nice to have both options. 99% of the time I'm booted into os X though.

debassr · #15 04-11-2008, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stflbn

You cannot run os X on a PC.

Well, you can. It's just not legal.

climb · #16 04-11-2008, 10:00 AM

The OP mostly wants to know what would be best for his needs. Based on his description, his needs are pretty simple, meaning either platform has apps to get the job done.

However, it sounds also like he's a relative newbie to computer recording/electronic music. I'm a faculty member at a school of music (computer music dept) and for ease of use and transparency to the novice, I'd definitely go with a mac. Don't bother reinventing the wheel when it's already been done for you. Start w/Garageband, which is really unbeatable for essentially being free. If you get really into it, go w/Logic Express. IMO...

hunta · #17 04-11-2008, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by climb

However, it sounds also like he's a relative newbie to computer recording/electronic music. I'm a faculty member at a school of music (computer music dept) and for ease of use and transparency to the novice, I'd definitely go with a mac. Don't bother reinventing the wheel when it's already been done for you. Start w/Garageband, which is really unbeatable for essentially being free. If you get really into it, go w/Logic Express. IMO...

I've noticed a lot of educational faculty have a strong bias for Mac. I think it's mostly because they don't understand PC that well (and historically Apple heavily advertises to the educational market). It's really just as easy to get things going on a PC as a Mac, you can run into speedbumps on either platform. Reaper is a free/cheap alternative to Garageband, and honestly if you get a PC you can afford to drop a few hundred bucks on a good sequencing program because you save that much by not buying a Mac.

Mushroo · #18 04-11-2008, 10:38 AM

Check out http://ubuntustudio.org/

You can install it on a Mac or PC, and dual boot if you want to (so you have your choice of linux/windows or linux/osx each time you boot up)

It is free, so you can spend the extra $$ on hardware like a good audio interface.

debassr · #19 04-11-2008, 10:38 AM

here we go....

BadB · #20 04-11-2008, 10:43 AM

I'd get a Mac, personally. Windows has so many issues, and I am sure Mac has some, too. I just haven't had any problems with Mac.