Ableton Forum

hello, im new here but ive been using Live for the last couple of years or so on my Sony Vaio, which has seen better days.

Just wondering if anyone had been using Live with the new range of macbook pros.

I am keen to make the switch from PC to mac and i dont really want to wait until the new version of thier OS lepoard is released, because no doubt there will be some early teething issues etc.

Im not wanting to start a mac vs PC debate here i might add, im just curious to hear the 'pros' and cons.

Thanks in advance

Dave

Pros: Fast. Relyable. Good support. Can run Windows if necessary (I suggest Parallels)

Cons: Far fewer plugins on Mac.

I say go for it. Make sure you get Applecare.

I just got one. Its an incredible machine - the screen is amazingly bright and even though the MacBook is a lot cheaper I'd recommend the MBP. You also have up to a year to purchase Applecare if money is a little tight at the moment. Live absolutely flies.

Don't forget with Bootcamp, you can have both worlds at full native power.Applecare is a definite before the first years up as others have said.

Thanks for all the feedback so far, i fear my poor sony vaio might not have more than a few days left!!

According to windows, its running at 233Mhz as opposed to 3.06Ghz!!

de

My Macbook Pro was the best purchase ever! Only con I see is it gets extremely hot. Other than that, great machine; highly recommended.

you wonder why noone suggested you a pc in a dicusssion called "New macbook pro" ?
http://www.thebestpageintheuniverse.net ... =macs_cant

i've heard great things about running windows stuff in parallels, and not so good things about bootcamp (driver issues etc..).

also, got a mate who's always been a mac boy but he's had a lot of problems with his G4 powerbook - i think he's had three system board replacements, and he's always had the runaround when he needs repairs. not to say all macs are like that, but you can get a dud just a much as with a pc.

apple probably use different warranty providers where you are, but i've heard bad things about the reponsiveness of applecare in australia. i met a guy that works for a programming company and he basically boiled it down to 'love the OS, but hate the support...' mind you, i've got another mate who's never had a significant problem with his macs but he isn't very tough on them in terms of what he does with them...

what all this means i don't really know. lately i've been weighing up going mac and using parallels when i need pc only stuff, but then it occurred to me that virtually all my programs are pc and i don't fancy buying it all again. been looking at these pc's (http://www.zepto.com)as well... good prices and hardware, but i don't know what they're like as a company...
i probably haven't helped much, but you did ask for opinions and these ae the pro's n cons as i see em

I have the latest generation Macbook Pro and boy am I happy with it. My last computer was Powerbook G4 1.67GHz and the performance difference is really big. And like someone said, the screen is amazing.

I have a project with about 80 tracks and 20 of them has autotune plugin and some of the tracks have guitar rig and then one track has Addictive Drums and one has Live's built-in bass instrument and a multiband compressor in the master and I can mix the project without freezing it. This wasn't possible with my Powerbook.

Macbooks are very fast too, but personally I don't like the glossy screens. Especially the black isn't very black at all. You should check them out without buying, but I seriously suggest you the matte screen. But there are many opinions about this. See for yourself.

I got the matte and I concur that its a good choice.

Parallels is BALLS. I spent my entire night last night installing XP on my wifes new MPB... XP runs about 50% of normal speed in it.

I'm wiping it and having to do bootcamp tonight

Oh, and parallels only supports a single core. If you have a dual core, it will only use 1 core... fyi.

Regie_Boy wrote:I am keen to make the switch from PC to mac and i dont really want to wait until the new version of thier OS lepoard is released, because no doubt there will be some early teething issues etc.

either way, you should be fine. i'm still using 10.4.9 even though .10 is out. not sure that it has been sorted out. but really i don't think leopard will have as many problems as vista. it should be a relatively straightforward upgrade being that it looks like a couple of visual upgrades and nothing major. i'm excited about it!

timothyallan wrote:Parallels is BALLS. I spent my entire night last night installing XP on my wifes new MPB... XP runs about 50% of normal speed in it.

I'm wiping it and having to do bootcamp tonight

really! that's interesting! i had a friend of mine telling me just last week he knows people doing live AV stuff in parallels... hmmm... somethin don't add up somewheres... and only uses a single cpu... hmmmm... maybe i won't go mac.

bootcamp will use both cores...