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Xanatos
from New York City (United States) on 2002-06-27 19:40 [#00287335]
Points: 3316 Status: Moderator | Show recordbag
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OK, this is not an abstract thread in general asking which is better, this week, I am going to buy a notebook computer for college. Now, I'm looking for something portable (5-6lbs).
I'm going to be doing mostly digital media (my college major), which is Digital Film/Special Effects/Computer Graphics/Animation/Web Design/Electronic Music Recording Production etc.
But the notebook is going to be my only computer, which means I also need it for word processing, listening to music, web surfing (this mb), gaming1, etc. I've been on windows forever but am sort of familiar with Mac OS.
The notebook that I'm looking at right now is the mid-range powerbook g4. It's real expensive, (the cheapest I've found it is about $2800, but its a graduation present from my whole family, and they want it to last me a long time.
One problem is third party software. A) I know a ton of stuff just isn't made for Mac. B) It's harder for me to get the stuff because I don't really have a connection (yet) for bootleg Mac software, and I don't know how to fileshare with Mac (yet).
Also, I want to know about anybody's experience running Windows on a Mac (Virtual PC?), does it work? well? Can you run anything on it?
So, I assume you guys know particularly about electronic music production, but for that and everything in between, what should I go for? Is there any Wintel Notebook that can compare power-wise? If so what? And what does it weigh? What does it cost? Are there any notebooks soon to be released that you know about that can compare?
I REALLY APPRECIATE ANYONE'S ADVICE (ON ALL THESE ISSUES) ON ANY LEVEL, EXPERTS OR OTHERWISE, THANKS!
1 Warcraft III is coming out simultaneously for Mac OSX and Windows at the same time on the same CD =)!
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Clic
on 2002-06-27 19:41 [#00287340]
Points: 5232 Status: Regular
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Oh god, here we go.
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Inverted Whale
from United States Minor Outlying Islands on 2002-06-27 19:44 [#00287351]
Points: 3301 Status: Lurker
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I don't really have any advice here - but I will say there is discussion about this exact issue practically every day over at Ars Technica. It would probably be worth searching the archives over there.
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uzim
on 2002-06-27 19:44 [#00287355]
Points: 17716 Status: Lurker
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as for windows emulators, i don't think it works very well unfortunately... i tried kazaa once (i know, it's available for macOS X now) and didn't manage to download anything...
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AMinal
from Toronto (Canada) on 2002-06-27 20:00 [#00287404]
Points: 3476 Status: Regular
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well first of all the powerbook has a HUGE screen (15.2!) that few pc notebooks have (although SOME do) and is at the same time extremely light and thin, so theres a plus right there....
AND its a fucking titanium case so in terms of all that i dont think any other laptop competes
compatibility.... in terms of games, most of them never come out on a mac... u can check apple sites for reviews and stuff to get an idea of whats out
but who knows, u could learn to like the few games that ARE for mac (since people only really play a few games anyway)..... and usually the ones that go to mac are the 'best' ones
BUT
in terms of artsy 'creative' software (video, music, picture) macs are almost equal w/ PCs
photoshop for example runs better on a g4 than on a pentium 4... and most music software if for both, since macs run the graphic design/music production market
and the g4 is powerful enough to run all this software well, unlike some pos celeron 1ghz laptop (btw radiohead use these powerbooks, and even made a few of the tracks on amnesiac on them alone!)
also, microsoft office for mac os X is supposed to be better than for pc (and not just mac sources say this)
Virtual PC is supposed to be e x t r e m e l y slooooooooow.... so ok for opening pc documents and running basic pc programs... but foget about it for gaming or more demanding uses. (correct me if im wrong here)
but for word processing, listening to music, and surfing the web it should work fine...... compatibility wont be a problem there
only in gaming will it be limited
i want a laptop when i go to univ. nxt year and i only hope my family loves me enough to pitch in and get me one of these babies :(
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Ctrl Alt Del
from Ft. Worth (United States) on 2002-06-27 20:05 [#00287422]
Points: 2190 Status: Lurker
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You want a mac, there isnt alot of software for macs, but there is enough to suffice. Limewire is for mac, although I dont know much about it because I dont use it.
As for software, the software youll probably come across for using in college is TOP OF THE LINE. Macs are THE choice for arts, music, media... Web browsers are avalible from both Microsoft (IE) and Netscape (Navigator). Gaming, there isnt much now but probably will be in the future. Music, iTunes. MacOS isnt that hard to learn, you could know its ins and outs in about a week. Emulators, I would go that direction, if you really want a windows PC, then buy one.
Windows notebooks, are faster and cheaper, but Macs will still kick the shit out of a windows PC in graphics, music, art, etc.
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AMinal
from Toronto (Canada) on 2002-06-27 20:09 [#00287433]
Points: 3476 Status: Regular
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why not check what kind of computers the college u r attending uses?
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Xanatos
from New York City (United States) on 2002-06-27 21:38 [#00287581]
Points: 3316 Status: Moderator | Followup to AMinal: #00287433 | Show recordbag
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I did, they use both. Thanks alot for your opinion. If (when) you get your laptop are you gonna go mac?
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AMinal
from Toronto (Canada) on 2002-06-27 22:48 [#00287650]
Points: 3476 Status: Regular | Followup to Xanatos: #00287581
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i'd like to..... but i doubt ill have the money (the powerbook g4s START at $4,000 canadian! thats almost as much as tuition here!)
...and i dont really want an ibook
my main strategy will be to get my dad's old powerbook (its of the last generation before the titanium ones) when/if he gets a new one
if that doesn't work out.... i dunno.. either some cheap generic or the ibook hm...... or maybe a used powerbook, who knows
hm..... now ur story really has me thinking... i wonder just how much i could milk graduating high school and going to univ. for....
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SFX
from Tula (Russia) on 2002-06-27 22:53 [#00287655]
Points: 69 Status: Regular
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Hi Xanatos! Nice 2 C U!!! :-) Mac - best thing 4 musicmaking!!!
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Martytan
from somewhere in upstate new york (United States) on 2002-06-27 23:56 [#00287692]
Points: 757 Status: Regular
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Xanatos-
I highly recommend a mac...
it's WAY better for music composition, and kazaa works on OS X...
the layout and stucture of the mac is also pretty good too, imo
although I hate version 10.... OS 9 is nice, imo
but hey, it's your computer, your decision. I just happen to like macs.
good luck!
-martytan
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Martytan
from somewhere in upstate new york (United States) on 2002-06-27 23:57 [#00287693]
Points: 757 Status: Regular
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and iTunes radio is good too!
(some of it is)
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OK
on 2002-06-28 00:08 [#00287695]
Points: 4791 Status: Lurker
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"I'm going to be doing mostly digital media (my college major), which is Digital Film/Special Effects/Computer Graphics/Animation/Web Design/Electronic Music Recording Production etc. "
mac definately...
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JivverDicker
from my house on 2002-06-28 00:14 [#00287697]
Points: 12102 Status: Regular
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Everything is on limewire too for Mac if you can't afford it at the moment...
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forck_02lynix
from brooklyn on 2002-06-28 00:22 [#00287700]
Points: 4000 Status: Regular
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im a graphic designer/artist/musician and id say go with the mac...yeah pcs are great for programming, but if your going into graphics and art stuff go with the mac...im hoping to get a new one soon too.
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Ctrl Alt Del
from Ft. Worth (United States) on 2002-06-28 00:35 [#00287706]
Points: 2190 Status: Lurker
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Ive got 2 OLD ass powerbooks, a 165c (the first color model) and a PB 180 (the best selling powerbook ever). Ive also got 1 all in one design (think pre-iMac) and a tower. Macs kick total ass.
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JivverDicker
from my house on 2002-06-28 00:38 [#00287710]
Points: 12102 Status: Regular
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Macs are solid! I've got a Sony Vaio for the PC bits but the Mac does the rest of it.
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Xanatos
from New York City (United States) on 2002-06-28 01:58 [#00287761]
Points: 3316 Status: Moderator | Followup to JivverDicker: #00287710 | Show recordbag
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I was thinking about getting a vaio. You have a vaio laptop? What "PC bits" are necessary?
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JivverDicker
from my house on 2002-06-28 02:10 [#00287774]
Points: 12102 Status: Regular | Followup to Xanatos: #00287761
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I got the vaio for the 'odd' music programs and for playing Traktor live. All my music, graphics, design etc is done on a mac. Virtual pc is okay for text things but it just doesn't work for for music stuff.
If you are doing Graphics and music etc. get a mac laptop. They'll crash less and it's the industry standard for both.....if you need any programs such as Photoshop/Illustrator/Quark/CuBase/Logic etc I'll hook you up later...
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pachi
from yo momma (United States) on 2002-06-28 02:12 [#00287778]
Points: 8984 Status: Lurker
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depends on how u use the notebook
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Zeus
from San Francisco (United States) on 2002-06-28 02:16 [#00287786]
Points: 14042 Status: Lurker
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ok... heres a question for you...
are there any MAC laptops that are like G4s... can have like 1 gig of RAM, etc...
my teacher told me to get a G4... the best one i can afford... for my music
I am gonna be runnin logic, exs24 a softsampler, csound. and thats it.
but it needs to be able to hangle alot of audio (the samples)
do they make one like this? or would the best possible choice be a G4 tower?
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Ophecks
from Nova Scotia (Canada) on 2002-06-28 02:20 [#00287799]
Points: 19190 Status: Moderator | Show recordbag
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I don't know anything about this laptop stuff, but I DO know I'd love to lay in bed and surf the net rather than slouching in the corner of my room in this awful chair.
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Zeus
from San Francisco (United States) on 2002-06-28 02:24 [#00287809]
Points: 14042 Status: Lurker
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i just want to be able to make music where ever i am
think of the emotional possibilites... you are enjoying a sunny day in the park.. so you whip out the laptop and start writting... instead of running home, and writting your feelings of the sunday in your dark house....
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AMinal
from Toronto (Canada) on 2002-06-28 02:48 [#00287840]
Points: 3476 Status: Regular | Followup to Zeus: #00287809
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yes, the powerbook G4 will be able to do that like i mentioned before, radiohead have produced several complete tracks using only a powerbook g4
they are expandable to 1gig of ram, and can UP TO 60 gig harddrives... and of course have powerful processors (g4s, just like the towers)
(im reading this off the apple site right now)
u can get an external soundcard that connects via USB or something like that
but the desktop g4s are, of course, much more expandable in terms of memory, hard drives, and the type of soundcards u can use w/ them
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Zeus
from San Francisco (United States) on 2002-06-28 02:50 [#00287844]
Points: 14042 Status: Lurker | Followup to AMinal: #00287840
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hmmm
decisions decisions
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Xanatos
from New York City (United States) on 2002-06-29 04:01 [#00289009]
Points: 3316 Status: Moderator | Show recordbag
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In case anyone is interested in a follow up:
I'm typing this from my brand new 800Mhz G4 Powerbook!!!
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Tasos
from Athens (Greece) on 2002-06-29 04:02 [#00289013]
Points: 706 Status: Lurker
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AMSTRAD 6128! AMSTRAD 6128! AMSTRAD 6128! AMSTRAD 6128! AMSTRAD 6128! AMSTRAD 6128! AMSTRAD 6128! AMSTRAD 6128! AMSTRAD 6128! AMSTRAD 6128! AMSTRAD 6128! AMSTRAD 6128!
did I tell you? hmmmm.... I don't think so... AMSTRAD 6128!!!!!!!!
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AMinal
from Toronto (Canada) on 2002-06-29 05:09 [#00289104]
Points: 3476 Status: Regular | Followup to Xanatos: #00289009
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oooooh congratulations! very impressive...
is it as cool as it seems? AND: any cool things about it we didn't already know? (like is it fucking bulletproof or something!? hehe)
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dmise
from Melbourne (Australia) on 2002-06-29 05:16 [#00289110]
Points: 635 Status: Lurker
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Here is a good article dealing with some problems with macs if you decide to switch©. You have to understand that mac users generally love the machine so much that they never complain so a lot of bugs never get fixed because mac users wont tell apple that there is a problem. That is the gist of this article.
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Martytan
from somewhere in upstate new york (United States) on 2002-06-29 05:35 [#00289120]
Points: 757 Status: Regular
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I hate os x....
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Xanatos
from New York City (United States) on 2002-06-29 06:01 [#00289133]
Points: 3316 Status: Moderator | Show recordbag
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So far I'm fucking excited, the thing is so thin & light, the screen is so huge and high-quality. I haven't been able to sucessfully set up a network between my PC and the book yet though to move my mp3s over. I just brought it home a few hours ago and I'm going to call someone tommorow to get it fixed. I love the thing so far, although there's some annoying things like one folder for OS 9 Apps and one for OS X apps and a OS 9 Desktop folder on the OS X desktop. I never had OS 9 and I don't even know the difference really between the two so its annoying to deal with.
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Xanatos
from New York City (United States) on 2002-06-29 06:02 [#00289134]
Points: 3316 Status: Moderator | Show recordbag
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Thanks for your help aminal.
Question: What music apps for Mac should I try to get my hands on?
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neurone
from orleans (France) on 2002-06-29 06:12 [#00289138]
Points: 310 Status: Lurker
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look over the IRCAM tools (you won't find them cracked or something :(
but it's very interesting... i'll chek info, url or something and i'll tell ya
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neurone
from orleans (France) on 2002-06-29 06:14 [#00289139]
Points: 310 Status: Lurker
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by the way, talkin' bout softwares : anyone played with 'sounder' ? a vrey fun soft !
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AMinal
from Toronto (Canada) on 2002-06-29 06:47 [#00289155]
Points: 3476 Status: Regular | Followup to Xanatos: #00289134
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im glad i could help xanatos.. u'll be the coolest kid on campus w/ ur brand new titanium powerbook!
*smiles at camera* :) hehehehe.. (apple is paying me to say this ;)
almost all the major music programss work for mac......( logic, cubase, reason, pro tools... take ur pic!)
make sure to check the net for little programs u can d/l for free.....
ok, i just took a quick look at the apple website and it has a whole section of audio program downloads
most seem to be little apps..... nothing too serious, but hey u might want to try them out for fun
just out of curiosity what (if anything) do u use now?
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Xanatos
from New York City (United States) on 2002-06-29 07:28 [#00289159]
Points: 3316 Status: Moderator | Show recordbag
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Fruityloops (yikes!) and I've made a track with protools and a synth.
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Curtis_Man
from Vero Beach (United States) on 2002-08-06 04:55 [#00338382]
Points: 31 Status: Lurker
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OK now you're getting me interested in this. i am saving up for a computer and i wanna know some good audio stuff for it like stuff related to acid 3.0 or anything of the like.
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SwitchFrontside
on 2002-08-06 05:05 [#00338398]
Points: 818 Status: Regular
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YOU MUST FIND OUT WHAT PROGS YOU WILL BE USING IN COLLEGE
cause there is no point in getting a mac if you have to use progs that arn't mac compatible, it goes the same if you need to use mac's power tools which are not compatible with windows OS to my knowledge
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Quoth
from Sweden on 2002-08-06 05:06 [#00338400]
Points: 3840 Status: Lurker
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GET A SONY VAIO & CALL IT GOOD, GET 512MB of DDR MEMORY & SAY FUCK YOU TO THAT MAC SHITE...
also, make sure to get a very very very nice sound card along the line b/c music dudes need GOOD vibes flowin through a laptop... the memory (fast at that) WILL ACCOMIDATE YOUR VIDEO STUFF MUCH BETTER than you gettin that way too expensive mac stuff... help at all? i hope so.
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qrter
from the future, and it works (Netherlands, The) on 2002-08-06 05:08 [#00338401]
Points: 47414 Status: Moderator
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I have a notebook (pentium 4 1.3 ghz). no problems here.
generally, apple is seen as the best for music, but normal pc programs are getting better and better.
same question was asked concerning recording artists on the planet-mu board a few months ago and it seemed that half the planet-mu artists used PC laptops, the other half Macs..
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Quoth
from Sweden on 2002-08-06 05:08 [#00338402]
Points: 3840 Status: Lurker | Followup to Xanatos: #00289009
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oh, shoot... whoops, nevermind... MAC-eeeee :(
BARF
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