One more interesting Digi fact from NAB

[BrianT]

At NAB, every PT demo I saw, including both ICON setups, was on Windows XP. The ironic thing is, the Digi booth was adjacent to Apple. The Avid/Digi booth was quite large, so I did a casual inventory of PCs and G5s in the booth. The ratio was about 6:1.

So I found 3 things interesting about it.

1. All the PT demos (at least that I saw) were on XP

2. There just weren't very many Macs to be found, with the booth right next to Apple

3. Most interesting was the instantaneous and nearly identical speil from any Digi employee when a either a Mac or PC user noted the XP focus. A very quick, "Oh, this doesn't mean we don't love Apple,we just wanted to do something a little different this year."

Right. Message sent to Apple next door, loud and clear. "If Emagic tries to Final Cut Pro us, XP is working just fine."

Anybody else notice some of the largest and last "Mac only" bastions of TDM releasing for XP concurrent with the show?

[drew]

well, there's no accounting for taste, as they say.

Digi's just covering their ass, which is smart.

[C.Lambrechts]

Originally posted by BrianT
At NAB, every PT demo I saw, including both ICON setups, was on Windows XP.

sigh ....

[BevvyB]

Interesting, very interesting

Stuff like that really makes me wonder what Apple has in store for the logic engine. I mean, they got garageband out the door pretty quick...and immediately did the streamline of Logic with the 'giveaway plugs' thing...

hmmm, now what

And you know Apple would actually love to come up with nuenprologicdigisamplicubase

[nikki-k]

Hi!
Sorry, but I guess I am one of those that loves having both platforms supported well.

While I am an HD Accel user on Win XP (jumped from Mac very early on, just more "at home" on Win based machines), I have been impressed by both platforms. Coming from the old days of punchcards being run thru machines that were the size of a lrage room, and then using simple BASIC for game coding, up thru good old Editor/Assembler, etc...well, I am still amazed at how far things have come, and simply happy to have something solid to work with now.

I feel bad for us end-users, we are the ones that get hurt most. Part of the "game" I guess...

[Rail Jon Rogut]

I use Pro Tools equally on both platforms.. but just to make everyone happy.. from the latest Digi mailing:

Motivated by Music Tour Featuring Pro Tools|HD Accel and Power Mac G5

Join us at a special Apple and Digidesign event near you during our 20-city, worldwide Motivated by Music Tour. See and hear the latest Apple and Digidesign innovations in action, working together to provide unparalleled creative options for the audio production community.

Rail

[Chad]

Who gives a damn, its just a computer. Both platforms suck and have their problems. I had 3 macs before I switched to my PC which has never given me even the slightest issue since i got it 8 months ago. Every mac crashed, often, and mac's attitude is terrible. you really do pay more and get less. yea, so theres no accounting for taste I guess.

[BrianT]

It's not really which particular computer is being used that I find interesting about this.

What I enjoy watching is the chess/poker games being played on a large scale. It all makes sense, in a nutty way, but sometimes it's just fun to take your own guess, then see how it really plays out.

I think we'll see Apple launch a major DAW assault within a year. I very much doubt they bought Emagic just for fun. and Apple really likes selling hardware, not just software. Digi has to prep for that eventuality. Final Cut Pro put the hurt on Avid, Digi's parent company, partly because of their complacency while underestimating Apple. That lesson won't be lost.

The good news is, both OSX and XP are big steps up from their predecessors. Both are good choices, assuming equal product support.

[Jules]

I just use the damn things....

I employ a Macspert for support....

I suppose I would just employ a PC expert if I had to switch over..

Just learn the operational basics...

Thats my take on it....

[C.Lambrechts]

Originally posted by BrianT
The good news is, both OSX and XP are big steps up from their predecessors. Both are good choices, assuming equal product support.

true.

[GearGuy]

Brian,

I agree with your theory that Digi is not putting all their faith in Apple, and plan to further their support the PC in the future. Who would really be surprised if Apple did have something up their sleeve? However, I disagree with your assessment of why DigiDesign had mostly PCs at the NAB show. I believe the real reason was simply that it was a broadcast industry show... most people in broadcast us PCs and not Macs. Most of AVID users in broadcast are working on PCs. Even Digi acknowledged this when they released AVoption/ V10 to WindowsXP users first... their motive was the marketshare of AVID users on PC. The Mac release of this product to follow months later. PC support at NAB is more about dollars and cents, not tit for tat.

I agree with your theories, but I just don't believe that the NAB booth is part of the proof. So maybe we both agree that it was Professor Plum in the Parlor room, but I don't think he used the candlestick.

[Ckevperry]

Hmmm..and some very old developers like McDsp and DUY all of a sudden are coming out with XP versions of their plugins. Wonder what the future holds....

[GearGuy]

I think the future will hold 100% support for HD systems on Windows machines. There will be no good reason to not work on a PC in relation to Digidesign products. However, I don't believe people will throw away their Apples as people will still need to "tweak" and fight with their Windows machines! And the PC vs Mac debate will always be with us...

Doesn't Avid have something going with Dell or somebody who makes an expensive, speced out, Avid ready PC? Maybe someday Digi will have a Digi approved PC designed by a PC maker.

[Robotnik]

MS owns a minority stake in AVID.

[alphajerk]

Originally posted by Robotnik
MS owns a minority stake in AVID.

and APPLE.

[K.C.]

Originally posted by alphajerk
and APPLE.

Not true. MS invested in Apple a couple of years back but quietly dumbed the stock some time later.

In typical MS fashion it ultimately gave them a good P.R. moment while screwing the stock value later when they sold a large number of shares in a very short period of time.

[alphajerk]

they only invested $150 million... and i cant find them dumping it anywhere.

[robmix]

And, not for nothing, just a couple months ago at NAMM I saw mostly mac's. I didn't care enough to actually count machines but I can't recall seeing any PC's. I think Digi iss smart enough to know what their client base attending these shows is using. BTW, I could care less which platform they choose to support as long as it works !!!!!! But I'm pretty happy with mac's right now.

Rob

[ToddS]

Digi would be stupid to put all their eggs in one basket. Apple would be stupid to let Digi get away from the Mac platform, or count on Digi staying on the platform for the long haul.

Most high end professionals still work on Mac, but PCs are becoming more and more popular in music circles everyday.

Bottom line, Apple does not want to be beholden to Digi, and Digi does not want to be beholden to Apple, yet both will continue to reluctantly need each other for years to come.

[davemc]

Originally posted by Ckevperry
Hmmm..and some very old developers like McDsp and DUY all of a sudden are coming out with XP versions of their plugins. Wonder what the future holds....

Yes but a lot of LE users are on PC. If I made plugins I would like to get money from both markets, I know I started on NT with my TDM rig an was promised digi would help 3rd party move to windows. After a year no new plugins came out so I just move to Mac. Now we are talking only BF,WM and MH were around then, not even autotune

A box is a box I just brouhgt a G5-2gig, I would of rather brought a cheaper PC. Properly setup they are just the same a box with a keyboard and a screen.