Mac or PC?

[stedtale]

^

 

[bassbrock]

Er, I mean LMAO @ Rick Blanc!

 

[Bjazzman]

i mainly want abelton and reason, but i want the option of running other programs like the korg legacy collection. can you run a bunch of plug-in's live and still make it sound decent while recording from the same unit. sounds like i need to wait until the macbook pro's prices come down

 

[Infernal Affair]

sounds like i need to wait until the macbook pro's prices come down

That only happens when Apple bumps the specs and releases a new version. Give it about half a year.

 

[Ranxston]

If you're considering the switch, I say go for it. I've been using Mac since a few years now and I won't ever switch to PC again unless absolutely necessary. I used to be like most Anti-Mac people, I hated them with passion even though the only ones I've tried were crappy early 90s Macs from school (still better than most Mac haters since most never even tried one) and I based my hate on other people's hate (like most Mac haters) fueled by ignorance. Then a friend of mine showed me his Powerbook and guess what, you could actually right click, there was a ton of software for it, most 3rd party peripherals available for PC work on Mac and it was very stable. Who would believe it?

After doing the switch, it took me about 30 minutes to get used to the whole OS and get "necessary" applications like as Adium (AIM/MSN/YIM and other IM services). I was surprised how stable the system was and how quickly you get used to it. It's VERY user friendly. I got my iBook back in late 2005 and it has yet to crash on me. The only crashes I ever see is from third party software that gets ported to OSX, such as VLC Player. My iBook is a little outdated though, still PPC, I was supposed to get a new iMac, but invested in a new amp instead. I'm happy I did that or else I would have had an older model and like 4 weeks later see an upgrade and redesign available and 100$ cheaper. So I'll get one next year.

If you think you'll need Windows for anything, keep in mind that the new Macs have Intel processors. So with Apple's Bootcamp, or Parallels, you can dual boot Windows. If you're worried about RAM, get a Power Mac with 16gb of RAM. Though it will be like 12 000$ just for the RAM.

 

[Gintaras]

I've worked in the computer field for 30 yrs and have had both. When taken care of, rarely did either crash but when they did the pc I would just reboot but the mac was usually a little more stubborn. All said, when I finally quit being a network engineer then both platforms are out. I have been doing some linux systems for engineers for design work and that is really my favorite platform. We just pulled out an old pc from a friends basement corner and shoved a lot some ram into it. Downloaded a copy of Linux and OpenOffice plus added Firefox for Linux and there was basically a free machine that was just as fast as all the new stuff on the market. I have not done a lot of research into music software but this is on my list for this winter.

 

[pixelpounder]

I was all PC, but all I can say is once you go Mac you never go back.
Don't agree their more difficult to work on. I don't work on them, except run disk utility every so often to keep permissions correct.

Agree that for audio max the ram and get as much disk space as you can.
today it's Ableton live on a MacBook Pro 250gb HD internal and 500gb external Firewire drive. Max ram. Still if you have too much open at once and leave some apps gasping for breath, the best thing to do is reboot.

If your carefull and don't open everything at the same time it may be months before you reboot. Even on an airplane I sleep my MacBook, it just keeps running. No problems.

 

[Infernal Affair]

Downloaded a copy of Linux and OpenOffice plus added Firefox for Linux and there was basically a free machine that was just as fast as all the new stuff on the market. I have not done a lot of research into music software but this is on my list for this winter.

Unfortunately the choices in Linux digital audio workstation software is slim. Off the top of my head there's Ardour, but it's also Mac compatible.

 

[JansenW]

+1 for the Mac.

iWork '08 just introduced is Apple's office suite (Pen / Numbers / Keynote) which I really like for $79. I may not upgrade my Microsoft Office X!

 

[vtwo]

Consider investing a little more in an actual one.
The minis are $700 , brand new , and you can boot in both OS....

I wouldn't recommend the mini's for any workstation-type work whatsoever.

My opinion? PC hardware is getting cheaper and better all the time. You can get a very powerful system for much less than a Mac with comparable specs. PC's have high capability with anything you'd need - software, midi controllers, etc. And if it's just for music, then you'd have no reason to hook up to the internet and you'd be 99% safe from viruses.

I'm not saying Mac's are bad. They're designed for photoshop and audio work and they're just different. For comparable specifications, Windows based computers are just cheaper. I'm also a Windows user so I'm used to it - it's best for me.

 

[bassbrock]

I wouldn't recommend the mini's for any workstation-type work whatsoever.

Other than the Intel integrated graphics, the Mac Mini motherboard is almost identical to the MacBook/MacBook Pro motherboards.

There isn't any reason a Mac Mini couldn't be used for the same thing a MacBook or an iMac can be used for.

 

[fokof]

I wouldn't recommend the mini's for any workstation-type work whatsoever.

I have one in my rack mount. I don't even need a screen.
I boot it with Digital Performer setted at the right setup.
I have yet to crash it "live"......... Does a marvalous job.
I wouldn't mix an album on it but I have a G5 for that.....

My opinion? PC hardware is getting cheaper and better all the time. You can get a very powerful system for much less than a Mac with comparable specs. PC's have high capability with anything you'd need - software, midi controllers, etc. And if it's just for music, then you'd have no reason to hook up to the internet and you'd be 99% safe from viruses.

Ok but compare the Hi quality software available in both platforms
You have a lot more choice in Mac world

I'm not saying Mac's are bad. They're designed for photoshop

Doh!!!!!!!!!!!!

and audio work and they're just different. For comparable specifications, Windows based computers are just cheaper. I'm also a Windows user so I'm used to it - it's best for me.

If you are not aware , you can install OSX AND windoze on a mactel.
Can you do that on your Dell ?

 

[seamonkey]

If you are not aware , you can install OSX AND windoze on a mactel.
Can you do that on your Dell ?

The reason you can't boot OSX on a PC is that Apple will not sell you a copy to run on a PC.

I've been thinking of adding a Mac Mini but I thought I wait until they supported E-sata. Now I hear Apple may drop them. They don't seem to want to cater to the bargain crowd.

On the Linux, it's everywhere. All the wireless routers use it, RAID drive boxes, even in ear monitor systems. The Muse Receptor uses it, and Wine to run Windows VST plugins. Not "all of them" but for the ones it does it does so very reliably.

The OS is really just a drop in the bucket compared to the cost of all the software. Still I expect that the possibility of $150 laptops running Linux will make it more popular. We'll see.

 

[4lPh4n0m3g4]

Both platforms can get the job done and provide a stable work environment; but aside from the differences in hardware, IMO, it is also important to keep in mind how it is configured.

IME, Windows tends to have a lot of unneeded app.'s/functions for the general user. Atm I have more than half of the apps.'s that disabled through the system start-up config on my PC.

IME, Macs are the way to go for digital media manipulation; the edge I would give to Windows would be in the realm of gaming.

 

[bassbrock]

IME, Macs are the way to go for digital media manipulation; the edge I would give to Windows would be in the realm of gaming.

And Macs that run Windows can also run Windows games.

Windows does not run in emulation on a Mac - it runs natively just like it does on a Dell, HP, Gateway or your standard homemade PC.

 

[joelb79]

Any computer can fail in the hands of a nublet.

nublet. thats just fun to say... nublet. Nood is weaksauce.

 

[joelb79]

If you are not aware , you can install OSX AND windoze on a mactel.
Can you do that on your Dell ?

Yes. My co-worker has a triple boot Dell Optiplex GX620, Windows XP, Mac OSx 10.4.6 and Fedora. You just have to use a linux boot loader.

 

[seamonkey]

Windows does not run in emulation on a Mac - it runs natively just like it does on a Dell, HP, Gateway or your standard homemade PC.

You can run Windows on a Mac either way.

Either dual boot - boot to windows or boot to OS-X. Running only one OS at a time. Or use a Virtual Machine (i.e. VMware) to boot OS-X then run Windows - in a Window.

If you own a Mac, you legally own OS-X, so you could boot Windows then run OS-X in a window.

BTW - you can do the same for Windows and Linux - boot either one and then boot the other in a window. You could do this for Mac OS-X on a PC - but not legally.

 

[seamonkey]

Yes. My co-worker has a triple boot Del Optiplex GX620, Windows XP, Mac OSx 10.4.6 and Fedora. You just have to use a linux boot loader.

Although you can easily do it - there's no difference in the hardware, Booting OS-X on non-Apple hardware is not legal.

 

[4lPh4n0m3g4]

And Macs that run Windows can also run Windows games.

Yes Macs can run windows games, but IME, the main influencing factor giving PC's the edge is the choices in hardware.

It also depends depends if the user needs a single platform solution or can have separate platforms for different app.'s. I would prefer to have two separate systems. One for music recording/production only, and the other for everything else.