New Machine/Starting Over With Live for DJ/Producer

[mr.e hurtz]

First My Budget: -/+ $1200 US

I was recently Burglarized, my modest home studio is gone for the most part. While this is an experience that I should have seen coming, I did not. So basically I am starting over. Thankfully I still have most of my purchased music and samples, and most of the Software Companies have been helpful in assuring me that my licenses are still mine and will install when I'm ready. The one good thing to come out of this so far is that I will be buying a new machine, which I had been saving for, in the very near future.

I have been a PC user for years, however my plan has been to make the switch to a Mac with my next purchase. (too many PC failures during live gigs!!!)

My previous XP based setup on a Toshiba Laptop running Live and (F@#!@!ng TORQ)... I want my machine to be stable, portable, and suitable for DJ gigging and production using Live, and eventually Serato or Traktor2)

Given my budget, an entry level 13" MBP is my only option on the mac side and I am close to a purchase. Can anyone make a case for spending my $ elsewhere??? I'd love to hear about a PC solution that makes better use of my $.

Thanks for your help.

[Khazul]

Sorry to hear about the burglary - really sux

When I was pricing up laptops of the PC makes I trsted, I came to the conclusin that if you are after a high quality laptop made with decent compents that might be good for audio then there didnt seem to be a really huge difference between mac and PC price wise.

You can however get a cheaper made far higher spec machine for your money - great for games, but past experience means Im not convinced about audio without alot of messing about disabling junk devices/drivers etc. Best recent PC laptop experience is with mid to high end lenovo models. Otherwise I just dont trust them and definately not the cheaper models from toshiba, HP, and the like.

TBH - if someone is after a high spec realy good quality laptop for running windows 7/64, then I have to say my best laptop experience so far is ironically a 2011 macbook pro (I know - beyond your budget).

What might be worth looking at is a refurbished macbook pro model from last year (I dont know what the refurb prices are like..) rather than getting a new mac. It might be a way to get a better laptop for your budget.

BTW - reliability for a gigging comes from more than just the computer/software etc and its worth finding a good relaible audio interface. Personally I tend to favour those from NI for gigging (unless you need a lot of I/O) - they just seem very reliable these days on both windows 7/64 and OSX 10.6.x. Anyway - in my limited time using an MBP instead of windows laptop - seems like a world of difference in terms of stability for audio apps. I beleive there does exsit a good windows laptop around, I just havnt found it yet (there has to be - there really shouldnt be alot of difference in the intel and other hardwrae between an MBP and a PC laptop) - perhpas its just alot of laptop device drivers are shite???

[nuxnamon]

sorry to hear about your situation.. hopefully you had insurance to cover what was taken..

anyways, don't forget to look at the refurbished section on the apple website.. it's basically brand new and comes with the full warranty.. once in a while, they really have good deals.. I scored a 8 core mac pro for a little bit more than your budget a couple of years ago.. if portablility is not an issue, get an imac.. but below is a refurbed macbook pro w/ an I5 for 1269..

http://store.apple.com/us/product/FC371 ... TgwOTc2ODA

[mr.e hurtz]

Both replies so far have hit the nail on the head as far as my concerns. I feel like I should clarify...
Does anyone have a PC laptop purchased recently that they feel blows away the 13" 2011 MBP in terms of value for the sub $1200 price point? Envy 14 or possibly Lenovo Ideapad series can be had right now for far less, with higher spec w/ discrete video card etc. What would you buy?

[2be]

In terms of processing power for money, you're better off with a windows machine. But if you're strictly going for bang for buck, you shouldn't get a laptop.
1200 $ will get you _extreme_ CPU power if you're building your own desktop workstation.
However, if your main aim is not bang for buck and you are willing to spend ~200 bucks for a higher quality product, you should get a Macbook Pro.

Once you're used to the superb aluminium build quality, you'll see how awful most laptops are fabricated.

[mr.e hurtz]

In terms of processing power for money, you're better off with a windows machine. But if you're strictly going for bang for buck, you shouldn't get a laptop.
1200 $ will get you _extreme_ CPU power if you're building your own desktop workstation.
However, if your main aim is not bang for buck and you are willing to spend ~200 bucks for a higher quality product, you should get a Macbook Pro.

Once you're used to the superb aluminium build quality, you'll see how awful most laptops are fabricated.

Totally agree, if fact if I did not absolutely need this machine to be portable, I would be building a Hackintosh.


Here's another problem that I am wrestling with. Do I buy a new 13in MBP with i5 or a Refurb 15in with i5 for 150 or so more?

[mr.e hurtz]

Thanks for your help everybody. I found a new 13in MBP for $999 and have decided to pull the trigger. I can't wait to get my hands on it!