About To Blow 2500 Smackers Options

[londan]

Hello there,
Thanks in advance for any useful comments
I wish I had found this site ages ago

Im basically looking to invest in enough to make me a home studio, and I have nothing except a Midi Piano and Guitars.

Therefore, my shopping list is as follows:
a. PowerBook 15inch, 2GB RAM, 1.67 ... I have found a place in Switzerland, where I live, where I can get this for about 1300 quid new.
b. Logic Pro 400 quid (id like to compose classical, rock, pop, jazz, piano based, with programmed sounds/effects/rhythm/bass - which i hope are included in logic 7 after all ive read - and some audio and vocals i can supply with electric guitar and mikes) ... student price
c. Sennheiser Microphone for vocals around 150 quid
d. M-Audio Firewire FW410 M-Audio FW410 200 quid

Headphones, Speakers, Cables, Stands ... another 450 quid, making about 2500 in all

Any specific comments about suggestions for components would be useful, as well as a general slap in the face to completely rethink my architecture, but I appreciate the advice of another poster suggesting one question per post ... thus, if it had to be one question, i would ask about the mac itself

I mean, I've never bought a mac before, its just that a few people have told me that logic has everything i need and macs run logic and macs are good for creative stuff ... but can i get away with an ibook instead, or am i much better off with an imac? i guess im into the powerbook as its more powerful than an ibook and more portable than an imac ... but as imac is cheaper and more powerful it may be a better option as im slightly more into performance than portability ... if anyone has serious doubts about logic on powerbook 1.67ghz, then maybe they could let me know ?

thanks alot

daniel

[hahaworld]

Hi londan!

I've been running Logic on a 1.33GHz Powerbook since 2003, and I'm currently running 7.1 Logic Pro. It works like a charm! I've never tried Logic on an iBook, but my PowerBook screams along like a dream. The all-in-one iMac G5s are really sweet, though, and I'm pretty sure Logic will run better on them. I can't imagine it running much better than it does on my PowerBook, but I guess it just depends on how important portability is to you. Hope this helps!

HaHaWorld

[drewott]

If portability is one of your concerns I would like to take the time to point out the the new iMac is very small/thin. Check the net on the iMac carrying cases. I am sure they exist, plus if you get a wireless system for your iMac it becomes even easier to set up and take down.

You will get better performance (much faster iMac g5 processor) from the iMac vs. the laptop and have more of an ability to expand

-my 2 cents.

[fastlanephil]

I'd wait until the MacWorld keynote speech 1/10/06 for a possible Intel Powerbook announcement. The Intel PB should be substantially faster than a G4 PB but there will be software compatability issues with non-Apple prorducts for awhile. An iMac G5 is really your best choice right now in this price range unless you need the portability of a laptop.

[londan]

Hi

Thanks for your advice. It does seem like more bang for the buck at the risk of only slightly less portability.

Im basing my investment of Logic and Mac on a good friend-producer's recommendation of Logic as an Audio Editting tool. However, in being highly cautious as to the kind of system to buy, and noticing that PC equipment (with higher specs) is cheaper than Macs, Im now wavering between Mac and PC ... ie. Cubase etc. seems like a good and cheaper alternative.

Now, I understand that this may be blasphemy on a mac forum, but here I request more than my fair share of support from one post and ask you .... are the advantages of Logic so alluring, to really go the whole hog and buy a brand new imac or pbk and logic pro, just so i can do everything with it ... what im trying to be assured of is ... after i buy my apple and logic ... will i have to buy much else if i want to make pop-rock-instrumental music (given that i possess interface-guitar-midipiano etc?

By the way ... is the keynote speech 10th january or 1st october .... US and UK date formats seem to differ and it is ambiguous ... except for the fact that 10.01.2006 is really just around the corner

thanks so much for your help thus far!

daniel

[mortalengines]

Just to throw my 2 cents in, I have a G4 powerbook (1.5 ghz- last years model) & have no regrets whatsoever as to plunking down the 2500 bucks for it - I have taken it out to jam with friends who are continually amazed at how good it sounds & the cool stuff I can do with Reaktor & Reason on the fly. I was also able to produce a short DVD with the same powerbook using the bundled software that gets a positive reaction as well. I have never used the G5 Imac - only the G4s (in a music class I was taking) & found them to not work as well as my powerbook so, generally, I steer clear of the Imacs.

[fastlanephil]

I'm sure you can get into a PC system for less money but don't go by CPU speed numbers because they don't measure over all performance. Even PC Magazine gives the iMac G5 their top rating. Feature for feature it's a best buy. Just make sure to add more RAM. Logic comes with a number of plug-ins that should keep you happy for some time. You might want to get Logic Express instead which is $299 and also comes with plug-ins. There is a demo available on the Apple site.

Here's the PC Mag iMac G5 review

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1648796,00.asp

[LaForestPoetry18]

Londan,

I just purchashed a Apple Power G5 Dual-core 2.0GHz, and I have no regerts what so ever. I am running ProTools 7.0, LIVE 5, Reason 3.0 and Garagband 2.2, and I don't have to worry about any type of bottle neck, or other mishaps. I swicthed from PC to MAC, because of processing power and relieablity back in July, 2005. The MAC may cost more, but you do get your monies worth and then some. I debated very long and hard about getting a custom PC (Creation Station), but just could'nt swicth back, because the equipment in an Apple G5 Dual-core is better.
On 21 Dec. 2005, I made an $4,100.00 investment in my music future by purchasing the following:
1.) Apple Power Mac G5 Dual-core 2.0GHz
2.) 2GB of RAM
3.) Apple 20" Cinema Display
4.) Monster Power Power Center HTS 1600
5.) Apple 3 year care plan

There are a FEW DAW's that are PC only, but there are only a FEW, most are cross-platform. I had a Apple eMac G4, but needed more processing power, so I upgraded... and in the end, I could justify and feel confident with sticking with Apple.

LaForestPoetry18@Yahoo

[Bubowski]

I have an iMac G5 2 GHz with 20" monitor and am running Logic Express. This is perhaps the finest music computer I have ever used. The screen is large enough to display a ton of information. Processor is fast and audio quality pristene. I agree with the other poster regarding Express. It has much of the functionality of Pro and is substantially less expensive.

The two primary factors between Laptop and iMac are processor (speed and type) and screen size. In both cases the iMac wins over any presently available Mac laptop by a large margin.

As far as cost of iMac vs PC, remember that the PC carries many "hidden" costs which usually fall under TCO (total cost of ownership). The additional time and cost of managing virus and spyware issues on a regular basis on the PC instead of spending productive creative time on the iMac should also weigh in on your decision. I work with both systems (PC at work Mac for music) and can't imagine waisting my creative time dealing the all the PC maintenance issues instead of plugging in and recording like I do on my iMac.