In my opinion, If you are used to Windows just stay with it, if money is the issue try for a refurbished certified unit with a guarantee, that is within your price range. Get one with specs that will still be good for even up to 10 years.

 

speed is relative as Einstein proved some decades ago....

 

I've been building PC DAW's for 25 years, got 2 PC DAW's and a PC laptop running... but I also have an M1 MBPro laptop, M3 iPad Pro, and an M1 Mac Studio too. So I'm not biased here when I say the Mac eco-system is about 25% more productive and they are built to last 10 years while unless you build your PC I vote Mac. If you build your PC do it and run Linux for basic work and anything internet.

 

There are only two operating systems, and we're born using one or the other. You can pretend to transition to the other but it will be a lie.
That said, we all experiment at times in our life and I think that's ok.

 

And before you say anything, Linux is for perverts.

 

you're totally right, not that there's necessarily anything wrong with being a pervert

 

there are reasons to go mac, but you don't seem to have any of those reasons, you just have a really old PC

 

aye, there's the rub

 

Right, so someone posted a very similar question earlier this week (you can look it up - I responded to that too).

As far as lasting, the better the computer, the longer it lasts in my experience.

Basically you need to ask yourself two things: why, and why not?

• Hardware Why - if you're happy with what you've got, just stay put. I'm sure there are plenty of good Windows dedicated hardware computers around. Choose wisely - remember that comparable (CPU, GPU, SSD, Screen) Windows machine cost as much or more than Apple machines.

• Software Why - if you're using Windows only software for other business related purposes, switching to Apple may introduce a learning curve. If you're using Windows only for music, then likely not - most DAWs are supported and identical in functionality on both platforms.

• Why not - if you live in remote places without an Apple Store driving distance, or Apple Support readily available, would you be able to live with the downtime, if your music operation relies on your computer 24/7/365? Windows machines are more readily repairable, and there are more such repair shops in small agglomerations than there are Apple Stores with Genius bars. Someone dropped my laptop bag from the overhead bin during a flight and cracked my screen. I had to wait one month in Bali for the part to be flown in to Singapore and then from Singapore to Bali. Thankfully, I wasn't there to record anyone. It's the only why not I can think of though - Apple Support is stellar. Windows/Acer/Dell/HP/Sony etc - you're on your own, but there are tons more repair shops just about everywhere on the planet.

That's it really: for the pros and cons (audio wise), there are only pros and no cons on Macs for professional musicians, engineers and producers. It's literally plug and play (ironic isn't it).

 

whats the worse that can happen bro

 

buy lots of expensive computer gear that will be obsoleted in the next hardware/software cycle.
Someone has to keep the economy going.

 

Another faster CPU - another newer phone - a little faster RAM, oh new games uhd Windows stops updating to version 10... Oh planned obsolescence!!!

 

That's an absolute fact there Radio. The amount of background "services", drivers in waiting (pre-loaded device drivers that have no relevance if you don't use those particular devices), tasks and logging that are now present in the system is a total pain to deal with. And yes, their surveillance and marketing interests take priority over everything else in the system.

Correct me if I'm wrong but a fresh windows install these days runs at around 3.5GB memory footprint. That would have been unthinkable not too long ago as it would have immediately ground most consumer systems to a halt. They take for granted the additional power available in new machines and use it indiscriminately. For the general consumer - browsing, streaming, basic photo editing, etc - this is probably fine, but for power users like ourselves it can be problematic and takes a lot of work to tune a system so there are zero glitches.

One thing in particular that makes Windows 11 more difficult to deal with is how MS have changed the access to basic system functions by folding it all in to their "settings" app. Pages and pages of menu diving, deliberately organised in such a way as to inhibit the user changing default settings. Some ability to hack Windows systems out has been made extremely difficult now, requiring the use of the Command Prompt or PowerShell, if it's even possible for certain functions. At least God Mode is still around, that helps.

And for those that are wondering what in heathen God Mode is:

Create a folder somewhere, say the desktop (I do it directly on C:\).

Name the folder exactly as follows including curly brackets:

GodMode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}

Happy tweaking...

 

Nice set of graphics there. Didn't know of Steve Cutts previously so thanks for that.

 

so its better to have most things on D drive? instead of C : (which is my SSD)

 

Last edited by a moderator: Feb 8, 2025

well its better, not to have either type of drive full, but a hard disk drive will handle it more gracefully.

use an external drive for all your samples and as much software as possible, use your internal drive for ongoing (not archive) projects and you operating system and programs that won't install to an external drive.

I prefer an hdd for boot drive and ssd for external storage in some cases (music production) and an external hdd for my movie, books and mp3 collection. of course I use different machines with different configurations for different purposes. computers are cheap especially 2nd hand, use them as they can be best used and don't expect one machine to do everything well. (without losing most of your hair and mind over getting everything to balance on the head of a pin technically)

Thats my philosphy, it may work for you, why not try it...

 

Windows 11 required 19,7 GB !

In practice, most Windows users don't know anything about PCs, they just use them. Some more intelligent users choose secure passwords and may choose uBlock Origin to block advertising. A very small proportion of users may back up their hard drive.

Young men understand far more about technology than older adults. Most women are at a disadvantage; as long as the thing works, everything is OK, they don't even want to know how it works.

And so the tech companies have an easy game, they sell security software worth billions. Computer sellers and repair shops profit from the ignorance and inability of PC users! In short, billions are raked in by stupidity and fear. Online editors live off the ads of major customers and only write positive things and play along.

Since some people on the internet are intelligent and not lazy, they develop programs for us and educate people, and some even offer training on PCs. Many DIY videos have already saved millions of money.