picking a mac laptop...please help

[tgrshizloh]

Im ready to make the switch from pc to mac. i want the best laptop for producing and live performance...any suggestions.So far I have picked the 15" with 500gig 7200rpm, an i7, 8 gigs ram...but its $2,700 from mac...i feel there could be better deals or better computers for my situation, can anyone help?

[amphibian]

The first question is - why do you want to switch to mac? I have a mac myself, but it isn't for everyone.

For the money you pay for a macbook, you're not exactly getting good value for money when it comes to hardware. However, macbooks are made to work with very specific hardware configurations, meaning generally there are less problems overall.

Now, if you're looking to do DJ'ing.etc. - ableton live and other things work just fine on a PC, and if you're used to that I would recommend sticking with it. If however, there is something specific you can only do on a mac (doubtful, unless you REALLY want to use logic pro), then stick with PC.

[tgrshizloh]

exactly what I mean by there could be better deals for my situation. Im pretty much just running Ableton, Komplete6, Kore2, but everyone tells me to go with a macbook pro. Ive used pc for ever...what I really plan is to get a new desktop pc for producing, but i do a weekly radioshow on glitch.fm as well as live shows almost weekly and i need a functional performance laptop but i find problems with every windows laptop and it seems as tho mac doesnt have these problems. Ive worked with macs so it wont be too harsh of a change but i would rather stick with a pc if i could find the right thing.

[amphibian]

In that case I would just go with a well-built PC laptop. The thing is, with every single laptop manufacturer, you're going to get horror stories and good feedback as well. I myself am a big fan of Dell XPS laptops - they're cheap, but super powerful, with little problems (I've found), whereas others would never buy another. Hardware is weird that way. hehe

Also - if you're looking for a powerful desktop machine, I would pool your money into one super laptop (maybe even an alienware box) that can do it all for you.

Asus seem to make some decent ones as well.

Weigh up what is more important to you. Because macbooks are made on a limited range of hardware, it is much easier for their driver developers to create really stable software. However, you pay for this through the nose, and won't get as powerful a machine as you would a top-of-the-line PC.

[tgrshizloh]

what about this Toshiba Qosmio X500 Notebook?

[tgrshizloh]

or this.... http://www.lpc-digital.com/store/330269 ... t/sa-221-6

does anyone have any comments?

[amphibian]

Read up on them and do your research - read reviews.etc.

[tgrshizloh]

i found this http://www.xoticpc.com/asus-g73jha2-p-2 ... figure=yes im thinking thats the best...i took the asus suggestion

[tgrshizloh]

or an ADK 1Q AR...does anyone use any of these?

[Ezzcal]

try looking at Refurbished macs on apples website they are awsome and come with a warentee , i have been using a macbook 2.4 core 2 duo for ages and suited me just fine , if i am running CPU to hard just freeze tracks or bounce down to audio , recently got 5i which was sorta a waist becuse logic did not suppoert HT but aprenty the latest update does so might give it a try. but 2 cores works just fine

[tgrshizloh]

i got an Asus with the i7 3.33ghz extreme & 8gs ram...i think i made a damn good choice...thank you amphibian

[wabble]

mbp.. 4gigs of ram at least (if running multiple programs like re-wiring).. external soundcard