Hey all, first post here.

Unfortunately my computer is about to put out. For the most part its already dead. Well, I'm looking at new computers now and the main thing I'm planning on using this new computer for is enternet browing, some work document type stuff and music - music meaning iTunes type media and for recording and streaming my guitar.

Now for the advice - I've always heard that mac's are the way to go for media type things like music (hell it even comes with garage band - primitive but fun). But for the price I pay for a mac would I be able to get a PC and a good software? On that note any advice for computers/recording software?

Thanks,
Craig

I think there is plenty of tips regarding this issue in the forum already, if I write something else we gonna have the "Oh no, the never ending MAC vs. PC" -discussion again....

//Staffay

Yes, there we go again ...

Seriously, consider mac if you can. Performance-wise quicker than a high end pc, and you can still run Windows on it, if you really want to. And Garageband is actually not as primitive as you may think

then again, I'm a mac fan, so for some solid balance in your considerations, check out some comments from PC-adepts...

This post has been edited by Rik Veldhuizen: Dec 27 2009, 06:52 PM

Macs tend to be more stable, but you can get a really fast PC with the same money. Personally I've had some problems with my pc but I got used to it. It's like once every few months there's something you have to fix.

So there we are........again.... Which MAC do You consider faster than Intels i7 processor???

//Staffay

I would recommend a pc with some decent hardware. Mac is an option if you have the money and you can live with the smaller range of software available. And a second drawback on mac is that everything you buy is more expensive if its made for MacOS. The positive thing is, the stuff you get is guaranteed to work and unlike with a pc theres almost not such thing as "X doesnt work with your hardware/software". You buy a mac, you buy mac software it works. You buy a pc, you buy pc software, still a chance that it wont work.

Mac - less options, guaranteed to work, more expensive
Pc - most options, fastest hardware, cheaper, option to fail

Its all personal choice. This has been my favorite saying these days.

I also came back from PC background but moved to mac since last year.. mainly because I couldn't afford to run 450W power eating desktop and it was pretty old P4, Plus all those firewires and having to go behind the computer to join.. all those fan running and making weird noises all the night .. .etc. So I just got myself a MBP for all purpose (work / recording / video / surfing). Its been raped, you bet. I have spent quite a lot but its been really satisfying except for few things which I wish it was more like PC such as folder browsing and ability to rename files when your file window is open etc... Otherwise, Its just simple and I love it. I can work on the same machine and do my hobbies as well. What more can I wish for? Oh yea, a bit more RAM.

If you have the money, well go get a Mac! I do agree that softwares can be expensive for mac.

For recording, all softwares are alike... Its not that you get the premium software and you can make that next blockbuster song. Its like guitar, It depends on how good you can play.. not how good your guitar is.

This post has been edited by maharzan: Dec 28 2009, 07:06 AM

+1 on that!
I will say like in another thread bout this issue, its really who You want to be compatible with - what computers does Your friends, studios etc. have? Both MAC & PC works excellent for audio recording nowadays, even that there may be a lot of more software for PC, so there is no winner in this competition imo. Since MAC now use the same processors/other hardware as PC's there is no really difference performance-wise other than the OS itself may cause. Since I've been using both MAC and PC's since the 80's will my advice (as alway's) be:
If You are on a budget - buy a PC. If not, buy a MAC.
Since additional software & hardware are a lot cheaper on PC (even some free...) this is really an advantage, but on the other hand there are a lot of crappy stuff out there and if You want to do some studio pre-production MAC is better since the bigger studios is more likely to run Pro Tools on MAC.

Enough on this topic... (this time... )
//Staffay

Haven't tried it myself, but from what I read, the Mac Pro with Xeon Nehalem processors is quite fast, even compared to the i7 ones. It also depends on how you're benchmarking of course. But both (Mac Pro with Xeon Nehalem) and i7 seem very fast .

There the price diff of course. But also the new iMac 27" uses the i7... And you get a huge screen with it

This post has been edited by Rik Veldhuizen: Dec 28 2009, 10:33 AM

If you are not on the geek side of life, if you don't play computer games or work on 3D animation and if you don't want to tweak your computer hardware manually now and in the near future then go for a Mac.

Otherwise, PC is for you... Windows 7 is now a very good product, nothing to compare with Vista.

Don't forget to check your current hardware drivers for compatibility with Mac/PC.

Yeah, the Nehalem is the newest processor, but as I said, in the field of audio processing I dont think it matters here since they are using the same processors anyway.... And I dont think the OS has anything to do with it nowaday's either. It doesn't really matters here, I dont think its any "best" like in the old day's...



+1 , I totally agree here, but I even think that Vista is stable enough now.....

//Staffay

I wouldn't bet my house on it

I would just say this.. if you use Windows 7, make sure all your drivers or existing audio interfaces work well with it.

I am sure now you are all confused with all this discussion. It happens to me all the time before buying anything.

I would go for a PC + necessary software. For the audio recording part, I would recommend an easy to use external interface like POD Studio UX1 (or UX2)...

For recording software you can use (almost free) Reaper:
http://www.reaper.fm/

or something better (and more complicated) like Cubase , Nuendo etc...

I would like to get back on the topic please. What's your budget Craig?