The ex Mac user that's never been (NOT MAC VS PC)

People thought Microsoft was the evil empire when they were in the lead and Apple was struggling. Apple was the darling of the creative folk. Now that Apple is the new "evil empire" things have changed for some. Whatever you get is just a too to get the job done. You will be slave to whichever computer you get. It's the main brain and it must go flawlessly or no work gets done.

[ksandvik]

...and I'm worried about writing good songs in the studio rather than being worried about hardware manufacturers future plans that might or might not happen.

[_Ludovico]

Originally Posted by ksandvik

...and I'm worried about writing good songs in the studio rather than being worried about hardware manufacturers future plans that might or might not happen.

yo got it, so simple! I should've known the truth.

[FLYINGJAY]

I'm using 2 uad cards on Windows 7 64 bit,komplete 8 ultimate 64 bit,cubase 6.5.

Waves and uad work great under jbridge.

It's a very powerful setup,coming in from my 32 channel digital mixer VIA adat lightpipe.

My imac core2dou with logic is powerful enough to love Apple at a distance.it would a pile of cash to get a quad satellite.

I'd get a used MACPRO and put my uad cards in that,but for now my PC is just fine.

Sent from my PC36100 using Gearslutz App

[3rd Degree]

I want to say that I am not at all a Mac hater but I am a PC fan. One of my brothers is a hardcore Mac guy and I asked him about what iPod I should get. His response damn near overwhelmed me but he ultimately told me to wait. I ended up not buying one for other reasons and I know have this shitty touch screen on a tiny iPod that seems to have no use, other than skipping songs.

After that, I decided to do my own research with Apple products. It seems that every reviewer/blogger/general fan truly believes that the entire line of Macs will be outdated the day you buy them so you should constantly wait for the next best thing. When I finally decided to get a smart phone, I was actually a bit anti-iPhone as everyone seemed to want to speculate about what's on the horizon more than what was out. I didn't really care, it's a phone. I ended up waiting on that for various reasons. I just bought an iPhone 4s recently. I have had about 1,000 people tell me I should have waited for an iPhone 5. None can answer one single question in any real sense. The question is "why".


I have just seen this across the board and it makes me very hesitant to buy Apple products. It's not Apple, it's all the bloggers and tech people who consider Apple as a "lifestyle brand" rather than an electronics company. It really is so damn confusing to figure all of this out when they are the voice, especially when you come from a PC background for computers.

PC guys are the opposite, they will hate on a processor like they are saving the world by making it public. They compare ram sticks, in detail, with multiple brands involved. It's just as ridiculous but at the end of the day, it's not speculation and you can learn.


I totally feel you on your frustrations. I feel like I can't research Apple products. I would just go with your gut and make a choice, not wait until these new, magical speculations don't pan out as crazy as people had hoped. Your PC will last you years and technology stays for a LONG time. I was using a SCSI card on my last PC, probably 2 years ago with no issues, while having everything modern working as well.

[_Ludovico]

Must I say I am also quite puzzled about the Apple fanboy army attitude of approving everything they do, such as approving without any doubt the removal of the cd, suddenly qualifiying it as "obsolete", "useless", etc...
dude, don't you see that whole software CD rack you've got back there?

But the real moan here is about these mysterious release dates and business choices, I feel they slowly dictate the whole scheme of things to their advantage, apple tv, itunes store, everything will go through there someday if the train keeps rolling and everybody will jump into it like sheeps because Iphones are the sh*t. Some people love those things dangerously.

I'm scared of them. I'm also a bit paranoid.

And ultimately, the Alpha link MADI + PC and Cubase is more tempting to me, more everyday.

[3rd Degree]

Originally Posted by _Ludovico

Must I say I am also quite puzzled about the Apple fanboy army attitude of approving everything they do, such as approving without any doubt the removal of the cd, suddenly qualifiying it as "obsolete", "useless", etc...
dude, don't you see that whole software CD rack you've got back there?

But the real moan here is about these mysterious release dates and business choices, I feel they slowly dictate the whole scheme of things to their advantage, apple tv, itunes store, everything will go through there someday if the train keeps rolling and everybody will jump into it like sheeps because Iphones are the sh*t. Some people love those things dangerously.

I'm scared of them. I'm also a bit paranoid.

And ultimately, the Alpha link MADI + PC and Cubase is more tempting to me, more everyday.

Oh, I understand. I was trying to say that among all this uncertainty, you then have these "insiders" who speculate on date, functionality, how it will change technology as we know, etc, etc. So you already have a company that is pretty "mysterious" and then you have the fan base making anything new almost "mythical" so, for me, I have trouble just figuring out what is going on logistically.


With a PC, you can be confident of what you get. As much as people say a PC is going to be obsolete by the time it gets out of the box, at least both Windows, and the manufacturers tend to support both new and old technology. You know well in advance about OS upgrades. You have some piece of mind. If they don't support something old, or something new comes out, usually a 3rd party can remedy that, not always so flawlessly but at least you have options, and multiple options.


I am not saying go one way or the other, to anyone, much less you specifically. I just feel like I could buy a PC confidently since my first computer I owned myself, to today, without having to think all that much about it and doing so fairly basic research.

[FLYINGJAY]

O god MAC vs pc!

Both systems are extremely powerful

Sent from my PC36100 using Gearslutz App

[3rd Degree]

Originally Posted by FLYINGJAY

O god MAC vs pc!

Both systems are extremely powerful

Sent from my PC36100 using Gearslutz App

Nobody said this was Mac vs. PC. Nobody has denied that both work fine. The OP, and myself have had the same issue with Mac, which is only a problem with Mac, which is totally nontechnical. It's a Mac thread.

[brockorama]

I went to win 7 for a year and now back on xp clean install with FF800. Life is good and I am committing to my sounds. The more we move ahead lately, the more I wanna go back.

[seen-da-sizer]

I am saying that now for years, Apple is more evil than Microsoft. But on the other hand, both of them don't even come close the devilish Adobe and the perverted Oracle. Oracle is a blood (money) sucking vampire.

I am a Logic user by choice, and an Apple user by force (Apple bought Emagic and discontinued the PC version). However Microsoft has managed to offend about every system administrator with too many version of Windows, related product codes, the "Genuine Advantage" program, and security holes too many to count.

As long as you only have one computer, you're fine. But when you have to manage many PC with OEM, academic, retail, update, full version, home, professional, business, server etc. causes some headache. Microsoft has become too clumsy with too many products, and a way too large programer overhead. Apple is at risk to become the same bureaucratic giant, if they don't watch out.

Since the introduction of Windows Vista, I became an Apple user by choice. I just want to have my computer working, and not deal with upgrades, and related constant drastic changes to the user interface. Basically I was happy with look and feel of XP. All the consumers wanted was XP, with improved security, 64-bit options etc. Not what we got with Vista or Windows 7. Yep, I went to the dark side (Apple Cult)

@OP: IMO the iMac offers the best value for the money. I do use a MacMini, but I only do MIDI sequencing with it. For using a DAW at low cost, get an iMac. If you need power go with Mac Pro...

[kennybro]

I run Windows flawlessly on my iMac. The computers are essentially the same, physically. Both OS run well on a Mac. Dealing with Windows is a frickin nightmare, but sometimes essential.

[AllAboutTone]

Originally Posted by _Ludovico

Since the Apollo came out, I've been strongly considering switching from PC to MAC. The Apollo is just the coolest interface yet. UAD quad equiped - Thunderbolt connection. Wow.

I started looking at those many overpriced mac computers and settled on the Mac mini server which is pretty well equiped and fully daw capable, at accessible price. (actually pretty close to the PC I'm checking too) I'd have to switch to Logic from Cubase on the way though, (not really confident about running Cubase on Mac, even considering all the positive reviews, I just feel Cubase is at home on a PC)

Now about that Mac Mini server... It's currently labelled as "DO NOT BUY - UPDATE SOON" according to Mac Rumors. Well, fine I said. I'm not exactly ready yet. Now time passes. People speculate. Should be updated any day, may have been at the last big press conference, was supposed to be this week with the release of the new OSX thing.

In the meantime....

SSL comes up with that wonderful unit Alpha Link 16-4.

It's not a interface, I don't care. It's got 16 inputs, 4 outputs, can be chained in many ways to obtain 20/20 etc etc etc.

I made a few quick calculations.

Buying a full blown PC with all the goodies, the Alpha Link 16-4 bundle with the madi pcie card and a UAD quad flexi is not more expensive than the Apollo with the Mac, considering the price of the upcoming TB card which nobody knows about.

Even better, I can keep using Cubase. I have more inputs without having to buy preamps with digital outs or separate converter. I can buy any 16 preamps I want to and plug them into the Alpha link.





SO.............


This new option is VERY tempting. And because of this, I've grown tired of Apple's "secrets". I don't want to become a slave of this huge machine bound to secrecy. They scare me. I don't know why. Their sudden "we want the end of the CD" philosophy also scares me. I'm not sure what attitude I should have towards that. Why force it? I mean it's not like we don't use CD's all the time. Having a technology disapear because it's become somehow obsolete is one thing (think VHS or Audio Cassettes) but FORCING this disapearance is not something I approve and I don't feel it's a good thing for us in the end.

I'm also worried about the existence of websites such as Mac Rumors, advising people to buy or not to buy, counting the days since last update and making parallels to previous updates... A website that contains a forum full of people who know EVERYTHING about every component in their machines and closely follow developements as if they were car enthusiasts reading about the formula 1 cars. I find the whole sub sulture surrounding Apple rather strange, intruiging, almost scary.

PC has microsoft and windows..... but that's another story.

So yeah, I might just become another EX Mac user that's never been...

I am confused, looks like you are going back and forth. If Mac is overpriced it's worth the extra cash.
I bought a NEW Mac Pro Quad Xeon 2.66 / 9.gb ram for 1350.00 4 years ago
A Macbook Pro 2.8 4g ram for remote video. 1100.00 New. 2 years ago
You must shop around............
Is that overpriced ?

[_Ludovico]

Originally Posted by AllAboutTone

I am confused, looks like you are going back and forth. If Mac is overpriced it's worth the extra cash.
I bought a NEW Mac Pro Quad Xeon 2.66 / 9.gb ram for 1350.00 4 years ago
A Macbook Pro 2.8 4g ram for remote video. 1100.00 New. 2 years ago
You must shop around............
Is that overpriced ?

Not interested in a laptop...

I wanted the Mac Mini because it suited my need of a desktop at good price with good performance and appeared to be a perfect companion to the Apollo. However while waiting for the "update" on the machine, I came up with these thoughts. And the SSL came out. And I think I've changed my mind, for the reasons stated above. (ridiculous misteries, etc)

[swafford]

I run a year old mac mini and Logic with a MH ULN8. If the Apollo is a robust device, I'm not sure why the currently avaiable computer hardware would be an issue. I could still run the ULN8 and Logic on my 5 year old Macbook if it had not died.

My opinion is you buy the device you think is going to serve your needs and work from the O/S and DAW platform that supports it, not the other way around. Waiting for computer companies to sync with you is futile.

[_Ludovico]

Originally Posted by swafford

I run a year old mac mini and Logic with a MH ULN8. If the Apollo is a robust device, I'm not sure why the currently avaiable computer hardware would be an issue. I could still run the ULN8 and Logic on my 5 year old Macbook if it had not died.

My opinion is you buy the device you think is going to serve your needs and work from the O/S and DAW platform that supports it, not the other way around. Waiting for computer companies to sync with you is futile.

I agree but you missed the point of the moan...

It's just about to be updated. Could happen ANY day. But the whole mystery that surrounds the company and the secrecy about updates got me tired of them, already. And this whole community of Mac know it alls scares me. And THEN, the SSL thing came out...

[jeremy.c.]

Yeah, I can see why that might be an issue. My problem has been that I have a self assembled PC that is now 4 years old, but only cost me approx $650 to put together. It's still going, but some of the newer bits of software are starting to bog it down and cause instability. So I have been looking at getting a Macbook Pro because the power is finally there in a laptop, but then I have to get an Apollo or a UAD satellite because I am too entrenched in UA software, but then I like my current Steinberg interface and don't want to lay out $2k for the Apollo and $2k for the macbook...

I just feel like it's so close. I think I may try to wait another year and get by with what I have... We'll see. Good luck in your search. Getting a mac is certainly attractive, but their price points are still pretty high to not get all the way there.

And yeah, forcing the change in technology is just dumb. I could rant about the app store business model all day, especially as it pertains to education and schools...