The Great Debate
Here we go…the big topic that has been debated and argued about for years. Should you use an Apple/Mac or Microsoft Windows? Each side has its strong and weak points. Both will let you run a studio. Let's consider each side separately.
Apple/Mac
The Apple Mac has one thing going for it over Microsoft Windows. Historically, Macs were the first computers to run music software, and so more software was written to run on the Mac. Most professional studios still rely solely on Macs for audio. But now, Windows has caught up with the Mac for music. Even so, the Mac has a particular working style that appeals to some. You have to spend some time using the Mac OS to see how different it is from Windows.
The only company that makes the Mac is Apple. Apple is the only game in town, and that's both good and bad. On the plus side, there is very little variation in the hardware, so software companies have an easy time making products that are compatible with Macs. On the downside, you have fewer choices for machines. There are some software differences that might sway your decision. Some software is still Mac only, with no Windows version. You have to do some research. Macs tend to be slightly more expensive than Windows computers, but that's becoming less of an issue as prices equalize.
Microsoft Windows
The majority of the desktop market is PC-based, and most of those computers run Microsoft Windows. Windows is now very capable of running music software as well as the Macs do. Lots of music software is now available for Windows. With Windows, the version of the operating system is critical for music applications. Many music applications will run on only the latest version of Windows. Be careful to check that you have a machine capable of running current software. Makers of software for Windows have the unique challenge of trying to be compatible with literally millions of different hardware combinations. Unlike Apple, many different companies make Windows-based PCs. Apple makes all its hardware, which is designed to run its exclusive operating system, whereas Microsoft Windows is a program run by computers made by a variety of different companies. Each computer running Windows uses different CPUs, different RAM…you get the idea. Sometimes software compatibility can be a problem on the Windows side because of this.
All your music applications will take up a lot of screen space. Having a large monitor will make your life much easier. Being able to have several windows open at once will save you time. Prices of monitors have come way down with the introduction of flat-panel LCD monitors. You can pick up a very large monitor inexpensively. LCD monitors are also really nice, but also more expensive than the old-style CRT tube monitors.
In the end, the choice is yours. Whatever you have, you'll be able to run some kind of music software. If you're thinking of buying a second computer just for audio, make sure to give both sides a fair look.
