Next year my school's giving me the option of gettting either a PC  or Mac laptop. I currently, and have always used Windows PC's. But I was wondering if I should switch. I mostly use my computer for interneting, playing computer games (both bought, downloaded, and emulated), recording and editting music (which I use a preamp with its own soundcard), and watching movies.

My biggest concern is that Mac won't be able to play games or be able to use my music editting software and hardware.

Ultimately, it boils down to what you prefer. If you prefer the Windows OS, stick with Windows. If you prefer Mac OSX, then go for that. If you've never used a Mac, try one.

It's... it's not brain surgery. We had another topic discussing laptops not long ago... maybe you should check that thread.

Mac has got quite a slew of image/video/audio editing apps, but you just can't beat a PC for it's unrivaled compatibility and performance with games. I normally wouldn't oversimplify the comparison of the two in this way, but this is GamingW, and as a hardcore gamer, I would always choose PC.

You could always get a Mac and Bootcamp for Windows gaming.

If you are rich enough to buy a mac you could probably afford both.

it depends on what you'd really like to do. if you like doing things with your computer, get a pc. if you like talking about how great your computer is, get a mac.

I might be wrong about this, but I have the impression that most people in the music recording industry use Macs. I'm assuming this is because recording and editing programs get better support and updates on Mac OS than on Windows, especially things like ProTools and whatnot. Macs probably have better compatibility with audio hardware too, maybe???

I'm tired. I'm not gonna go into detail right now.

Mac has a better implementation of virtually anything that's available on PC, with one notable exception being gaming. If you really like playing the latest games, don't get a Mac, because most developers (but not all) release exclusively for PC.

Other than that, I can really not think of many important reasons for you to choose PC. It's inferior software, period. If you have an open mind and are willing to learn a new system (that's extremely easy to get used to), I can almost guarantee that you won't want to switch back. It'll also save you the headaches of having to get rid of whatever virus infestations you'll surely get at some point.

Don't even fall for the misunderstanding that Macs are more expensive than PCs.

EDIT: postscriptum: I'm a long-time MS-DOS and Windows user who started out with the very first version and ended with XP. I finally ditched it after working with Mac OS X at a graphic design studio. Now I've used Mac OS X exclusively for the last three years or so. I also use Linux, but you don't need us to tell you whether you should be interested in it.

Mac not very good for CAD

My brother is an architect who works in London and he has a mac and there are no decent sotfware for it. Everyone in the industry uses PC becuase microstation is the leading CAD software

But you know, you can get windows on mac now, so that's not really much of a problem.

If you have the money, go for mac and get both OSX and Windows as you can switch between the two so best of both worlds.

I might be wrong about this, but I have the impression that most people in the music recording industry use Macs. I'm assuming this is because recording and editing programs get better support and updates on Mac OS than on Windows, especially things like ProTools and whatnot. Macs probably have better compatibility with audio hardware too, maybe???

hmm I don't think there is much difference at all really. Plus, have you ever used pro tools? It's the most overhyped piece of garbage ever. It looks like a piece of shit from the mid 90s. It runs on both platforms though. I've read record labels will only record with studios that have pro tools so the studios HAVE to have it, but often may favour other DAWs.

The main disadvantage is that you can only use Logic on Mac and Logic is a fucking awesome DAW. Probably the best there is. Unfortanetley I don't have a mac, but they have them at uni and you can do some awesome shit with it, although there are some things I absolutely despise out it

thats true dogchode

also macs cost $$$.

It'll also save you the headaches of having to get rid of whatever virus infestations you'll surely get at some point.

norton with internet security is pretty good, I haven't ever gotten a virus that it didn't immediately remove in the past 2 years

Don't even fall for the misunderstanding that Macs are more expensive than PCs.

two years ago my sister and I each got a laptop for the same price. since she likes products you can feel elitist about (volkswagens, macs, ipods, cellphones, vitamin water) she got a mac and I got a pc. my pc had double the hard drive space and RAM, a better processor, a better graphics card, and a dvd burner. her mac has a camera and she can make lightsaber sounds with it, they both cost about $1100.

EDIT: postscriptum: I'm a long-time MS-DOS and Windows user who started out with the very first version and ended with XP. I finally ditched it after working with Mac OS X at a graphic design studio.

yeah I had to use macs for design all the time at my old uni. I got used to it, but beyond that I wasn't particularly enamored


OH also at college my sister needs to run lots of programs she can't use because she has a mac (without windows). just another thing to think about!!

I'm currently running a macbook pro.  It's a great laptop.  It's aesthetically pleasing, and the hardware in it is good.  I have had no hardware problems with it yet.  (I screwed up my MBR once, but that was my own fault, and nothing on the hardware or the software of the computer) Because I like gaming though, I am in windows about 50% of the time, and when I want to bonker down and do work and stuff I am in OS X.   As for any misconception you may have heard, bootcamp does not emulate windows.  It rather runs it natively, all bootcamp does it just partition your hard drive separately so that you can have your HSFJ partition for OS X and your FAT32 or NTFS partition for windows.   

As for which to get in a laptop form, I personally went with a mac because the designs are much much nicer than I've seen on a PC laptop anywhere (although the XPSes are nice) and I do more or less like OS X (although I am not "in love with it or anything, nor do I have any problems with windows, as I've been running windows my entire life previously, and rarely get crashes with it).   

Any mac user that complains about windows crashing on them all the time and getting viruses all the time is pretty much an idiot and you can ignore them because they probably don't know how to use a computer.   Yes, OS X does a much better job with its integration of programs that come with it, and it does have some nice features.  (Just a note that, that aside from the stability of finder being better, it's organization methods absolutely suck compared to explorer.  I would in no way say that OSX's software is "vastly" superior)

It's up to you. I'd say try running a mac before you make a decision, and don't discount it just because of what you've heard or the price range.  I will still argue that macs are more expensive, but it's not nearly as bad as people seem to make it out to be.  It's all about what deals you can find.  (Do note that apple does give a significant discount for college students through their education discount program, and with the current deal you can also get a free nano with any mac purchase I believe).

As for music recording programs, for all the major platforms, they come for support with both OSX and Windows.  You can run on either operating system of your preference.  Also Pro Tools requires special hardware to run, so keep that in mind before you consider using that (and it's not really all the special anyway, just stick to using adobe audition)

You know what, forget it. People are just gonna come in and claim more nonsense about how PCs really, really are cheaper, and that cheaper is equal to better, and that Macs are only for self-proclaimed cool kids anyway.

ahahah yeah man I was just giving my opinion and my personal experience with them. it wasn't meant to be an argument/rebuttal dude, why are you so RILED UP. haha thats why you shouldn't get a mac bravo, people take it VERY seriously

also I built my comp through the HP site. if you know what you're doing you can get a great computer for a good price. you can do it yourself Bravo if you want to compare

edit: also man I think I know my sister what the hell kind of comment was that.

ahahah yeah man I was just giving my opinion and my personal experience with them. it wasn't meant to be an argument/rebuttal dude, why are you so RILED UP. haha thats why you shouldn't get a mac bravo, people take it VERY seriously

also I built my comp through the HP site. if you know what you're doing you can get a great computer for a good price. you can do it yourself Bravo if you want to compare

ps my cousin has a HP laptop and they are definitely some of the nicest PC laptops that you can get sorry this is anecdotal but personal experience is a good indicator

The option key works as the ctrl key, and the ctrl key works as the alt key (or maybe the positions are switched and it only feels that way, I never look at my keyboard). There is an apple key instead of a windows key. Things looks and runs a bit differently between the two. PC has more support, but Mac can do anything a PC can (save for very specific user made hacks/ apps and shit that people didn't make a mac version of).

I use Macs for work and school... but for no specific reason other than the fact that I like their monitors better. There are PCs there too and it isn't a big deal if I have to switch. I use a PC as my personal computer (one of many here, including a mac) because there are a lot of things I use regularly are ripped/ custom/ illegal/ usermade and I don't feel the need to find the Mac equivalent when I can just use what I already have and am used to. Though... if I ever get one of those lovely widescreens I use elsewhere... I will switch to mac for the sake of drawing alone.

But yeah... they are pretty much the same.... though if you are legit in everything you do, you might as well go with a mac for the interface (not for the graphics, but how you interact with the OS in general).