When Buying A Mac Was Easy
Once upon a time the Apple versus PC choice was easy (although I admit labouring over it for years!). It reflected a different ‚Äúvision‚Äù (yes we are talking abouth the 80s and 90s here) of how to approach computing. I‚Äôve never been an uber-geek, but I did grow up with computing (my first was a […]
Once upon a time the Apple versus PC choice was easy (although I admit labouring over it for years!). It reflected a different “vision” (yes we are talking abouth the 80s and 90s here) of how to approach computing.
I’ve never been an uber-geek, but I did grow up with computing (my first was a TI99) and dabbled in some programming and DOS adventures. But by the mid 90s, as much as I enjoyed computing, I came to resent the time it took to tweak the machine, the mental effort consumed in coming up with the specifications for each new computer. I loathed the whole discourse of RAM this, card that, Drive the other.
Part of what appealed to me about the apple world was the freedom from that Рthe concept of the information machine. Granted this was to a large extent the legacy of Jef Raskin. Quite frankly, I didn’t want to know what was in the box, I just wanted it to work.
Right now I’m looking to build a full Digital Audio Workstation (DAW), with a new Mac Pro at the heart of it. The computer is part of the platform, but not the whole solution. So, I’m back to thinking about video cards, RAM, HD speeds and all sorts of stuff I’d rather not ponder.
I’m quite certain that the Software (Logic, Reason, Live), has plateaed out at a very high level. There’s no compelling reason to upgrade from here until the quality of final media improves dramatically. This software already records well above CD-Quality and even above the quality of DVD Audio.
But getting into hardware specs produces its own levels of anxiety. Last week I was obsessing whether to go with the current 4 Core machine or wait for an 8 Core one. Crazy.
[tags] DAW, Apple, Mac Pro [/tags]
