After going thru hell with my Clevo P170HM using Windows 7, I'm looking for a new computer but I can't make up my mind !
My first choice is the Dell m6600, best bang for the buck, but I'm not a big fan of windows.
Second is the Mac mini server, SSD+HDD but I'm not sure how well it'll perform with ableton live.
And last is the 2.2Ghz 15" MBP, but it only supports one hard drive @ 5400rpm and is the most expensive.
Dell Precision m6600 - 1600€
17" 1920*1080
INTEL CORE i7 2720QM (2,2 - 3,3Ghz / 6Mb / 4 Core)
8Gb RAM
120Gb SSD + 750Gb (7200tr/min) HDD
Windows XP
Mac mini server - 1550€
i7 2Ghz
8Gb RAM
256Gb SSD + 750Gb (7200tr/min) HDD
OSX
Macbook Pro - 1750€
15"
i7 2.2Ghz
8Gb RAM
750Gb (5400tr/min) HDD
OSX
Any advice?
Dell Precision m6600 vs MBP vs Mac Mini
Re: Dell Precision m6600 vs MBP vs Mac Mini
Look out for a Lenovo think pad, or an Asus. Or if you can use a desktop computer build your own, its much more easier than you think and many can advice you on picking parts based on your budget.
Re: Dell Precision m6600 vs MBP vs Mac Mini
A desktop would be better, but I need something that I can move easily once or twice a month.
The Asus is the cheapest of all but I'm a bit weary about gamer laptops.
I looked at the Lenovos but I'd prefer a 17" screen, they're also louder and have a higher DPC Latency score.
The Asus is the cheapest of all but I'm a bit weary about gamer laptops.
I looked at the Lenovos but I'd prefer a 17" screen, they're also louder and have a higher DPC Latency score.
Re: Dell Precision m6600 vs MBP vs Mac Mini
Fwiw I'll be buying the Mini server before the end of the year.
Protip: Never buy Apple's marked up RAM (aside from the MacBook Air, there's no longer a computer in the lineup that isn't dead easy to perform a RAM upgrade on). I recommend that to any American who will listen, and it goes double for you since you have to pay higher European prices. What I plan to do, though you may or may not want to go through the extra effort, is buy the dual 750 (they're still using the Scorpio Black for the 7200 RPM 750, which is a really nice drive), pull one out, and add an OWC SSD. Replacing the memory in the Mac Mini is child's play, but the hard drive is a bit more labor intensive.
And as far as whether it'll handle whatever you throw at it...
Short version: Hell yes.
Long version: If you've never had an SSD you're in for a pleasant surprise. Furthermore, that machine has a quad core Sandy Bridge that turbos up to 2.9 Ghz when you tax it hard. For perspective, when Live 7 was released (Nov 2007) the fastest processor you could get in a MacBook Pro was a 2.6 Ghz Core 2 Duo (which a quad core Sandy Bridge i7 mops the floor with 1000 times in 1000). You'll be fine.
As far as PC vs Mac goes, I can't tell you what to do, but you already know the deal; the PC will be cheaper, but you have to run Windows. I will echo both of login's sentiments: the Lenovos are worth looking at (here I'll add my own highly biased opinion that you should stay as far the hell away from Dell as possible), and you're nearly always better off building a PC yourself. You should be able to find an enclosure that can fit everything you need and is roughly as portable as the Mini, though realistically it won't be as small/sleek, and you'll be more likely to run into heat issues.
Protip: Never buy Apple's marked up RAM (aside from the MacBook Air, there's no longer a computer in the lineup that isn't dead easy to perform a RAM upgrade on). I recommend that to any American who will listen, and it goes double for you since you have to pay higher European prices. What I plan to do, though you may or may not want to go through the extra effort, is buy the dual 750 (they're still using the Scorpio Black for the 7200 RPM 750, which is a really nice drive), pull one out, and add an OWC SSD. Replacing the memory in the Mac Mini is child's play, but the hard drive is a bit more labor intensive.
And as far as whether it'll handle whatever you throw at it...
Short version: Hell yes.
Long version: If you've never had an SSD you're in for a pleasant surprise. Furthermore, that machine has a quad core Sandy Bridge that turbos up to 2.9 Ghz when you tax it hard. For perspective, when Live 7 was released (Nov 2007) the fastest processor you could get in a MacBook Pro was a 2.6 Ghz Core 2 Duo (which a quad core Sandy Bridge i7 mops the floor with 1000 times in 1000). You'll be fine.
As far as PC vs Mac goes, I can't tell you what to do, but you already know the deal; the PC will be cheaper, but you have to run Windows. I will echo both of login's sentiments: the Lenovos are worth looking at (here I'll add my own highly biased opinion that you should stay as far the hell away from Dell as possible), and you're nearly always better off building a PC yourself. You should be able to find an enclosure that can fit everything you need and is roughly as portable as the Mini, though realistically it won't be as small/sleek, and you'll be more likely to run into heat issues.