Ableton Forum

okay, so long story short, i now have some money that i didn't realize i had and am going to put it towards a new computer . i've had my current macbook pro for 5 years now- its a 2.16 GHz Intel Core Duo w/ 2 GB RAM. the thing is, i really don't need a laptop anymore at this point- i'm not dj'ing anymore and don't travel as much as i used to, and my current laptop works fine for whatever i would want to do on the road. i'm not resistant to another laptop, i just don't need it.

so i'm looking at alternative to save some money. my current laptop handles my workflow fine until mixing time- once i get to that point and start adding plugins, side-chain compression, etc., i get hiccups. so i feel like a medium increase in processor speed would fit my needs for now. i'm looking at mac minis to save myself some cash- i can get a 2.66 GHz intel core duo w/ 4 GB of RAM for $700 right now. i'm no computer expert, but the jump from a 2.16 to a 2.66 core duo and 2 GB to 4 GB of RAM doesn't seem like enough to me.

the next level would be a mac book pro, and if i went that route, i'd just spend the extra cash and get a quad-core MBP w/ 4 GB or RAM and a 500 GB 7200-rpm drive ($1900). i know this would be more than enough to suit my needs, but thats $1200 more than the mini option. unfortunately, there's not many options in between. if there were a mini or desktop that met the same specs as the MBP (or even close) for less money, that is the route i would go.

thoughts?

I'd wait for the Mini. A refresh is due: http://www.macrumors.com/2011/06/19/new ... ng-august/

The MBP's have just been refreshed, so now is a good time to get one of those.
Rumor has it a redesign is possible but on hold due to the upcoming release of Lion.

i wasn't looking at iMacs cuz i already have a monitor/etc., but i just found a Refurbished iMac 27-inch 2.66GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i5 w/ 4 GB of RAM for $1350. could be another option.

I also have an older MBP that might as well be a desktop because it rarely leaves my desk.

I personally would consider a Mac Mini for my next computer but I have an odd problem. The desk I use which is perfect for the size of my room is also perfect for a laptop with a second monitor above it, but wouldn’t be able to fit a dual monitor setup side by side, and I couldn’t imagine using a single monitor setup ever again.

But I think a Mini has enough juice in it to work on music and the price savings makes it very attractive.

memes_33 wrote:i wasn't looking at iMacs cuz i already have a monitor/etc.

Well, that just means you end up with a dual-monitor setup...definitely not the end of the world

how much benefits will i see going with a quad-core vs. dual-core? i've been reading a little this morning and it sounds like there might not be a lot of advantages at this point. thoughts?

I just went from a 2007 Macbook pro to one of the new ones. Got the i7, ssd, everything else standard. I haven't had a lot of time to test it yet but it does seem extremely fast, everything that made the fan rev up on the old on has no effect on this. Only issue I'm having is the firewire port making a quiet but very tinnitus-esque sound when my interface is plugged in (just posted about that here), which could be annoying if you have a quiet enough room.

i think i'll wait and see whadup with the new minis when they come out. thanks everyone!

I have a MBP Dual-Core, and upgraded the RAM to 4 GB. (about 3 years old)

It still works great, but after buying a Quad-Core iMac this year strictly for production, I have noticed some very evident differences in the speed of the MBP vs the iMac.

I love my iMac and throw a ton of processing at it, and it manages whatever I do. Especially with using Freeze, etc...

I had considered a Mac Mini for a bit before buying the iMac. I just decided to spend the extra cash. Also, I would have had to purchase a monitor so that is something you don't have to worry about.

I would consider the refurb iMac. I feel as though you would be happy with your choice.

new minis are out - quadcore 2.0 GHz i7 with 4 GB RAM for $999. i think i'll bite.