Moog Music Forum

can anyone reccomend a good laptop for using software synths? I'd want to use this at home as well as on the road. Is apple the best way to go? I'm hesitant because I don't know apples well but I DO know PCs quite well. And also any good softsynth recomendations are welcome

keep in mind that I have a moog Rogue and intend to use in in tandom with whatever software I get.


thanks!

brokeneck,

I have one word for you...Apple. Don't even think about getting a PC. PC=VIRUS. I'm not trying to hurt anyone's feelings, but now that Mac has the Intel Core Duo processor and all new macs come with Windows XP and Mac OS X.x pre-installed, there's no other logical choice.

I'll give you an example. My brother used to drive 18 wheelers. He bought a $3,500 Flagship Sony Vaio laptop with Centrino and it was nearly unusable becuase of the viruses. He sold it on Ebay after the crashed hard drive (from a virus) was replaced and bought a Mac. No firewalls and no viruses ever since.

Obviously, if you use XP on a Mac it will get viruses because of Windows' OS.
The MacBook Pro laptops are the way to go.

I have used Macs exlusively for my music and love them. I just got a refurbished G3 iMac on Ebay that has OS 10.3.9 for $56 for my wife to use. What a deal that was.

As far as soft synths, either type of laptop (PC or Mac) used EXLUSIVELY for music without ever using shareware or the internet will work the same if they have ample RAM. But, I say why not get the MacBook and run OS X so you can do whatever you want without dread.

I run all of NI's synths, Cubase, Reason, Ableton's Live, Waves, TC effects...you name it on my Mac and it runs great. Hope that helps.

while all new intel-based macs can run windows xp, i'm pretty sure they don't come with windows pre-installed. i just checked the apple site and didn't see anything about this anyway. the poster may be thinking of the new "boot camp" utility that you can use to install your own non-upgrade copy of windows on an intel-mac to dual boot.

also, if you run windows on your mac, you will have all the same virus and security problems you will have running it on a pc since windows is the problem, not the hardware it's running on. i of course agree with the previous poster that a mac is a good reliable compter, though i'd recommend against buying any of the new intel-based models for another year or so since it usually takes apple about this long to fix problems with new models. i'm writing this on an apple ibook g4 that i don't have any complaints about.

unfortunately i don't have much advice on running softsynths on a laptop. it really depends on the setting you'll be using it in and what you want to run. if you're a dj or doing a lot of live shows, then i would just go with whatever is cheapest and lightest and add as much ram as possible, since in most live venues the pa system and the environment are the limiting factor.

if you're running csound (the only software synthesizer i have any experience with), then i think you'll get good results with either windows xp or mac osx. unfortunately the csound developers aren't supporting linux very well at the moment.

as far as disposable laptops go, i've had pretty good luck with averatec laptops. these are very cheaply made laptops that are very thin and light and pack in a lot of features for the money. they're not really built to last more than a couple years, but they're perfect for gigging applications. i've never had much trouble installing linux on them either.

thanks guys

awesome advice. It looks like i'm getting an apple. I don't know why it was ever a question I have a friggin friend that works at the apple store who said he could get me a deal on an Ipod. (hopefully the offer stands for a macbook)


any softsynths you guys like?

I use a Sager PC laptop with Windows XP. I've used it extensively for 3 years. It has never crashed and does a fantastic job with softsynths. I use it for live performance with full confidence. You'll notice that on many bulletin boards for soft synths, Apple people frequently complain that the soft synths haven't been updated to play on their machines. They eventually do, but the PCs seem to take priority. Native Instruments is notorious for putting the Macs off. My PC won't get a virus, because it is never on the internet. However, PC laptops usually come with terrible onboard soundcards. You can add better soundcards, however. I believe Apple lappies are better for that. Excuse the pun, but it's apples and oranges. They are both very good at playing softsynths. Each has strengths and weaknesses in certain areas. You can't go wrong with either platform, as long as it is a reputable manufacturer.

I use a Mac 1book G4, and it runs Arturia MiniMoog just fine.

I've always been PC and Cubase VST (since the end of Atari STs that is) and have had years of hicupps, crashes, conflicts and unexplainables.

It always seemed unstable, as hardware and software upgrades are inevitable and necessary. At least that's how I remember it.

I didn't help, because I did use it for other software (Office, Photoshop type things) and I did use the Internet.

I too was scared of moving to Apple because of years with PCs, but last year I took a big plunge, going from PC/Cubase to Apple/Logic 7 in one big crazy step. New OS (I was an Mac virgin) new firewire hardware, new base software, new plugins, Ableton Live, Powercore etc etc).

To be fair, I bought a new PC laptop for everything else AND the Apple doesn't go Internet - so I can't be sure what the main reason is, but.

For the first time since the days of Atari ST, I have a stable system that does the job and gives me the results I want with little or no hassle.

My main point is that I was wrong to fear Mac OS - for what I need to do it's not a major issue, if I struggle the forums are great. Even the change to Logic was fairly painless (after I chose to ignore the manual sections on "Environment" and just work it out).

Memory plays tricks, but I'd never go back now and my next upgrade will be to a next generation Mac.