What computer do I get?

[fabian3679]

I'm running ProTools LE and i've been looking for a new computer pretty soon. I went to the Apple store and found out that they are not making the G5's anymore. They told me that the only way I could get one is to buy a refurbished one. The Mac pro's are replacing them but they are using the Intel processors which I think the newest versions of LE are compatible with but is it also compatible with my other programs and plugins like my waves plugins, amplitube, sampletank? Plus the cost of those puts me up about another 1000 dollars. I would like to get the newest, latest, and fastest computer but i'm scared of compatibility issues. What about PC's? Are there any which would be as good as the new Mac Pro's or should I stay with mac.

[DAS]

We still have brand new G5's in stock here, and I suspect other Apple retail outlets do as well...for the time being.

More and more things are becoming compatible with the Intel boxes every day, but right now there are a number of plug-ins that are not compatible with them (and a number that are).

This makes it kind of a complicated question. It may be best for you to run your ideas through one of our Sales Engineers and enlist their help in doing a comparison based on exactly what you want to do.

As for the PC, yes, there are good and powerful PC's...but if you are used to a Mac and like them you may be better off staying put. That's another subjective issue - I've seen users migrate either direction, but most users of one platform tend to be more comfortable remaining with that platform. That said, Pro Tools is almost exactly the same on either type of machine so you probably could switch with a minimum of aggravation if you wanted to.

[professionalsounds]

Fabian: Mac has always been the music industry standard for computers.
These days it still is, also the new Mac's can also run most PC software.
To the best of my knowledge PC's do not run Mac software.
Do some research to find out the following:
1:Processor's rating. If you want fast make sure it is 2.2G or more.
2:RAM. If you want fast make sure you are 2G or more.
2:HardDrive: If you need lots of space to store projects I would suggest that you run 2 x 250G harddrives in RAID, this gives you the means to back up what you are working on incase one harddrive starts acting up.
3:MOTHERBOARD. Make sure you have alot of room for extra's for expanding.
ie; 4 slots that hold 1G RAM sticks so you can have up to 4G of RAM.
4:You also want a pretty decent AUDIO card as well with the proper inputs so you can hook up your mixing equipment easily.

I am using a PC right now and was able to put together an entire computer for about $1,500. I am currently using ADOBE AUDITION 1.5 and with the X-FI soundcard it sounds amazing.

GOOD LUCK SHOPPING,Scott:smokin:

[Aahx]

If you can afford to.. you could also wait a couple months. Several new products for apples will be introduced in the next 2 months. I am an imaging proffessional (photographer).. and the next big world wide imaging trade show comming up is Photokina in the last week of September. Since this trade show also deals with motion picture, video, etc.. there are strong likelyhoods of new audio software versions being announced or comming out at that time as well as the video/still software that will be announced and demonstrated there. After all.. muliti media is big buisness these days. I know for us photographers Adobe will be comming out with a new version of Photoshop in "universal" form for the new intel mac's. In all likleyhood the audio software giants will be doing the same in fairly short order, as this is the new direction Apple is going. As it is, Apple allready has it's own Logic converted to universal currently. The other guys will just loose buisness if they do not convert and quickly bring the product to market. Now mind you.. this is all if you plan on sticking with Apple. <grins>


On a side note.. Mac has not always been the music industry standard.. It became that though somewhere in the early 90's. I remember a quite a lot of Amega's and Atari's being used as well in the late 80's before Mac's became the defined leader. In fact quite a few folks I know used Atari Falcons, since the platform was so stable (OS was on a ROM chip, so no way to corrupt it). But thats all computer history.. <chuckles> Since I used to use an old Eagle 2000 for my first digital imaging machine in the 80's. Thats 8086 processor days..

[JeffBarnett]

Actually, most of the major players are already there with Universal Binaries. Logic, Pro Tools, Digital Performer, and Ableton Live are already shipping Intel versions. That leaves Cubase, Nuendo, and a few others. Mackie's Tracktion software, incidentally, is not officially a Universal Binary, but I've been running it for weeks on an Intel iMac without any problems.

[fabian3679]

actually, one of the main things i was worried about was not being able to use my waves plugins and i just looked on their site and found a free update for the intel based macs. I've almost made up my mind in going with the intel based mac. I guess because technology is constantly coming out with something new i wanna get the latest thing. I'm used to working with PC though so i hope their is not a big learning curve with the mac software.