Pro vs. Consumer: Who decides?

CITYSTATE · Post by **CITYSTATE** » Fri Oct 17, 2008 11:37 pm

This could also be called "A 10 minute argument in the Apple store".

I went into the big 9th Ave. Apple store today in NYC to look at the new laptops. I found a guy with a manager nametag and asked a few questions. I have a G4 Powerbook that I've been using with Live and an Ultralite and was interested in upgrading.

Here are some of the highlights:

Him: "If a user is serious about any kind of audio or video application then they need a MacBook Pro because those programs can't run properly on a MacBook. Firewire interfaces are aimed at pro users and aren't meant to be used on a consumer laptop. Portable interfaces aimed at consumer users are all USB 2.0 anyway."
Me: "What about the Ultralite? Or the Duet? Isn't my Ultralite a portable pro interface?"
Him: "You must have an older version of the ultralite."
Me: "But the mk3 is firewire....oh well...."
Him: "I have never met anyone serious about audio that would even consider using a MacBook."

Ok, so that didn't get me anywhere. I told him I've been using my Powerbook without any problems but really liked the new screens and new design.

Him: "Look, if you want to keep using an old powerbook then that's fine with me. I don't care if you don't like the new Macbooks anyway."
Me: "But shouldn't you care that I'm not going to spend $1600 on a new laptop?"
Him: "Are you even serious about audio?"

I wish he would've just said the firewire port didn't fit in the slick new design. At least that would've made some kind of sense.

noisetonepause · Post by **noisetonepause** » Fri Oct 17, 2008 11:42 pm

Noone serious about audio would consider the NEW McBook, since you can't attach a serious interface to it... but you can be perfectly serious about audio with a later model PowerBook G3 and a suitable audio interface, IMO (as long as you don't need software effects).

That being said, I suppose you can get some very good two and four channel USB2 interfaces. This whole thing might seem silly in a few months. I don't know. I just really like Firewire...

Tone Deft · Post by **Tone Deft** » Fri Oct 17, 2008 11:58 pm

or even "prosumer."

"why?" is always a great question.

agreed, it's baffling... what a tool.

j2j · Post by **j2j** » Sat Oct 18, 2008 12:08 am

I'm thinking Apple is going to realize:

They need to start to offer value for money.

--

If windows vista had come, and been an amazing platform. We wouldn't be having these conservations.

Why?

Cause Apple, would have needed to off value for money.

Apple is having last licks right now. Hopefully, that will soon change.

Machinesworking · Post by **Machinesworking** » Sat Oct 18, 2008 12:13 am

I'm continually amazed at how little people who work in the 'industry' know. To be honest though, at least he a had an opinion. You asked the same questions at a PC computer store and hopefully they would admit they know nothing about audio, but I've had retailers claim that USB 2 was better than firewire because USB 2 was 480mb VS 400........ which is total BS, and wrong beyond words.

That said, if all you use is soft synths, then a simple USB audio card is just as good IMO.

CITYSTATE · Post by **CITYSTATE** » Sat Oct 18, 2008 12:20 am

He also told me that Logic can't be used on a MacBook.
Is that true? It doesn't seem right.
I have Logic 7 on my Powerbook, but haven't tried Logic 8 on a Macbook.

stringtapper · Post by **stringtapper** » Sat Oct 18, 2008 12:29 am

CITYSTATE wrote:He also told me that Logic can't be used on a MacBook.
Is that true? It doesn't seem right.
I have Logic 7 on my Powerbook, but haven't tried Logic 8 on a Macbook.

No, that's not true. That's what we call "horseshit."

noisetonepause · Post by **noisetonepause** » Sat Oct 18, 2008 12:39 am

CITYSTATE wrote:He also told me that Logic can't be used on a MacBook.

Minimum spec is 1.25GHz G4 and 1GB of RAM. My late-2005 iBook meets that requirement. Any Intel machine will be fine.

forge · Post by **forge** » Sat Oct 18, 2008 12:49 am

funny that MOST audio people I have met the last year or two use a Macbook without the 'pro' and Robert Henke from Ableton toured to Australia earlier this year with one...

so you could maybe ask the guy if one of the founding members of one of the foremost music software companies today is 'pro' enough for him

wanker

Peter Package · Post by **Peter Package** » Sat Oct 18, 2008 8:14 am

Well Steve Jobs decides of course!

If you do not agree then his Cattlebrained, Lapdog Minions will let you know what
you need to do. "Get over it"

ollyb303 · Post by **ollyb303** » Sat Oct 18, 2008 8:28 am

I'm glad I like my XP machine!

duluxdog · Post by **duluxdog** » Sat Oct 18, 2008 8:30 am

I fucking love the way everyone comes at Mac with these 'McBook' statements and 'herd mentality' bullshit. As if buying a laptop from another major corporation somewhere is going to somehow take you out of these categories.

It is more fashionable to hate Apple than it is to like Apple.

Emissary · Post by **Emissary** » Sat Oct 18, 2008 8:31 am

i just use a bog standard white macbook with maxed out ram and it is flipping great for portable music making, film editing, and for photoshop. what a big crock of pims. these mac people know about as much as your average pc world goblin

Martyn · Post by **Martyn** » Sat Oct 18, 2008 9:00 am

"Pro vs Consumer" Is a statement worth defining properly in the first place really.

It's an odd one this, "Pro" implies that I must make a living from music , that is is my "profession", "consumer" implies that I must be merely a listener. I wonder how many people on these boards earn a living from their music?
Come to think of it I know a lot of people who make music, some of which have spent more money ON it than some masquerading as "Pros" have ever earned FROM it, are they comsumers?

What if I don't use a computer at all to make music with, just a bog standard acoustic guitar (Gibson or Fender "the pros only use gibson")?

A very wise man once wrote "Dont believe the hype" I'd have paid to watch somebody knock the sales guy's teeth down his throat with a Macbook pro. I'm not a violent man, I just hate the style over content ethic that prevails today, it's wankery of the highest order. "Cool" is the new fool.

knotkranky · Post by **knotkranky** » Sat Oct 18, 2008 9:54 am

who decides what's pro and what's consumer?

You decide. It means that only pros play through pro gear and only consumers play
through consumer gear. Easy