What Type Of Puter To Get? Mac vs PC?

[Austin4]

Hey kids. I will be attending audio recording/engineering school shortly and need to know the best kind of computer to get to help me along.

I'm leaning largely to the Macs only because of the reliability I've heard so much about + I'll be learning most of my classes using a Mac. If so, should I go out and get the Mac Pro that costs around $4000 or is an iMac powerful enough to process ProTools applications 'n stuff?

I've never owned a Mac so I'm slightly contemplating a band new PC. My current PC setup is gathering 10 years of usage and is about to fall apart. The big reason I'd be thinking about a PC is the cost issue. I'm not Mr. Moneybaggs, but If I want to be serious about learning this business, then do I owe it to myself to go for the Mac or a PC worth looking into?

Thankz for all your help.

- Aaron

[sparqee]

If you have the right mind set then either is equally good. Some people swear by (or against) one or the other but I really think such a mind set is just limiting. If you're used to a PC then it will take a bit to learn your way around the Mac (and visa versa). If you're going to be using Macs in class then you'll need to get comfortable with the UI. Getting a Mac now will give you a head start on that and that should make for more productivity in the class room & in labs.

A different view is that if you can save money by building your own PC you can apply that money towards software and /or recording hardware. <shrug>

I use *both* Mac & PC and I find that to be quite valuable. If I'm working on someone else's system I'm not handicapped by an unfamiliar OS (unless they use Linux).

To sum up; if you want to simplify your life get a Mac since that's what you'll be using in school. If you want to expand your computer skills then get a PC and recognize that you face a greater learning curve once classes begin but in the end you'll have a larger skill set.

[richiebee]

I would wait until you actually start in school, but if they use Mac's then it would make most sense for you to get a Mac. If the iMac can't handle protools, then Apple have no business selling it. It might be their consumer brand, but it has lots of power on paper. No reason to suspect it doesn't in real time use. Are you going ot be running a studio on it, or just using it for mixing/small track count recording? Have you thought about a MacBook Pro? Expensive, but more versatile than an iMac.

[Metal Marc]

Aaron, I'm a Mac guy, but not a Mac snob. I like PC's and Macs, but I prefer Macs strictly because I find them easier to use; I feel Macs are very intuitive. If I was you, I'd get the Mac simply because that's what you said you're gonna be using at school.

As far as the reliability/stability thing, both Macs and PC's have their moments. Like a wise man once said, "Computers is as computers does."

Or something like that.