Topic: Computer (DAW) recommends...

[Zaphod]

So the time has come for me to step up into the modern world, I will be purchasing a computer soon.  I really don't want to cheap out anywhere so this is what I would like to do with it:

-Audio transfers/editing/burnin
-Video ^^ same as above
-Internet downloads/torrents/ftp
-Word processing, picture editing, printing, etc.

So just basically a DAW. What does everyone prefer for processors Intel, AMD? I heard that AMD's are generally faster but often can burn up motherboards, and aren't as reliable as Intels. As far as speed I'm thinking like 3Ghz with 1G ram, also recommends on CD and DVD burners harddrive setups and wahtnot will be greatly appreciated! 

[scb]

how about a mac?

[Zaphod]

I'm not too inclined towards a mac, may be a bit too pricey? I'm looking to spend not much over a $1,000.

Then again I know really nothing aout macs, what are their virtures over a PC, how upgradeable are they?

[scb]

you could get a refurb 1.8ghz g5 imac g5 for like 800 bucks. 

if you're doing video stuff, i think you'd love to be able to play with final cut pro...

anyone else agree/disagree?

[momule]

this would be a screamer. It would be awhile before you would need an upgrade.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103535 ($190)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813180064 ($102)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145450 ($123)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822148065 ($108)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827152047 ($39)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811133132 ($115)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817153006 ($38)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16837102153 ($142)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16829121125 ($164)
http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/ProductDetail.aspx?sku=320-4111&c=us&cat=snp&category_id=6198&cs=19&l=en&Page=productlisting.aspx

[Ed.]

i don't have much experience with mac's but i think for an easy option to do everything you want that would be very user friendly, mac would probably be your best bet.

now if you wanted to take the time to build your own computer (non mac) - you could probably put something together about 4x faster than the mac for about the same money.

[Zaphod]

now if you wanted to take the time to build your own computer (non mac) - you could probably put something together about 4x faster than the mac for about the same money.

My thoughts exactly. I'm not sure if macs are as easy to upgrade as PCs either, anyone know?

+T's for the replies, keep 'em coming!

[OFOTD]

I really think Momule hit it on the head pretty good.  I havce built several DAW's for friends and all were PC based.  I like the Mac's but you your options for upgrade are somewhat limited by being an Apple product when compared to a Wintel. 

I have a couple of suggestions or changes to what Momule listed.  I have 2 DAW's at the house right now.  One is a Pentium 3.2 and the other is an AMD64 processor.  The AMD64 is slower by a small but noticable differnece.  Mainly due to very limited choices within the 64 bit software world.  I would suggest going with a P4 (dual core if you can).  The performance benefits/cost ration is stronger with the P4 than a 64 bit chip.

My other suggestion would be burners and I know this is completely subjective.  I prefer and am a die-hard Plextor user.  They are a little more expensive but worth it due to low read/write errors and quality of burn.  Oh yeah the Dell 20" widescreen is awesome by the way.  But also look at their 19" LCD for $303 right now which is really hard to pass up.

If you are skeptical about building your own system shoot me a PM and I can help with advice or even offer to do the build-out for you if you are interested.

[wbrisette]

I really think Momule hit it on the head pretty good.  I havce built several DAW's for friends and all were PC based.  I like the Mac's but you your options for upgrade are somewhat limited by being an Apple product when compared to a Wintel. 

First, I will say that I use to work at Apple (10 years total), so my opinions are not without bias. That said, I would argue that the upgrade path is limited. Sure you can't toss a new processor in, but guess what, if you're not a gearhead and willing to putz around with the OS and BIOS, you may never get an upgraded processor working either. That aside, very little requires an upgrade. Price point wise, you're pretty close and OS wise, the difference is night and day (I'll take Mac OS X over XP any day of the week ... I use both daily and Sun OS quite a bit and for those who use multiple platforms will probably choose Mac OS X).

Software-wise, there aren't any limitations, although you might have to use a product you haven't heard of before. On the DAW front there are more options since Mark of the Unicorn's Digital Performer and Apple's Logic (formerly Emagic) only work on the Mac.

I'll leave you with one small tidbit that was told to me while I worked at Apple. When Emagic was purchased by Apple and they chose to discontinue the Windows version a lot of people got pissed at Apple. However, in talking with a former Emagic employee who came to Apple he mentioned that in their support costs, 80% of the issues were generated by Windows  owners and 20% were Mac owners. That sound fair, when you consider the number of PCs versus Macs. However, then he told me that 75% of their user base were Mac owners. So, 25% of the users were costing 80% of the support costs. Now how accurate these numbers are, are anybody's guess. But this goes along with what I've heard at some other companies that have cross platform products (that is, support tends to take longer and be more esoteric on Windows).

So, I'll leave the Windows vs. Mac decision to you, but I honestly think that if you use Mac OS X for any time at all, compare costs (without building one yourself) putting in all the same features on both you might be surprised at how closely the costs really are...

Wayne

[Chris K]

get the mac. what do you need to upgrade? the processor...probably not? ram, no problem....drives, no problem. I dont understand this upgrade question? plug it in and it works on the mac...no restarts, no blue screens of death...it just works.

i too work all day on pc, but my home computer is a mac. if you want to do film, graphics & music seriously on a computer, there is no question you should get a mac.

leave the pc's to do spreadsheets and powerpoint presentations. 

[momule]

My other suggestion would be burners and I know this is completely subjective.  I prefer and am a die-hard Plextor user.  They are a little more expensive but worth it due to low read/write errors and quality of burn. 

Im 99% sure that Liteon Makes plextors drives nowwa day's , I hear ya On the plextors Before DVD's I was sold on the plextors aswell I am still use my 24/10/40A once in awhile ,which is about 5 years old now..

[jcme262]

 Alex, do your research like I know you will. Yes I spent some money for my system but I knew what I was getting well in advance being a Mac guy. Something about the machine and os just plain work while many of my pc buds are constantly dumping money fixing upgrading etc. I'd just as soon spend more and run it tell she pukes and that's usually a pretty long time for me

Have fun and see you on the microtrack