I'm looking at a laptop for my son, entering college in the fall. He's planning to study music, so in addition to note-taking and paper-writing, he wants to be able to record through interfaces — not, please note, simply duping CDs, but plugging in his guitar, a microphone, etc.. Is there a notable difference between a Mac and a Dell? I know there are graphic differences but have seen little about music recording differences. Any thoughts?
Thanks for these answers, they are all a big help. I've always had PCs (and a Dell laptop) and have been pretty satisfied with them, but have never tried recording. My son will be using other recording software than Garageband (I'm not sure which one) and we'd love to hear from more musicians on the Mac v. PC issue, for ease of use, quality and reliability.
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4 responses so far ↓
1 AGENT3574 // Jul 2, 2008
Yes
Mac= Better recording software using garageband will allow virtual and plug in instruments… all pros in the music industry use macs for filtering out sound due to its high quality recording inputs and specific software if you due want to plug you guitar into your mac you will need a pre amp hooked up to ur mac
how to guitar on mac
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHZqnl64wBY
PC= software forking out 49.99 for software and a preamp and not best quality in the built in motherboards of a pc or a pc based laptop here is a link of someone using a mac with a actual guitar hope this helps
i have same setup and works great and i love my mac
2 Sam // Jul 2, 2008
My MacBook has everything to do that INCLUDED on it already. I suggest a MacBook Pro for his field. There are a good amount of programs such as GarageBand that are included on the computer already. GarageBand supports instrument plug ins as well with recording.
3 Carling // Jul 2, 2008
You are under the misapprehension that Apple Mac systems are far superior to the noble run of the mill Laptop computers throw that thought into the deep blue sea, they are not.. after 30 years of using and building computer systems I know what I am talking about.
Mac's are over rated, over priced, and under powered but every well marketed, and once you have bought one your tied to them for everything. software, accessories.repairs at a very high price. The fact is you can do more with the run of the mill laptop. all it needs is a little research
Did you know that there are other operating systems and software out there that are FREE. they leave proprietary software in the dark ages..
Did you know that the top computer manufactures HP, Dell, Compaq, use these free operating systems in their business systems because it is safer, faster, and more secure. and keeps the cost down for industrial users….
check out the link below see what I am talking about if you want to know more call me
4 C W // Jul 2, 2008
Definitely the MacBook Pro. I'm assuming you're after the 15", as the 17" "Lunch Tray" is "portable" as long as it isn't portabled all the time, as it's a bit bulky and heavy for a student to be carrying around all day.
Don't forget your free iPod:
http://store.apple.com/us/browse/campaigns/back_to_school?mco=OTUwMDIx
The " … mac is great but expensive … " argument is bogus. For equivalent platforms, Dell is actually a touch more expensive. See:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/?qid=20080612161846AAOEI1U
Compare the $129 price of the best version of Leopard, Apple's latest version of OS X to the price of the latest "best" version of Windows.
The " … market share … " argument is bogus!
Saying an OS or platform is best because a vast majority of users use it is the same as saying McD's serves the best food there is. BMW seems to do alright on ⅛ th market share Macs have.
The " … Macs are slow … " argument is bogus!
Consumer Reports declared the iMacs and MacBooks "Best Desktop and Laptop _Windows_ Computers of 2008. Macs run Windows faster than PCs do, and there's nothing about running OS X that slows it down.
Saying an OS or platform is best because a vast majority of users use it is the same as saying McD's serves the best food there is. BMW seems to do alright on ⅛ th market share Macs have.
The "Macs are unreliable" argument is bogus!
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/?qid=20080624185029AAXrhzR
You may notice where Dell is in that list.
Mac "Security through Obscurity" is a myth. It's been known to be a myth since OS X was released, and it's been well publicized for almost five years.
DAVID POGUE - The New York Times - September 18, 2003:
"I also wrote that Mac OS X and Linux are virus-free because they offer virus writers a much smaller “audience” than Windows — a notion that’s been much repeated in the press, most recently last week’s BusinessWeek cover story. That, as it turns out, is a myth, no matter who repeats it. There’s a much bigger reason virus writers don’t like Mac OS X and Linux.
'Unix [which underlies Mac OS X] and Linux ARE more secure,' wrote one reader. 'They have been developed, open-source style, by people who know exactly what they are doing. Unix and Linux have had at least 10 years of battling hackers to better themselves. This leads to an extremely secure environment.'”
Full article:
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/18/technology/circuits/18POGUE-EMAIL.html?ex=1214280000&en=1efe03e6ab949440&ei=5070
Try searching the Net for:
"OS X" Security Obscurity Myth
But, though it's not absolutely needed, anti-virus is a good idea, the best anti-virus software for OS X is free for the download at:
http://www.clamxav.com/
How much are you going to spend per year properly protecting a Wintel?
The "compatibility" argument is bogus. iWorks is a lot less money than "Office", and does Office compatible files. As for other software, the argument reduces to this, "There are 15,000 pieces of software a knowledgeable Windows user wouldn't put on a PC, there are only 1,500 a knowledgeable Mac user wouldn't put on a Mac, but for "needed" software, what's available to Windows users is available to Mac users. And, if you're a "Gamer", using Boot Camp and what you save over buying a Dell & Office, you can be running Windows on the Mac.
The "Customer Service" argument is bogus. Mac & OS X continually outrates the best of Wintel & Windows in "Customer Satisfaction" by 8 to 10 %age points.
The " … how much an hour will you be paying when the Mac breaks … " argument is bogus. AppleCare for three years is $249, and it covers everything. Try getting that with a Wintel machine. Macs "break" far less often than Wintels, and you have an Apple Store nearby, the Genius Bar is free.
Even the "right click" argument is bogus. The "Mighty Mouse" which comes with all Macs but the Mini and MacBooks does "right click", and even single button Mac mice have been doing right clicks for teens of years, by holding down the "Control" key while clicking, or simply holding down the mouse button for about a second.
With the Mac, you can save money, get the best Windows computer there is, and get the Mac side for free with it's attendant Stability, Security, Quality, Ease of Use, stellar Customer Service, Customer Satisfaction, and yes, coolness factor …
"Drink upstream of the herd."
Hope this helps.
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