Have you made the switch? (desktop->laptop, pc->mac)

  • Thread starter Thread starter Steve Henningsgard
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I know this is an old thread, but I figured I'd update as I've got some thoughts to add! I switched from my Desktop PC/Sonar/MOTU rig to a MacBook Pro/Pro Tools/002 rig, and I couldn't be happier! It took me all of a month to get just as good (in fact, much better) at recording/editing in Pro Tools as I was in Sonar, and the ability to track drums at one studio, track guitars at my band's practice space, and track bass/vocals at my friend's home studio, all completely seamlessly, has been just brilliant!

As for missing my PC: let me say this very clearly:

I will never purchase a Windows-based PC ever again, unless for gaming purposes.

This is coming from a guy who built his own PC's for nearly 12 years.

oops.. lol...didn't read the date on the OP...
 
I'm a PC user, through and through... though I've used Macs in the past, albeit when they were on OS8, and it was for graphic design purposes (plus I was a system administrator for a small firm who used macs on the network)...

Not tried a mac with recording software, nor have I tried OSx... so I can't really comment on their suitability for recording work.

I do, however, know PCs inside out. I have issues, like everyone else, but I can usually sort them out pretty quickly. I've found XP Pro to be the most stable Windows I've used yet... I had my first XP BSOD a few weeks ago with my new recording rig (been using XP since SP1 came out) - which I found to be a windows update. Yeah, it wasn't easy to fix, and it shouldn't have happened (the hotfix should have been tested thoroughly), but as I've been doing it for years, I understand the way the system works better.

I have to admit this (but don't tell any of my friends or collegues!), but I might be leaning towards getting a mac in the future for recording purposes only, but that's only if I can try it out first - compare the two systems doing some high load stuff etc.

Can you get Nuendo for the Mac? Is it supported well? How about hardware - could I just install my interfaces in there and off it goes?

oh man, you gotta try out OS X, I wasn't as big of a fan of the Pre X operating systems... plus now, OS X is certified UNIX. Try it out, you may just love it. I really don't like using windows boxes much anymore since going mac.

Nuendo, I think is just PC, but there are some cross platform DAWS like, Ableton, Cubase, and Pro Tools (and soon to be Reaper..when it's actually...doing something)
 
Thanks for the update.

I've been having the same dilemma for a while now: switch to Mac, or not? With these new Apogee Ensemble and Duet units, I've been considering it even more because I've heard nothing but rave reviews about them and have heard of a lot of guys ditching their PT rigs to get one of these. Of course, I've always heard about Macs being more stable, more efficient, and not as unnecessarily complex and convoluted with useless crap like Windows, so that is another reason I've considered going that direction.

I’d say at this point though, the thing that is really making me lean towards Mac’s is the Apogee units, but we’ll see what happens when other companies start utilizing the bandwidth of PCI-e (hopefully soon). This Tiny XP sounds pretty interesting too, might check that out.

Passing by to correct my post. The Ensemble and Duet units are firewire, not PCI-e... I meant the Symphony unit.
 
I don't mind building/tweaking my pc.

If something breaks/stops working on a mac, how do you troubleshoot it if you didn't build it?
 
Using both to do the job...

I have both the desktop and laptop and use one or the other depending on the situation. When I'm at home it's the PowerMac G5 Dual Core. When our band plays, I take the MacBookPro Duo Core. They both seem to give me the sound I need as well as the performance although I do seem to have the pops and crackles on the laptop more than I would like.

That Windows / Mac debate will never be solved. Some people like the PC platform while others like the MAC. I say, go with what you know and feel comfortable with. I think both can have advantages and disadvantages.
 
Well, I couldn't resist and went ahead and got a MacBook before my Gateway died - couldn't hold off any longer!

I have completely migrated to Mac and OS X. I can gladly say I do not depend on any Microsoft products (XP, Office...).

I bought a black MacBook for myself and a white one for my wife for Christmas.
 
If something breaks/stops working on a mac, how do you troubleshoot it if you didn't build it?

same way as if you built it... you CAN buy mac compatible stuff, and more stuff is compatible with a mac than you'd think. I've replaced all kinds of shit in my G5 over the years. It's a myth that comes from the really really old school of macs that you are stuck with everything that you have (a mac, is very similar inside to a PC, and often pretty much the same, with minor revisions here and there.
 
I don't mind building/tweaking my pc.

If something breaks/stops working on a mac, how do you troubleshoot it if you didn't build it?

You don't. They do it for you!! I bought my macbook pro at a bestbuy and when I got it home, there was a problem with the lcd. I took it to the nearest apple store and the guy went in the back and came out with a brand new computer for me! Would that ever happen if I built it myself?? NO WAY!

Apple customer service is miles above any pc manufacturer that I've ever dealt with.

I also bought applecare, so if anything like this happens again, I'm covered for 3 years. Free repairs, no questions asked.
 
You don't. They do it for you!! I bought my macbook pro at a bestbuy and when I got it home, there was a problem with the lcd. I took it to the nearest apple store and the guy went in the back and came out with a brand new computer for me! Would that ever happen if I built it myself?? NO WAY!

I would rather fix it myself than have some inept waste of life Geek Squad member touch my computer. I know an LCD screen isn't really something I can just fix really, but I'm just talking about general things.

I have tried Macs in the past...just not my thing I guess. I'm a huge PC nerd and I recently built my first computer from scratch, and it feels great. I'm too comfortable and satisfied with PCs to make the switch, though I could see how some might be sick of the whole PC thing.

Money is another reason I will never make the switch. There's really no such thing as a "budget" Mac build. I built the PC I'm running on now for $300 bones, and it does everything I need it to do. I do not believe Apple can accommodate me in that area.

My next build is somewhere in the range of $1500 with all new components, and the last time I priced out a Mac that was comparable in specs, it ended up being somewhere around $3000.
 
What "general" piece of hardware have you had fail that you've been able to fix yourself? Just out of curiosity. I was a pc user for about 20 years and built tons of machines, but if I ever had a piece of hardware fail, I wouldn't have the slightest clue as how to repair electronics like that!

And I'm definitely not talking about Best Buy's geek squad. When I say that apple customer service is miles ahead of any pc tech help I've ever had to use, I mean they're miles ahead of geek squad.
 
What "general" piece of hardware have you had fail that you've been able to fix yourself? Just out of curiosity. I was a pc user for about 20 years and built tons of machines, but if I ever had a piece of hardware fail, I wouldn't have the slightest clue as how to repair electronics like that!

And I'm definitely not talking about Best Buy's geek squad. When I say that apple customer service is miles ahead of any pc tech help I've ever had to use, I mean they're miles ahead of geek squad.

If you have enough experience soldering and diagnosing electronics problems, you can fix a lot of stuff on components that would be more expensive to flat out replace. At one point all I was doing at my job was repairing high-end video cards that were out of warranty. Fun stuff.
 
What "general" piece of hardware have you had fail that you've been able to fix yourself? Just out of curiosity. I was a pc user for about 20 years and built tons of machines, but if I ever had a piece of hardware fail, I wouldn't have the slightest clue as how to repair electronics like that!

And I'm definitely not talking about Best Buy's geek squad. When I say that apple customer service is miles ahead of any pc tech help I've ever had to use, I mean they're miles ahead of geek squad.

I guess I didn't use the right word. The main idea is I don't want other people poking around inside my computer at all. I was using "fixing" in the sense of checking out the part for myself and replacing it myself, so I didn't use the right word at all.

Me = idiot.

I just don't like relying on other people to fix these things for me unless I have to, and I especially don't like sending my computer away for repairs or having to take it somewhere. As far as I know...as soon as your hands touch the inside of that computer it voids your warranty, though I could be way off. Things have changed since the days of having to get everything straight from Apple, but I'm pretty sure there are still issues with buying third party computer parts.

If something goes wrong...I know everything that's in it and I put it in myself. All I have to do is diagnose the problem, hop online, and get a new part.

This is also why I don't have a laptop. You can't build your own. It's also why I'll never buy a pre-made computer unless I DO decide to buy a laptop. This way I know who has been inside of it, what's been done, and the exact reason for it. I also have control over the quality of the parts that I put inside (this goes right back to the budget thing).

The price/budget issue is something that I won't be able to get past. As far as I know, you cannot build a Mac from scratch. Yeah you can "customize" it before you get it, but that's not what I mean. I also cannot build a Mac for $300 like I did with my PC. I do not think they're worth the money at all.

I guess most of this applies to all of the companies that do pre-built computers (Dell, Gateway, etc), but the difference is that I don't have the option of just doing it all myself.
 
If you have enough experience soldering and diagnosing electronics problems, you can fix a lot of stuff on components that would be more expensive to flat out replace. At one point all I was doing at my job was repairing high-end video cards that were out of warranty. Fun stuff.

and of course macs use this super space age un-solderable circuit boards..it magically shocks you in the bollocks when you try to solder anything. Have you looked at the guts of a mac? a lot of the same stuff as a good PC.
 
I guess I didn't use the right word. The main idea is I don't want other people poking around inside my computer at all. I was using "fixing" in the sense of checking out the part for myself and replacing it myself, so I didn't use the right word at all.

Me = idiot.

I just don't like relying on other people to fix these things for me unless I have to, and I especially don't like sending my computer away for repairs or having to take it somewhere. As far as I know...as soon as your hands touch the inside of that computer it voids your warranty, though I could be way off. Things have changed since the days of having to get everything straight from Apple, but I'm pretty sure there are still issues with buying third party computer parts.

If something goes wrong...I know everything that's in it and I put it in myself. All I have to do is diagnose the problem, hop online, and get a new part.

This is also why I don't have a laptop. You can't build your own. It's also why I'll never buy a pre-made computer unless I DO decide to buy a laptop. This way I know who has been inside of it, what's been done, and the exact reason for it. I also have control over the quality of the parts that I put inside (this goes right back to the budget thing).

The price/budget issue is something that I won't be able to get past. As far as I know, you cannot build a Mac from scratch. Yeah you can "customize" it before you get it, but that's not what I mean. I also cannot build a Mac for $300 like I did with my PC. I do not think they're worth the money at all.

I guess most of this applies to all of the companies that do pre-built computers (Dell, Gateway, etc), but the difference is that I don't have the option of just doing it all myself.

Funny, there must be some sort of international ban on buying mac componants and putting them in yourself... there is a cryptonite seal on all mac computers that will kill you and curse your family forever when you try to replace things yourself :D
 
Bla bla bla
Hah alright now kiddies, don't get your panties in a bundle over the age old "mac vs. pc" argument. Let me sum up both sides, as I'd say I'm very much qualified to speak on both sides' behalf:

Macs: for people who either don't know how to, or just don't want to have to futz with picking out parts, configuring bios'/drivers/etc., or digging around inside to install/upgrade/fix crap. Macs are built to last, keep their resale value much better than a competing PC, and don't sell low-end stuff. They charge a premium for their computers because you're not just buying the parts (and a slick case!), you're buying an OS that was CUSTOM-TAILORED to your specific hardware. The desktops have some configurable options like add-in pcie cards, hard drives, cd-drives, and memory, but there aren't NEARLY as many options for upgrades/side-grades, and add-on tomfoolery that the Windows-based PC world has.

Windows-based PC's: for people who like to configure their own system's hardware/software and make it their own. If something's not running the way you want, you can dig in and change it. Very easily upgradeable hardware in all aspects (new mobo, power supply, processor, memory, hard drive, case, etc. etc. etc.), and thus the same computer in multiple iterations could potentially last you forever. They're cheaper because there's a lot more competition out there making essentially the same hardware, and because the market is SO MUCH bigger. There are a nearly infinite number of configurations available, right down to picking between multiple brands of memory. On the flip-side, the Windows operating system has to somehow cope with these near-infinite available configurations and still run with some semblance of stability. With the right research and user habits/upkeep, you can build a very solid, fast machine. With little research, you can build a very expensive piece of virus-ridden, poorly-written-driver laden paperweight.

Short-hand version: Macs = Ferarri-tanks, PC's = Muscle cars!
 
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I prefer desktop PC's because if a bit of hardware dies I can swap it out with a spare until I get a new part. I have spares because I have been using PC's for years. I've never owned a mac, and so wouldn't have spares. My instinct tells me that even if I had owned macs for years, I still wouldn't have spares.

I don't like laptops, because the one I have, when the video card fried, it cost me more than an equivalent video card to get it fixed, and I had to send it out to be fixed, and wait for 2 weeks to get it back.

With the same laptop, I had to replace the hard drive and the keyboard. They wanted it sent back to them. My dad dealt with it all in this case, because he didn't see the value in it being sent out to them, when he is a Dell certified engineer. And it was only a keyboard and hard drive. Anyone could install those in a laptop. In this case it 2 weeks to explain that it could be fixed. Once they accepted, they then needed diagnostic information from my dad. He did everything that was needed, and they continued to piss around and ask stupid questions for another 2 weeks. My dad handed me a printout of all the correspondance he had with them. It was an inch thick. If it had been a desktop, I'd have it fixed and up and running myself in the time it takes me to get to the shop, buy the bits I need, get home, and stick them in the PC. On top of that, laptop batteries die eventually. Mine lasts 5 minutes literally. The plug from the power supply is frayed and sourcing a replacment is likely to be difficult after 5 years. Therefore, I will never buy another laptop.
 
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Have you looked at the guts of a mac? a lot of the same stuff as a good PC.

Uh... yeah, which is pretty much what I said in my post that called you out for implying that the problem with hotswap damage might have been due to the platform being PC and running Windows.
Simply trying to quell the Mac vs. PC argument before it started, but you just had to keep it going eh?
I'm not even going to justify the other part of your post with a response. But you must think you're just hilarious, eh?

Edit: Forgot that this isn't the firewire thread, but it still applies. Idiotic debates and even more idiotic replies are pointless. Get over it. Use what you want and let other people use what they want without putting in your unwanted opinions.
 
Uh... yeah, which is pretty much what I said in my post that called you out for implying that the problem with hotswap damage might have been due to the platform being PC and running Windows.
Simply trying to quell the Mac vs. PC argument before it started, but you just had to keep it going eh?
I'm not even going to justify the other part of your post with a response. But you must think you're just hilarious, eh?

Edit: Forgot that this isn't the firewire thread, but it still applies. Idiotic debates and even more idiotic replies are pointless. Get over it. Use what you want and let other people use what they want without putting in your unwanted opinions.

Cool it with the arguments, no need for a flamewar.
(especially when this isn't even the right thread!)


Your dick will remain the same size regardless of who proves his/her point "the bestest" ;)
 
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