PC vs MAC - What's the best notebook for working with Audio and Midi?

What's the best notebook for working with audio and midi (using Digital Performer and Pro tools if I buy a MAC, or maybe Cubase SX if I buy a PC)?
Should I buy a PC P4 2,2gHz notebook or a MAC G4 powerbook?

I'll use the computer sometimes to live audio recording with 8 inputs, using a Motu 828 or something like that.

(It will also be very used with Photoshop and maybe even using Video)

Luis Santos

Luis,
I would first like to say that I am truly unbiased as far as Mac vs. PC's.
Right now I am on a 2.4Gig P4 with a gig of DDR333 and this thing will run like hell. I can practically run packets of SETI as fast as they can send them to me.
The answer though is plain and simple, it's the Mac. Music proccessing is of serial nature generally. The data proccessing flow is under tight scrutiny. This is where the Mac shines really strong because that is more so how it works than a PC. All the apps you mentioned will run better in Mac's lower level language (Mac software verses PC software)
Macs cost a fortune compared to PC's. It is very hard to find great deals on Mac G4 1Gig Powerbooks, but they are out there. You have to snag it as soon as you see it. Good luck sir.

I recommend the Mac as well . I will not use PCs at all . Morph is right though , the mac is not going to be cheap at all . As an avid mac user , the price can be troublesome . Sometimes I wonder what they are thinking when it comes to price .

One thing is for certain , if you buy the mac for music and internet and digital music ( mp3s ) , the Mac is superior in all aspects .

If you want to play games as well as the other things , or do some kind of server setup - go with Pc . Mainly because they are the standard in those areas .

Macs are so expensive because Apple has a monopoly on the hardware. There is plenty of competition in the PC hardware market, so the prices are more "natural." Hell, in PC processors there are only two competitors, intel and AMD, yet even with only two the prices are driven down a lot.

and when you build your own PC, the prices are even better...

That's what I do, Marc.

how is it you know my name?

I'm looking forward to buy a laptop so I can't build one!

Yes, the prices on pc laptops are so different... powerbooks 1ghz cost a fortune!

I'll have to decide.

Thanks everybody!

Luis Santos

if you have no problem with voiding your warranty...

you can just go cheap with RAM which has high markup for laptops, then buy the needed ram and install it yourself.

Luis, You have to remember the old addage:
If it looks too good to be true, chances are it probably is.
Not long ago I surfed through XXXXX XXXXXXXX and saw a Mac laptop. I almost shit.
The top of the line Mac notebook plus all kinds of accessories was at 1200 bucks with a buy it now for 2400 I clicked it immediately! I added everything up and the retail total was about 8200 bucks! I wrote the guy and told him I would immediatly go to wherever and hand him the money (cash and carry)he replied with some bull about policies blahblah. It seemed fishy. I looked him up and saw that the address was a mail box drop and he is listed on XXXXX's most wanted forum. BE CAREFULL FOLKS! I cant reveal because it may comprimise an active investigation.

Stop sniffing the glue.

haha, obviously you know my first name...did you cross reference this screename with other MRT1212s on the internet?

btw, the glue is best this time of year

No, you sent a flame to my e-mail account a while ago and signed it with your first name.

that was ages ago, ages. your memory is too good to be human...

I'm a chatbot.

I use an old (old? 4years? shakes head) Thinkpad 380Z Laptop with a PII 300 and 96Mb. Does all I want. I use Cakewalk, XGworks and PowerTracks, none of which work on the Mac. (I also have Cubase but don't use it much). In conjunction with MidiYoke I can connect all these sequencers together and use them simultaneously. I mostly use it for driving my PSR-740 as it gives me access to the whole synth via XGworks. Best part was that it only cost US$400 which seems to be the going rate for this model. However, if I was using a soft synth it wouldn't be powerful enough.

this ones for you 800dv

Its speculation but here it is: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,4149,939886,00.asp

PS. I dont care whether its true or not.

That should be interesting to see . Change is good .

If anyone can bridge the architecture it would be Apple

I agree .

In my opinion this entire conversation is about two years out of date.

The fact of the matter is that modern computers are now so powerful that are able to handle music making programs with no trouble at all.

computers will always be limiting.

limiting how jiddu?

I read an article on top composers and how they produce their music. It listed some names and their setups. It wasn't out of the ordinary for them to be using 32 hardware samplers with full memory upgrades in sync to represent an orchestra. 32!! Try running that as a software setup.

But this is an extreme case you say? Well if I could run 18 FM7's, fully decked with Cubase FX over the top and Reason and Audio tracks in cubase I would do it. Fact is I cant. And in 5 years I may be able to do that, but in 5 years FM7 wont be cutting edge, some new software synth will have taken its place that will be as demanding on the new machines as the ones now are on present hardware.

Computers will always be limiting in ProAudio because people will always find ways to push them to their limits, hence making them limiting.

Thats why I think EQ is wrong.

PS I am probably hi off floor varnish as we are getting our floorboards redone and the fumes are pungent... hope my post wasnt loopy.
heh now whos sniffing glue WOOOOOPS!!