Anyone use a Mac G3?

[Choboy]

My girlfriend is thinking of buying a computer to . . . I don't know . . . she's not really sure, but she wants a computer. Since she works with a bunch of "graphic artists", they have Mac as their religion.

First of all, am I right in saying that there aren't as many options for music recording for G3s in terms of hardware/software? I mean, what options do I have for soundcards and CD burners, for example?

I tried making the argument yesterday with one of her co-workers that PCs are the industry standard in music recording (at least that's what I am to believe from sites like this and industry mags like MIX magazine.) Anyone got arguments to the contrary? Of course everyone knows of SOMEONE who uses a Mac for music (pro or otherwise) but I'm talking overall.

Thanks for the input.

 

[neadam]

umm, macintosh has always been the industry standard for hard disk based recording, and in most aspects is still superior. It's only been in the last few years that pc's have even getting closer to being able to do what macs have done for much longer. The major advantage to the pc side is being able to do lower to upper mid range quality recording for a relatively inexpensive price. Pro tools has always been mac, and just in teh last year to two gone to NT as well. Macintosh also has better handling of realtime effects processing and lets all face it, more stable than windows. I've done support for both for almost 3 years, and this is just a simple fact. No matter what she wants to do, the pc side will most likely be the cheaper and more flexible way to go, but if she is going to be a die hard graphics designer and has cash to burn, go mac.

 

[Timbo]

I have a blue and white G3 and though I'm new to hard disk recording, there seems to be a lot out there for serious recording. I mean, PCI is PCI and USB is USB for the most part. Much more cross platforming going on these days. Basically with and Event card, a midi box and a program like Cubase, there's not much (if anything) you can't do.

Also, I have consistantly found that the cost of ownership (not just the original price) is always much higher on my PC.


Tim

 

[~~synergy~~]

If cost of ownership is higher for your pc than for a mac... man, you're doing something wrong or you buy crap gear that must give out, and you must pay out the nose for it... Though apple has been reaching a bit more for the cheaper market in recent months, anyone who has a clue about computers in general can get quality pc stuff for a reasonable price. I have always been a fan of the mac os, and it's superiority for audio and graphics, but total cost of ownership wise, pc has it beat in software spectrum and price, original hardware price, monitor pricing, ram pricing, hd price, etc, etc, etc.

 

[SN]

The reason most people at this site use Windows machines is that this is "Homerecording.com" Our computers are office/gaming machines that we try to convert to audio machines. Most of the pros use Macintosh. About soundcard choices. How many souncards do you need? There are so many choices because so many of them are cheap. The choices for Mac are fewer, but they are all better from the get go without the hot-rodding.

Did you see the "Phantom Menace"? Remember all the sound during outdoor scenes? All recorded on G3 Laptops.

The best software is Mac first, Windows later. Much software does not even exist on Windows (like MAX a programing environment for MIDI applications)

A G3 desktop with all the right inputs and outputs is the best choice.

But your friend should know exactly what she wants her computer for. She should only buy it when she needs it, and no sooner. A wait of 3 months can mean a drop in price of a few hundred dollars for the same computer. Dollars she can spend to buy more goodies, or save up.