Macbook pro for production?

[eb4evr]

I'm looking to buy the lowest model macbook pro to use with Traktor for my live DJing, and I was planning on building a windows i7 desktop for production.

I've figured the desktop will run around $1000 with all the parts, and the macbook will run around $1,100 for the lowest model. I'm interested in the macbook pro for live djing (traktor 2) because it's been very stable and quick for me so far and I feel pretty secure with it (been using my buddy's)

I started checking out the more expensive macbook models though, and one i've found is $1,650 with these specs:

2.66GHz Intel Core i7
4GB Memory
500GB hard drive

Now, i'm posting this to get opinions in case i'm wrong, but I feel like a good bit of production could be done on that without any slowdown. Ableton can't even process over the 4gb of ram since it's a 32 bit program (right?) so that's cool.

It'd be cheaper, and i'd have portability in my producing which would be kind of cool with a pair of nice headphones. I'm not opposed to buying a desktop and a laptop, but I've just been entertaining the idea of a two-in-one laptop instead.

Opinions?

[sprayyypaint]

i say check out craigslist for a deal on a macbook! dont cash out 1100 on one if you can find them for cheaper.
i found a black macbook with 2.16ghz core duo, 120gb HD(but i use an external one too) and 4 gb ram for 550. not only that the dude had logic and reason installed on it.
it was a pretty killer deal and ive had 0 issues with this thing.

[Shum]

It's worth noting that you can get another 4gig of RAM put in (I sure did). I'm no whiz on the technicals of computers or on digital DJ software but I run Ableton, ProTools and Sibelius fine on my comparably specced MacBook.

[bigfootspartan]

Also look at the refurbished ones on the apple webstore, I've seen some killer deals there.

[eb4evr]

Thanks for the tips guys. Yeah, i've looked on craigslist a bit and they're definitely cheaper. I'm just terrified of getting a machine with something wrong with it and having it crash mid-show or something. I don't know a WHOLE lot about macs, as i've been using and producing on pc's my whole life, so there's a bit to learn, especially about fixing them. Some of them seem to come with apple-care though. I'll check out the apple refurbs too.

But yeah, aside from sick deals on these things, producing and djing on one? eh eh?

[amphibian]

why do you want a macbook pro if its just for traktor? Why not setup a similar environment to what you're using for production, in case you want to produce on-the-road? Not saying macbooks are bad or anything, I have one myself - but to me it doesn't make any sense to split like that.

[eb4evr]

Maybe i've just never had an adequate windows laptop, but they always just seem to be kinda clunky and haven't always been the most reliable things, especially in a quick 'set up and go' situation. Also the music organization in the mac and the integration within traktor/itunes is handy. I don't mind spending $1000 on a piece of performance equipment, you know? And my production computer's an old refurbished dell from 2005 or so, so it's due time for an upgrade.

[lyons238]

yeah can produce easily on a new 15" macbook pro quad core. slap 8gbs of ram in er and a 7200rpm 750gb-1tb hd and use the one in the laptop as an external drive for back up and what not.

i produce on a unibody white macbook just fine. although i am using reason which is a little more cpu efficient than other daws. but the new mbp's with the quad cores will be fine...thats what i will be getting next.

[paravrais]

To be honest man if you've always used PCs in the past I'd seriously recommend getting a windows based laptop for half the price and paying more attention to the desktop setup at home. You don't need much for DJ'ing and learning a whole new operating system is extra hassle you don't need.

These days a lot of people buy macs just because it's the 'in' thing to do but really you should only get one if you have a real good reason to (like you're in love with logic, want to edit films or it's what you were raised on etc).

Personally I would never want my main production system to be foreign to me. I've used PCs since I was a kid and can fix most software problems and quite a lot of hardware ones too. My mother has a mac and I'm constantly racking my brain trying to fix things that go wrong with it for her and it usually takes me about 10x as long as it would have done if I had the same problem on my computer.

Not trying to say that macs are bad or anything, just that if you're used to windows why make the (expensive) switch without a reason to?

[bigfootspartan]

To be honest man if you've always used PCs in the past I'd seriously recommend getting a windows based laptop for half the price and paying more attention to the desktop setup at home. You don't need much for DJ'ing and learning a whole new operating system is extra hassle you don't need.

These days a lot of people buy macs just because it's the 'in' thing to do but really you should only get one if you have a real good reason to (like you're in love with logic, want to edit films or it's what you were raised on etc).

Personally I would never want my main production system to be foreign to me. I've used PCs since I was a kid and can fix most software problems and quite a lot of hardware ones too. My mother has a mac and I'm constantly racking my brain trying to fix things that go wrong with it for her and it usually takes me about 10x as long as it would have done if I had the same problem on my computer.

Not trying to say that macs are bad or anything, just that if you're used to windows why make the (expensive) switch without a reason to?

+1. I'm all about Logic, and I'm waiting patiently for the iMac refresh to come out, but if you are used to PC, might as well stick to that. Switching to mac will just throw another layer of learning in there.

If you're pretty set on switching to mac, you could get one of the new Macbook Pro's and it'll easily cover both producing and DJing. I'm using an old 2007 Macbook Pro, still works quite decent with 60+ tracks (although probably 30 of them are just processed .wav files).

If you want to have a seperate DJing laptop and desktop for producing, try getting a really cheap used Macbook. Right now Traktor 2 takes up 20% of my processing power at it's peak. If you could find a cheap 2007 ish Macbook for cheap that'd be your best bet. Then pair it with one of the new iMacs that are coming out in a few weeks. That setup would last you for quite a while I imagine.

[deadly_habit]

why buy a macbook when doing a hackintosh is getting easier and easier (and so much cheaper)
http://wiki.osx86project.org/wiki/index.php/Main_Page

compatibility lists there

[lyons238]

why buy a macbook when doing a hackintosh is getting easier and easier (and so much cheaper)
http://wiki.osx86project.org/wiki/index.php/Main_Page

compatibility lists there

this is true especially for a desktop. i def wanna build one next, but that probably wont be for a while. but i wouldnt do that for a laptop..i just like the build quality of macbooks

[bigfootspartan]

why buy a macbook when doing a hackintosh is getting easier and easier (and so much cheaper)
http://wiki.osx86project.org/wiki/index.php/Main_Page

compatibility lists there

I was seriously considering this, but I've heard there's tons of trouble with Logic, ie. each time it has an update it may or may not work, due to driver problems. I read this on both the Hackintosh and the Logic Pro Help forums, although both posts were from 2008.

Does anyone have any more recent data on this? I'd love to save money, and I love the idea of an upgradable computer rather than an iMac, but I also know absolutely nothing about drivers, and would rather not have to learn to keep producing tunes.

[deadly_habit]

well for notebooks there's not much you can upgrade, and with most things hackintosh you're best to hold off on doing upgrades to the latest version of osx or a program if you are running stable
if you are semi knowledgeable with computers installing osx shouldn't be too much of a hassle
even on my custom built rig it took a lil effort but i got it running finally (and uninstalled since i'd likely never use it)
there's loads of sites with info on how to hackintosh and resolving component issues and there are even custom build installer isos (http://leohazard.com/ for one) that may or may not work for your pc (component dependent)

[Joakim]

I'm using the 15" MacBook Pro with i7, it works very nice for me

[dubmatters]

The new quad sandybridge mbp's look tasty especially the high end models. I would go as far as saying that they are a worthy desktop replacement. For once Apple have produced a notebook with a decent spec despite the "Apple tax".

Obviously you won't get high end workstation performance with all the upgradeability that brings.

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[eb4evr]

Just got a pretty good deal on a macbook pro. 2.5ghz dual core, 4gb ram for $600

[Shum]

Just got a pretty good deal on a macbook pro. 2.5ghz dual core, 4gb ram for $600

Did that fall off the back of the Apple truck?

[howiegroove]

Hey guys, I wanted to ask a question and see everyones thoughts, but I didnt want to start a new thread. I have a 3.06ghz Core 2 Duo Macbook Pro with 4 gigs of ram and the best video card I could get (dont really think that makes a difference). Would it be worth my while to upgrade to 8 gigs of ram and max it out?

Im using Ableton Live and Logic Pro here and there.