Why is WINDOWS way better than OSX for Music Software?

[H20nly]

Probably, but it's a stupid debate, really. Do people argue about whether Mercedes is overpriced compared to a Lexus? or whether a Volkswagen is overpriced compared to a Chevy?

agreed.

i don't want to get too deep into the flames either on this tire old topic anymore - that's for sure... besides i have both now. so i can't argue about price because... i paid it!

still, there are some incongruities between the product lines. if the OP would have started the thread based on bang for the buck he might have had, at least, that leg to stand on... but X is WAY better than Y is really subjective at this point and as you pointed out the whole debate is fucking stupid. i think we look at and/or participate in these threads partly in disbelief and partly out of pure curiosity about what slanderous fun their is to be had about something as fleeting and trifling as opinions regarding two paths to the same ends.

[Machinesworking]

It's there not their.

Yeah I went there!

[regretfullySaid]

Isn't it a fact though that Apple OS has had better midi integration, plus built in IAC (as opposed to 3rd party s/w for Windows) plus you can hot-swap/plug controllers?

[H20nly]

[Machinesworking]

Isn't it a fact though that Apple OS has had better midi integration, plus built in IAC (as opposed to 3rd party s/w for Windows) plus you can hot-swap/plug controllers?

If you want to get serious about the subject yes. OSX offers better MIDI jitter rates in most tests, with tweaking Windows can get to lower audio latency levels.
In both cases the differences are really tiny. Energy saver functions in both OS's can be overridden and really it's a matter of taste at this point. Core Audio offers multi audio card operation built in, and Core MIDI offers Inter Application MIDI built in. You can get those things on PC with third party software though.

Hardware wise Apple will never be able to compete with all the PC competition in terms of low price, but one thing Apple does do is very hardcore testing on the products they do release. The QA for apple is pretty dammed high, but like anything involving humans (and bean counters), it's possible for something buggy to slip through.

The 5400 rpm HD's in the laptops as standard are very much due to battery life. 5400 rpm drives at this point are pretty dammed fast, and obviously improve battery performance, which most people care about in a laptop more than pure speed.

back to needless flaming ---->

[simmerdown]

[regretfullySaid]

Ok thanks thread is boring now.

[beats me]

Probably, but it's a stupid debate, really. Do people argue about whether Mercedes is overpriced compared to a Lexus? or whether a Volkswagen is overpriced compared to a Chevy?

I love car analogies! So here’s another.

Arguing over the specs vs. price on Macs and PCs is like looking at a hybrid car (Mac) and a standard car (PC) and going “They can both go 65 MPH. There’s no fucking difference.”

You save in other financial areas when you buy a Mac just like you save on gas when you buy a hybrid. Generally Macs are more reliable for a longer period of time and Apple’s developed software is cheaper than the comparable software made by competitors. Those 2 things alone make up for the several hundred bucks more you pay for a Mac.

[H20nly]

5400 rpm drives at this point are pretty dammed fast....
....back to needless flaming ---->

but we can't get back to needless flaming yet... *sigh*

5400 rpm is 5400 rpm... the drives themselves can't be faster now or else they'd be 5500 rpm or 6300 rpm etc.

however, the bus speeds on the motherboards that can access that data can be faster... and they are.

[H20nly]

Generally Macs are more reliable for a longer period of time. if you never update them

fixed for accuracy

[Machinesworking]

5400 rpm drives at this point are pretty dammed fast....
....back to needless flaming ---->

but we can't get back to needless flaming yet... *sigh*

5400 rpm is 5400 rpm... the drives themselves can't be faster now or else they'd be 5500 rpm or 6300 rpm etc.

however, the bus speeds on the motherboards that can access that data can be faster... and they are.

Well yeah compared to a 7200rpm drive, but compare a 2012 5400rpm drive to a 2008 7200 and you're going to see that the access times are the same etc.
Even though 5400rpm isn't "cutting edge", the specs do improve over time, and access time for us (Live users) is far more important than pure track count. MOTU was getting something like 45 tracks out of standard hard drives in 2003 for christs sake?

Here's some numbers for you.
http://www.barefeats.com/rosa06.html

Granted, I always upgrade my laptop HD's to 7200rpm, but I realize it's probably the least contributing to a faster system.
SSD's on the other hand....

Also, I'm on a 5 year old laptop running Snow Leopard. I'll let you know how it goes with Mountain Lion, but I'm not too worried about it.
Basically look at what Apple recommends and if you want to play it safe stay a revision in front. My laptop is the earliest that can handle 10.8 so it's a risk for sure IMO.

[kitekrazy]

the charge that apple products are overpriced is widespread and not (necessarily) 'hate'

apple has record profits, extremely happy shareholders, and the highest tech company market capitalization of any tech company, second only to exxonmobile overall

to some extent you are paying for all that a well as a lot of design costs and marketing/advertisement, which is huge, especially for apple...your are paying quite a bit for the cache' and that light on the back of the screen

so, hate is a bit to easy, a copout to looking at the basic economics...if apple were making twice as good a product it might be justified, but judging by the comments, problems and other shortcomings of apple they are not twice as good, let alone allowing any producer make 'better' music...

Most companies make great profits by over charging.

Apple is also a hardware company. If they only made laptops and desktops, their profits wouldn't be so great. Windows is software. Microsoft vs. Apple is like Activision vs. Playstation. Some people don't get that.
There's far more freedom of choices in the PC world where Macs are more proprietary. Proprietary offers a better chance at stability. That's why Thor doesn't crash in Reason while many free vsts will crash in Ableton, Sonar, ect.
I never bother with laptops for music creation. I still think Macs will always rule the laptop world with the MBP. Anyone who has bought a Windows laptop will find it loaded with crapware from the manufacturer. As long as there are companies like HP putting out craptops, MBPs will never seemed over priced.
As for desktops, building your own is the way to go. I can build a nice PC for the price of a MBP. I never really mess with laptops. If I did it would be the only time I ever bought a Mac and it would be a MBP. My second choice would be an Asus.

[login]

the charge that apple products are overpriced is widespread and not (necessarily) 'hate'

apple has record profits, extremely happy shareholders, and the highest tech company market capitalization of any tech company, second only to exxonmobile overall

to some extent you are paying for all that a well as a lot of design costs and marketing/advertisement, which is huge, especially for apple...your are paying quite a bit for the cache' and that light on the back of the screen

so, hate is a bit to easy, a copout to looking at the basic economics...if apple were making twice as good a product it might be justified, but judging by the comments, problems and other shortcomings of apple they are not twice as good, let alone allowing any producer make 'better' music...

Most companies make great profits by over charging.

Apple is also a hardware company. If they only made laptops and desktops, their profits wouldn't be so great. Windows is software. Microsoft vs. Apple is like Activision vs. Playstation. Some people don't get that.
There's far more freedom of choices in the PC world where Macs are more proprietary. Proprietary offers a better chance at stability. That's why Thor doesn't crash in Reason while many free vsts will crash in Ableton, Sonar, ect.
I never bother with laptops for music creation. I still think Macs will always rule the laptop world with the MBP. Anyone who has bought a Windows laptop will find it loaded with crapware from the manufacturer. As long as there are companies like HP putting out craptops, MBPs will never seemed over priced.
As for desktops, building your own is the way to go. I can build a nice PC for the price of a MBP. I never really mess with laptops. If I did it would be the only time I ever bought a Mac and it would be a MBP. My second choice would be an Asus.

lol

[beats me]

Generally Macs are more reliable for a longer period of time. if you never update them

fixed for accuracy

Don't you correct me in front of our friends!


My Mac Mini with Mountain Lion on it has been getting more than it's fair share of beach balls and video buffering stalls lately. I've mostly ignored that for months but decided to do a little research. To my surprise it's an early 2009 model with only 2Gs of RAM. An 8G RAM upgrade will cost me $50 and I'm sure it will purr like a kitten.

[H20nly]

^ hell yeah. 50 bucks is a no brainer and all puters like RAM

why can't there be a BART to SJ? the traffic going in either direction is FUCKED but i'd love to unleash the Kraken and see this Apple shrine of yours.