• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Mac or PC?

#41
If all you want is Ableton Live/Reason then go PC. They work fine on my pc. The thing is you need to make sure you get the right chipset for what you are doing. There are some "not compatible" chipsets out there. Check with the software as to what is compatible.

If you were going to use other software like ProTools/Digital Performer at a later date ... then you have to go mac. And, btw, the mac mini's are fairly nice and run ProTools just fine.
 
#47
beatingadeadhorse1xw.gif
 
#48
stedtale said:
It comes from both sides.


I, personally, have no aversion to either. I use both. Both serve their purposes. Both have issues, both have strengths.
Click to expand...

Good points. I too use and own both. I also work in IT at a university where I support both platforms daily.

However... things have changed pretty drastically in the last year or so. Only one hardware distributor (Apple!) allows you to literally do it all. In fact, we're planning on changing out our *entire* university computer system with just Macs because of the two points I'll mention below:

1. Buy an Intel or AMD box with Windows XP/Vista and you can only run Windows or various Linux/*nix flavors. Not necessarily a bad problem to have, but there's some cool Mac stuff out there (Garageband! Digital Performer! Logic Pro!) that you can't use. Same for countless other Mac-only apps. Some people this isn't a problem for, mainly because they've never seen a need for Mac apps.

2. Buy an Intel based Mac, you can run Mac OS X, Windows, Linux, BSD, *nix, whatever. You can run it all, and not only that but if you choose to do so, you can run it all at the same time. Or Bootcamp Windows or Linux and get full hardware acceleration. Or do both!

I rest my case. It isn't zealotry. Just logical.

Macs used to be the platform of vendor and OS lock-in. Now Macs are the platform of true OS and computing freedom.
 
#51
bassbrock said:
The whole "Macs are more expensive" argument is getting old. It simply isn't the case anymore.
Click to expand...
I guess Apple must have dropped their prices in the last day since I checked. I just ordered a Dell laptop this week, and yes I looked at Macs as well.

My laptop:
$1347 includes tax/shipping (I don't get an employee discount on this model)
Dell Vostro 1700
Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T7300 (2.0GHz, 4MB L2 Cache, 800MHz FSB) Genuine Windows Vista® Home Basic
17.0 in Wide Screen WUXGA LCD Display with TrueLife™
3GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz, 2 DIMM
160G 5400RPM SATA hard drive
8X CD/DVD Burner w/ double-layer DVD+R write capability
128MB NVIDIA® GeForce™ 8400M GS
Dell Wireless 1390 802.11g Wi-Fi Mini Card
Integrated High Definition Audio

If I spend $1380.75 at Apple (Includes an employee discount) I can get a 13 inch Macbook (not pro) with roughly the same specs, except the screen is 4 inches smaller, and it has 1 gig less ram (they max out at 2 gigs).

If I want to get a 17" WUXGA laptop from Apple, I have to pay $2703.75 (Includes discount). This model comes with a 2.4 gig cpu and 2 gigs of ram ($644 to upgrade to 4 gigs). All the other specs are the same except the video on the Apple is an 8600M GT rather than the 8400M GS.

Obviously you can't make an exact price comparison, because there's always 1 or 2 things you can't change and you'll never find a completely identical system. I can beef the Dell up a bit to a 2.4 gig cpu and leave it at 2 gigs of ram to make a more direct comparison, and then it's $1574 + tax. Is an extra ~$1200 (more if you don't have a discount) worth it to have a little better video and whatever bonus Apple software includes? Not to me...

The reason the "macs are more expensive myth" is still around is because it's true.
 
#52
Lefty Geek said:
I don't see what the big deal is with Linux. If it's free, it can't be good. Plus you can't run Acid Loops on unix.
Click to expand...

hehe, why is something thats free not good? win rar is free, firefox is free, winamp is free, allot of the very fine voxengo plugins are free (and they can rival some of the big $ ones), likewise for kjaerhaus audio, and the acustica nebula two. (which is hands down the finest plug in effect I have heard, its AMAZING. BUT, i can only run 2 on my fairly powerful system, and nothing else, before it complains like hell... one day...).

free stuff is often great. linux is great because it doesnt have a big company behind it that has endless meetings about how they can get more money out of us, and its open source so allot of great minds have added to it, refining it and changing as they go, you cant do that with windows!
 
#53
Bjazzman said:
Ok i know i want to run Abelton Live and Reason on my gig. I want to record with it and use the plug-ins. I could probably get twice as much Ram with a PC than a Mac, but then again a Mac will probably not crash(as much) I would want to get the Macbook Pro if i went Mac since you can upgrade to 4 gig ram. But i would have to wait a while to save up for that. What have you guys done in this situation?
Click to expand...

i've used Macs and PC's for decades (makes me feel old saying that), and I've currently got one of the 24" iMacs (superseded yesterday...gah!)

switching to Mac is a lot less of a risk now because the new Intel based Macs allow you to dual boot into XP or Vista... I have XP AND OSX because truthfully, there's some stuff Windows does better and some stuff the Mac does better...

if you have the money, get a Mac... they're cool & fun, and you'll have the choice of running OSX or Windows... if you get a regular PC you're pretty much stuck with Windows
 
#54
hunta said:
The reason the "macs are more expensive myth" is still around is because it's true.
Click to expand...

First of all, yea I would expect to pay more for a better OS, I know their Macbook Pro's are expensive, but I see their stuff as more quality than dell. Which I currently own Inspiron E1705 [few months old] and am looking to sell, first of all this computer is huge, I regret getting a 17" screen for a laptop and would MUCH rather a 13"

Second its almost 2"s thick, its rediculous. Macbook Pro's are 1", I know thats still not enought to offset the price. But agian I see apple as a much higher quality and standard than dell
 
#55
spencer said:
First of all, yea I would expect to pay more for a better OS, I know their Macbook Pro's are expensive, but I see their stuff as more quality than dell. Which I currently own Inspiron E1705 [few months old] and am looking to sell, first of all this computer is huge, I regret getting a 17" screen for a laptop and would MUCH rather a 13"

Second its almost 2"s thick, its rediculous. Macbook Pro's are 1", I know thats still not enought to offset the price. But agian I see apple as a much higher quality and standard than dell
Click to expand...

Yup. There's a reason a Mercedes costs more that a Scion. Sure, they both get you where you want to go but.....
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back