Never produced on a laptop. Mac or Windows?

[cpyatak]

I'd stick with the OS you know.

And if dropping $3000 is an option, go with a certified refurbished MBP for $2000 and spend the other $1000 on software or hardware. You'll get a monster machine that is as good as new, and a bunch of new toys to go with it.

I use Live 9.1.6 and Reason 7, and I just got my 1st MBP a month ago, certified refurb. Got it for $1200, picked up a refurb 22" monitor that switches quickly and easily from landscape to portrait (portrait is handy for Reason racks) for 85$ from newegg.com. My MBP has plenty of power, but my budget was lower than yours seems to be. I am thrilled with my new rig.

I also am not a fanboy -- I've only been on Mac since 2013 when I was gifted a 2009 iMac. Before that was PC. Of course either can work. Switching OS's is tough -- takes a lot of time and energy from the creative process.

Bottom line: stick with the system you're already comfortable with, and go with a certified refurbished machine. You'll save a lot of money and have way more than enough power for your needs -- and you'll be ale to dive right in.

[Stromkraft]

Still, if you expect your computer to last generations, and the next iteration is only a couple months away, plus being stuck with that processor, it is worth at least investigating a comparison to see which option maximizes your results.

So you want optimum price, quality/features, at the best time.

There is no such thing as the best time, except you need to have money of course. Just forget it. There is always new. It's eternal and have ben going on for a very long time.
There is only one now and then it's gone. Live in now and produce is my simple motto. To miss right now is always more expensive than to feel you have to think you're current with technology. It's about good enough and it ends there. Life's just too short.

[golemus]

I have produced with a Windows laptop since 2006 or so.

There used to be a LOT of problems. Nowadays things are better

If you are to switch to Windows, prepare for much larger amount of work to configure your laptop so that it is suitable for production.

You do spare a lot of money. If you are for a quadcore machine and decent size SSD and RAM, prepare to pay your arse off for macbook 15" pro retina (at least 2000eur with decent specs I think). You get similar size PC laptop with almost the same internals for 900eur (ok, no thunderbolt and smaller resolution, but otherwise pretty same.

If you decide to switch to Windows, it is worth it to google very carefully if your current audio interface has problems with Windows7 or Windows8, and if it is USB3 compatible. Usually in windows the worst troublemakers are subsatisfactory audio interface drivers.

I have Thinkpad Edge E530 i7 quadcore. It is worth checking out its successor (Thinkpad Edge E540). I doubt that you will find better value for money.

[golemus]

one more thing that is essential when producing with laptop. You need to have good ventilation and clean the laptop fan regularly. If the ventilation/fan is blocked you will get audio glitches as the CPU will get too hot.

[Stromkraft]

You need to have good ventilation and clean the laptop fan regularly. If the ventilation/fan is blocked you will get audio glitches as the CPU will get too hot.

I hope you mean like once a year?