Forum: General Discussion

I know that this may open a can of worms... But here goes.....

I am not a big techy guy,,, my needs are simple...

I like Dell laptops, have had great luck running VDJ music and Karaoke with a Dell Vostro..

I don't "beat mix" and so I am starting to lean into some music videos..

I want to run VDJ Music/Karaoke and Vids...

I would like some insight into what I should get.....

I do not buy cheap, but I also am not wealthy....

This will be a gig laptop, no games, or stuff like that...... hints?

Hi Chuck

Get a Mac Book Pro and buy an OEM version of Windows 7 32 bit.
This will give you the best of both worlds with the best options.

Nothing runs Windows like a Mac.

Trust me....

I recently got an ASUS and its taken everything I've thrown at, scratchin videos, multiple video effects at once, etc.......... It the best laptop I've ever had. And I picked it up for 650 which isnt to bad for a guy like me who was born with a rusty spoon and not a silver 1!!

Huey

mp3jrick knows what he's talking about. I recently got 13in Macbook Pro and it's the best computer I've ever had. It runs better than my quad-core Dell desktop. I'm using Windows 7 64bit.

Macs do run very good with winodws. I have a 15 inch macbrook pro & i bootcamed it with XP.

I was a Mac hater for decades primarily because of their marketing strategy hating on Windows and the graphic limitations.

Then I really got tired of the virus bs and the antivirus overhead and the bloatware and driver issues constantly plaguing pc use.

It was not a cost factor for me because I am quite used to paying for builds to handle the high demands of video djing.
My last Sony cost me $2500, so 2k for this MBP didn't upset me too much and as time went on realized I had made the right decision.
It's a 10 year machine that's not made of plastic.
You can't possibly realize the benefits in a day, week or month, but I will never buy another PoC (Piece of Crap) again no matter how cheap they are.

Now I do all of my work online with the Mac and have my choice when doing my music running lean and mean with W7 w/o antivirus, it's a thoroughbred.
I can also run both simultaneously with vmware software. Try that with a PoC sometime.

What is the point of paying for a high end PoC when the resources are gobbled up by bloatware or anti virus?

Not only that, but Friday I spilled a glass of water on the keyboard, and it survived.
Try that with a pc sometime.

So that's my story and I have no regrets what so ever.

Just bear in mind that a Mac is a pc but with Apple tax. Some people believe they get better picture quality with a $100 HDMI cable when those who know what they're buying will get the $5 one. Macs are not Mercedes and pcs Hyundai as many believe - internally they use the same components from the same manufacturers (to a large extent) - it's just the chassis which is different and Apple manufactured.

Here's an interesting article: pcauthority.com.au/News/172791" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.pcauthority.com.au/News/172791,macbook-pro-helps-core-i7-hit-100-degrees.aspx
The new Macbook Pro reached temperatures 20C higher than the Fujitsu with the same processor.

It's really conflicting to say that pcs are bloated and require resource hogs such as anti-virus software. What you really mean is Windows - yet you are saying to run Windows? If that is an issue, why not install Linux on your pc for everyday use and keep the Windows partition strictly for professional use. Ubuntu has become extremely easy to use and has very good compatibility.

Having said all of that.. if you get a Mac you can be pretty certain that it will run video well. Many pc users have reported problems (generally due to the different graphics configurations being used) - hardware or a software issue? Depends who you ask. Clearly experienced Virtual DJ members are happy with a Mac for gigging - buy the Mac for that reason, not because of being fed false beliefs.

I never had really thought about a MAC.... Not being great with computers the idea of learning something new, wasn't a real big plus in my book...

Since the laptop I am looking for is ONLY a gig laptop, I wonder if a MAC is not overkill for what I need....

Mac's can get viruses. I wish people would quit saying that they dont and they freeze up also and they can crash. Really just go with what your wallet can handle.

Huey

I've had Macs since 1997. Never had a virus. Not saying that I can't or never will. I'm just saying that 13 years is a pretty good record.

I've been using pc's since the IBM pc... Only had about half a dozen viruses in that time (none within the last 5 years) and usually because on of the kids or the missus did something they weren't supposed to. Have never purchased an A/V program - always use a free one (currently AVG).

However, I do regularly clear viruses - or in most cases rebuild pcs/Laptops for family and friends who all get viruses because of dodgy sites or software (99% limewire).

So you can run pc's virus free too!!!

Roy

It is possible for an Apple Macintosh to get a virus, so the short answer to the question is Yes. However, the likelihood of an Apple Macintosh user getting a virus when compared to a Microsoft Windows user is very little to none. In fact, many of the Apple Macintosh users don't even run an antivirus protection program.

Apple Macintosh computers do not have as many viruses as Microsoft Windows.

1. Newer Macintosh operating systems, such as the Mac OS X, is built on the Unix kernel, which is one of the oldest and most secure operating systems available.
2. Microsoft Windows is used by a lot more users. Because more users use Microsoft Windows, it is a lot better of a target than Apple Macintosh computers.
3. Most of the virus writers are familiar with the IBM platform and Microsoft Windows, and therefore are only going to be able to create a virus for that platform.
4. Many of the tools and scripts used to help users create viruses or other malware are designed for Microsoft Windows.


If you're running a virtual pc on your Apple Macintosh, because it's emulating Microsoft Windows, it can become infected with Windows viruses and you should be running an antivirus protection program on it. In addition an Apple Macintosh can serve as a virus carrier, meaning that a virus could be stored on an Apple Computer but not infect it. If that infected Macintosh were then to connect to a network or forward an infected e-mail to a Windows computer it could become infected.

I don't think Chuck was looking to start a pc/Mac debate, I was replying to his question.
It's just my personal experience and overwhelming satisfaction with this machine that my conclusions are drawn from.

If you have never owned a Mac, you really don't have an unbiased opinion on this subject.
After all, comparisons require fair and equal testing to be accurate.

As i said in my first post, I hated the Mac's marketing scheme, but after owning one the advantage goes to Mac imo.

Take that any way you like.

I will also be the first to say if you own Vista, dump it and go to W7....are you sure you want to do that...are you absolutely sure you want to do that...are you positively absolutely sure you want to do that????

And that comes from personal experience as well as from the support problems we have to solve and take the heat for.

PS: If you really want the best that windows has to offer, at least spend $135. on an OEM operating system.

... or find someone with an MSDN subscription, burn a natice copy of the version of windows you have and just use your own serial number. You get a clean build without having to lay out for an OEM copy.

That is of course, you are doing as Rick righty stated and moving from Vista to Win7.

Cheers,

Roy

wow,,,, didn't mean to start all this... I'm just a simple guy looking for a simple solution, and I am seeing, there isn't one...

I am still open to ideas as long as everyone stays calm... mahalo!

I'd say get a Mac, I did. I have a three very nice later model pc laptops running Vista Ultimate 64 bit and Windows 7 Ultimate 64 bit but I wanted a new MacBook Pro. I have the new one with the i7 processor running Snow Leopard and I love it. It works excellent with Serato, Ableton and my other DAW/VSTs including my PreSonus StudioLive 16.4.2 Firewire recording studio which is a digital/analog mix desk.

Here's my main issue with Mac. It sucks with VDJ compared to my pc laptops! I can't even configure it right. I haven't even found one good tutorial or set of instructions that even works for me. I am extremely pc literate but I guess I'm Mac illiterate or even dyslexic! Who can help me?! I know it works for others so I'm not bashing VDJ, it's me...

I'm so used to helping other people here, now it's my turn for some reciprocation!


Thanks in advance!!!



DJ RuDe

I think what make MacBook Pro so great is operating system. I don't think it's too much about the hardware because remember the latest of the MacBook Pro's are Intel Based computers. So without the operating system it would pretty much can be a pc. I still prefer the MacBook Pro over other laptops to do my djing. I really prefer pc if want to play pc games.

Andrew87 wrote :

Just bear in mind that a Mac is a pc but with Apple tax. Some people believe they get better picture quality with a $100 HDMI cable when those who know what they're buying will get the $5 one. Macs are not Mercedes and pcs Hyundai as many believe - internally they use the same components from the same manufacturers (to a large extent) - it's just the chassis which is different and Apple manufactured....

Lol. Great points my man.

Personally I think Macs are overrated. Don't get me wrong they are industry standard in so many ways when it comes to graphics and music production. I use to work for Apple, and they are pretty much all about genius marketing (my hat is off to them for that) and that's why they are so successful in selling their laptops, for instance. The OS is stable, and you could or might argue that it is more "stable" than Windows. When I worked for Apple I used a mac during that time, but after I left Apple, I sold my Mac and went back solely to Windows because I just couldn't get into the Mac GUI, but that's just me. (Yes, one can bootcamp a Mac and run Windows, but it is still not enough to convince me to be a Mac loyalist, for a lack of better words.) NONETHELESS, my advice for anyone considering a Mac, try out both pc and Mac platforms (through your libraries and friends systems, as well as get many opinions from others using both platforms) and ultimately make your informed decision on what the best laptop will be for your deejay related needs.

My two cents.

If you like a mac, buy it... If you like pc's, buy it and do alot of uninstalling and tweaking.. Remember... This is only for DJ iing.. Not for internet browisng, getting latest updates( only if you have to). No limewire or etc crap. Just strickly dj software and your music.. You dont need Blue Tooth, Dvd Burner, Webcamera, Lightscribe, Bluray, Media card reader etc.. BTW.. Windows 7 32 bit is alot more comapatble than 64 bit.

Caliente NYC. DJ iing since 1985 and owned too much equipment.

Mahalo for all your thoughts,,,, I ended up buying a Dell.... but all your ideas were great....