Mac, PC or Linux ?
Which OS are you using to mix ?
Windows
Windows, I love the broad VST support.
Using windows mainly because I can’t afford another system at the moment. I’ve been dipping into music software for over a year now and i’ve always found windows accommodating to my needs.
At the same time, if the day comes where I can afford a Mac, I may consider it.
Mac all the way, its just so reliable and quick!
Nowadays windows XP but maybe with June bonus pay and the fact that June in I will have 50% credits of the degree.. I will give myself a macbook
Windows XP is my bitch. I can make it do anything I want. No problems at all with stability, and no funky USB issues to deal with.
Usually any platform able to run Ableton or mixxx.
Due to Ableton this is set back to Windows(XP) mostly or less frequent Mac.
[QUOTE]
Mac 8 53.33%
Windows 8 53.33%
Linux 0 0%[/QUOTE]
What’s With The Percentages? LOL
Here’s the answer to my own question…
I use a Macbook and I just love it ! Beautiful, usefull, boots so fast, never crashes, so many little details that make life simplier, great for music, for mixing, for school…light and portable, can be used anywhere…Well I can say I’m in love with my Macbook !
You can not go wrong with a Mac, especially the new 10.5 Leopard OS. The Mac boot up time is beyond fast and a stable OS to run whatever you can throw at it. The only drawback on a Mac is for the pirates and bit torrent freaks out there (you know who you are). Not to many up to date programs for Mac are available for download. Let’s say just for chuckles, Ableton 7 for Mac isn’t available yet(to the hackers and crackers hint hint). Ehemm..however Ableton 6 is floating around(btw,Traktor 3.3 is available to).
If you use PC, run it with Windows XP Pro and stay the hell away from Vista. Vista is a horrible OS and slow as hell on boot up. Even on duo core processor systems, using Vista is slow, and running music/dj software is limited. I just read that Microsoft is phasing out Windows XP by or before 2009. But this is only for Windows XP Home Edition. Microsoft can not phase out Windows XP Pro because too many software development companies use it. I should know, I was in the video game development biz and all the companies run Windows XP Pro. Vista has far too many bugs to fix for any software company to rely on it as their main OS. Also another known fact is the upgrade OS for Vista is Windows XP Pro. So lets say you get a new laptop running Vista, rip it out and install a fresh copy of Windows XP Pro. It’s not really a step backward in OS terms(even though XP has been around for more than 10 years).
So there you have it, if you can only afford a PC, run WinXP Pro and it won’t let you down. But, if you can spend the extra bucks, buy a Mac for speed and reliability.
Without instigating a war, I must address the following…
Microsoft is EXTENDING support for XP Home until into 2010, NOT phasing it out. It looks like XP will be around until Windows7 comes out. You can read about it here…
Also, the reason to use a PC isn’t just because you can’t afford a Mac. Many people (myself included) are power users, and find both the Apple OS and hardware limiting. I find Apple hardware particularly frustrating, because much of it is lackluster and not upgradable. Yes, a closed system is stable, but no more stable than a well maintained Windows system. And before you say it, no, you do NOT have to spend any extra time maintaining your Windows system (the Apple “just works” argument).
OSX has a great “off the shelf” experience. And for many users it’s the logical choice. But for more advanced users, system builders, and modders, Apple is a poor choice.
No wars or hostilities here. Thanks for setting the Win XP Home info straight. But I think the main thing here is, people just want to get to the gig, set up, and rock the house. OSX or XP will both do it for you.
I agree with you totally, if you are an advanced user, system builder, or want to mod the hell out of a computer(overclocking, mem upgrades, audio, video setups, etc.), stay away from a Mac. It’s not the right system for that stuff. But, if you want to boot up lightning fast and get to mixing your latest mp3, get a MacBook Pro.
i run windows XP,vista:eek:is a horror.
Apple doesn’t have a lock on fast boot times. In XP, 25-30 second boot times are easy to obtain, as are 15 -20 second shut down times. I dont get anywhere near that kind of performance on the Power Macs at work (C2D based running ProTools). My lean and mean Hackintosh boots up in about 40 seconds (running Leopard 10.5.2), but I only have stock apps on it (I built it to learn Apple Script and OSX tweaking). My XP laptop hovers around that speed as well, and it’s loading several interface drivers and GUI mods (including Rocket Dock).
I use Vista currently for Ableton & Traktor and seem to be one of the lucky few not experiencing any major issues, but when I piped Traktor through Abelton after following BentoSans sic tutorial shit went pear-shaped even with all buffers maxed out so I’m now thinking about regressing to XP.
I would totally hit a mac as soon as I can justify the expense though.
@Mike Damien
I know time fly’s these days but its not 2011 yet lol…
Here is where I got the 2009 info.
http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9075062
Maybe “phasing out” wasn’t the best way to describe it, how about, Microsoft won’t sell XP Home anymore on High end systems. XP Home will only be available on ULCPC laptops(ULCPC=Ultra Low Cost PC),till 2010 or 1 year after Win7 appears. ULCPC laptops will sell from $400 and under.
Bottom line, the peeps on the dance floor or lounge don’t give a wOOt about your OS. Just play good music, pray your setup doesn’t crash or lose power, and everyone will keep on having a good time. (I’m sure I’ll get crap for this post from someone, lol)
Mac all the way its a lot more money but I think the reliability is well worth it plus mac just makes powerful machines so for sure your music software will run.
It may sound completely superficial.. and totally is… but I dont care. My MacBook Pro is way prettier then any PC laptop ;D
On another note I love the OSX interface. As a creative, graphic design and music wise, the interface and seamless intergration of awesome features makes it straight up nicer to use. Relyability is another pro but like stated before XP can be relyable its just more of a bitch to keep it that way then OSX.
Anyway, the best thing about mac these days is that they run XP just as well as a PC. Bootcamp ftw. So in buying a mac you get the best of both worlds.
Linux and DJ software…that’s like a niche inside a niche.
Any Linux distro with mixxx. 