Macbook purchasing question
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Macbook purchasing question
Hello,
I hope you don't mind helping me out with Macbook related questions.
I plan on getting a MacBook Pro . I know nothing about them as I have been a Windows user.
My personal preference is the 13" Retina, 2.8 GHz with 512 Gb flashdrive, 8Gb Ram i5 processor., dual core
Within my budget is 15" 2.2 GHz but that has a 256 Gb drive, 16 Gb Ram and i7 processor quad core.
I plan on using it for both music and video, though music production is my main use, running Live 9 plus various soft synths ( Zebra, Sylenth, Komplete package (Native Instruments), Synthmaster, and Camel Audio stuff, among others. Will probably buy Logic Pro too.
This new machine will be my main unit for about five years, so I want to buy wisely.
I hope the experts out there can help.
Thanks
I hope you don't mind helping me out with Macbook related questions.
I plan on getting a MacBook Pro . I know nothing about them as I have been a Windows user.
My personal preference is the 13" Retina, 2.8 GHz with 512 Gb flashdrive, 8Gb Ram i5 processor., dual core
Within my budget is 15" 2.2 GHz but that has a 256 Gb drive, 16 Gb Ram and i7 processor quad core.
I plan on using it for both music and video, though music production is my main use, running Live 9 plus various soft synths ( Zebra, Sylenth, Komplete package (Native Instruments), Synthmaster, and Camel Audio stuff, among others. Will probably buy Logic Pro too.
This new machine will be my main unit for about five years, so I want to buy wisely.
I hope the experts out there can help.
Thanks
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- Joined: Mon Nov 03, 2014 2:54 am
Re: Macbook purchasing question
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Last edited by ohigetbywithalittlehelpfrommyfriends on Mon Jan 12, 2015 3:08 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Macbook purchasing question
get the i7
More RAM and four cores is gonna make you happier for longer.
Also if you do video, the video card should be rather beefy. I imagine the one is the i7 is more powerfull too.
BTW none of this is really specific to Mac
More RAM and four cores is gonna make you happier for longer.
Also if you do video, the video card should be rather beefy. I imagine the one is the i7 is more powerfull too.
BTW none of this is really specific to Mac
Re: Macbook purchasing question
Check the ableton performance tests in this forum to see the results for these CPU's in a macbook
Checking and comparing some CPU benchmarks might help.
Checking and comparing some CPU benchmarks might help.
Re: Macbook purchasing question
Maybe you can take your project to the shop and try the performance on those two macbooks.
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Re: Macbook purchasing question
How many Apple stores have you seen that have Live and a countless number of plug-ins installed on their show room machines?! Yeah...M-bition wrote:Maybe you can take your project to the shop and try the performance on those two macbooks.
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Re: Macbook purchasing question
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Last edited by Hypomixolydian on Wed Dec 24, 2014 9:00 am, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: Macbook purchasing question
I didn't realise my question was so implicit.so like, what is the question?
In essence, which Macbook Pro do I go for?
The 13" or 15"?
Oh? Sorry. I know nothing about Macs so assumed it was related.TomViolenz wrote:get the i7
BTW none of this is really specific to Mac
I am not sure if the 13 inch model processor and larger drive counterbalances the smaller drive and less powerful ( I think) processor of the 15 inch despite it having more RAM and 4 cores.
I can't take a project to a shop to try out because I am currently in a different country to where I live. Plus I doubt any shop would let me. Prices here in Australia are cheaper than Holland so I am taking advantage of this while here. It is a substantial saving.
Thanks for the responses so far.
Re: Macbook purchasing question
hehe you are right. But how obvious is that ?TomViolenz wrote:How many Apple stores have you seen that have Live and a countless number of plug-ins installed on their show room machines?! Yeah...M-bition wrote:Maybe you can take your project to the shop and try the performance on those two macbooks.
So also bring at least a copy of ableton and max for live to the shop.
Last edited by M-bition on Wed Dec 24, 2014 9:10 am, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Macbook purchasing question
I do not know about that too. But I would certainly try it. I really think an Apple shop should give this service and let you try testing them.Hypomixolydian wrote:
I can't take a project to a shop to try out because I am currently in a different country to where I live. Plus I doubt any shop would let me.
Thanks for the responses so far.
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Re: Macbook purchasing question
What I mean is these specs would apply equaly to a Windows machineHypomixolydian wrote:Oh? Sorry. I know nothing about Macs so assumed it was related.TomViolenz wrote:get the i7
BTW none of this is really specific to Mac
Hard drives can be external and if you produce a lot you will probably need one no matter which model you go with.I am not sure if the 13 inch model processor and larger drive counterbalances the smaller drive and less powerful ( I think) processor of the 15 inch despite it having more RAM and 4 cores.
The i5 has less GHz but, that doesn't necessarily make it less powerful than a i7. Also don't forget that they can both boost the performance intermittently.
But Live is also a multicore capable program and quad core often means you can run twice as many tracks as on a dual core.
Also more RAM means larger (and more) Kontakt libraries you can run at the same time.
If mobility is not of utmost importance, working on a 15" is also much nicer than on a 13".
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Re: Macbook purchasing question
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Last edited by ohigetbywithalittlehelpfrommyfriends on Mon Jan 12, 2015 3:08 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Macbook purchasing question
Aren't the HDs built into the motherboards of the apple laptops? My vote would be for the 15" too, though try some other retailers other than the Apple Store too. Often you can find holiday deals on places like Amazon, perhaps it will be enough to let you upgrade the HD when you buy too.
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Re: Macbook purchasing question
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Last edited by ohigetbywithalittlehelpfrommyfriends on Mon Jan 12, 2015 3:09 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Macbook purchasing question
5 years? Just max out EVERYTHING on i7, also the CPU speed IMHO. Most important is the SSD though. To not get a 1TB SSD is just false economy. Just do what you have to to be able to afford it. Sell records you love, work extra. Don't skimp!Hypomixolydian wrote:
My personal preference is the 13" Retina, 2.8 GHz with 512 Gb flashdrive, 8Gb Ram i5 processor., dual core
Within my budget is 15" 2.2 GHz but that has a 256 Gb drive, 16 Gb Ram and i7 processor quad core.
Make some music!